George Acheampong has one goal that’s driven his career from an early age – to help close the racial wealth gap by an astonishing $100 billion. It’s a bold goal, and one that he acknowledges might extend beyond his lifetime. But that doesn't deter him – in fact, it fuels his drive.
The founder of Melanin Money says that while that mission may outlive him, he and his team are already making big strides. “We’re bridging the gap and creating a hybrid platform between financial services and education,” he explains. “In doing so, we’re able to expound and reach more people than we would in a traditional advisory firm because, naturally, everything is one to one.
“Our team was able to tally up the total collective net-worth improvement of our clients so far in 2024 alone – and it’s just over $100,000,000. We’re very excited about this milestone, especially considering the year is not over yet.”
But this mission isn’t just about numbers; it’s about impacting lives. At the heart of this endeavor is a strategy designed to help 100,000 people of colour achieve their first million in net worth, even if it’s a labor of love most of the time.
“The reality is, there are people who may not be at a place where they’re ready to hire a full-time advisor, but they’re definitely at the place where they need to be educated and guided while making fundamental decisions towards building wealth,” adds Acheampong. “So, we’re able to help more people at scale. We [host] virtual summits, where we have upwards of 500 to 600 people every other month, teaching them for five days core tenets of personal finance, wealth building, and even touchable entrepreneurship.”
But education alone isn’t enough; Acheampong knows that recognition is a powerful motivator. Drawing from his own experiences, he realized early on that people are often driven more by recognition than by financial gain. This insight led to the creation of the annual Melanin Money Awards, an event designed to celebrate individuals who reach significant net-worth milestones.
“I learned in college that people would do more for recognition than they will for money,” Acheampong explains. He observed that society often exploits this desire for recognition, using it to encourage unnecessary spending or to uphold superficial status symbols. Melanin Money, however, flips this narrative on its head by celebrating financial achievement – specifically, how much wealth individuals have built and kept, rather than how much they’ve spent.
The Melanin Money Awards have also proven to be a game-changer. Despite initial skepticism from industry peers – many of whom doubted that people would be willing to publicly share their net worth – Acheampong has seen tremendous success with the concept.
“We want to celebrate you for your net-worth milestones. As an adult, there aren’t many opportunities to get that public recognition. And that’s a fundamental tenet of human nature. We want to be seen. We want to be recognized – that’s been instrumental in gamifying wealth building.”
Another key aspect of Melanin Money’s strategy is its focus on financial planning and investment advisory services tailored specifically for entrepreneurs and public figures. Acheampong sees these individuals as pivotal in the broader effort to close the racial wealth gap.
“It takes a lot of audacity to say, ‘I’m going to start a business.’ It takes a lot of audacity to say that I’m going to be a public figure and an authority that people look to. If I directly serve the people who serve other people, then that has a trickle-down effect,” he explains.
The logic is simple: when leaders have their financial houses in order, they show up better in their roles, setting an example that others will follow. This, in turn, accelerates the process of closing the wealth gap.
Acheampong’s personal philosophy on wealth-building is refreshingly straightforward: focus on what you’re best at and use that strength to build wealth. He challenges the popular notion that success requires multiple streams of income, a belief that often leads entrepreneurs and public figures to spread themselves too thin.
This focus on excellence and strategic investment is a key part of Acheampong’s broader mission to educate and empower communities of color. One of the significant challenges he has encountered is the lack of representation in the financial advisory industry.
“In the beginning, there were not a lot of advisors that looked like me,” he says. This lack of representation can lead to a subconscious belief that wealth-building isn’t something that’s attainable or even relevant for people of color. Acheampong addresses this issue head-on by creating platforms that speak directly to these communities. Perhaps most importantly, Acheampong is determined to shift the mindset of his clients and community members regarding risk.
“The only guaranteed way to lose the game is to not play at all,” he adds.
By listening for what truly matters and where clients want to make a difference, advisors can avoid politics and help build more personal strategies.
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