My guest on the show today is Ashley Christopher. She is a double HBCU alum of Howard University and UDC David A. Clarke School of Law. Ashley is paving the way for black youth to succeed. Christopher draws from her life experiences and celebrates how far she's come as an attorney, CEO, founder of HBCU Week Foundation, stroke survivor, and mother. Since 2017, HBCU Week Foundation has raised more than 50 million dollars for scholarships and curated dozens of events to ensure that black youth know higher education is an option. The world took notice and landed her some of the most significant partnerships, such as the Walt Disney Company, Bank of America, Capital One, the American Chemistry Council, and the NFL, to name a few. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations Master Class Ashley Christopher.

My guest on the show today is Ashley Christopher. She is a double HBCU alum of Howard University and UDC David A. Clarke School of Law. Ashley is paving the way for black youth to succeed. Christopher draws from her life experiences and celebrates how far she's come as an attorney, CEO, founder of HBCU Week Foundation, stroke survivor, and mother. Since 2017, HBCU Week Foundation has raised more than 50 million dollars for scholarships and curated dozens of events to ensure that black youth know higher education is an option. The world took notice and landed her some of the most significant partnerships, such as the Walt Disney Company, Bank of America, Capital One, the American Chemistry Council, and the NFL, to name a few. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations Master Class Ashley Christopher.

Hi, this is Rushion McDonald. Welcome to the podcast world of Money Making Conversations Master Class. I interview profits and nonprofits to learn their "Secrets to Success."  I'm a former IBM Executive with a degree in Mathematics. I started my entrepreneurial career as a stand-up comic, then became a sitcom writer, award-winning baker, social media influencer, award-winning television Executive Producer, and brand architect for super-successful celebrities and products. Money Making Conversations Master Class interviews a diverse group of celebrities, entrepreneurs, and influencers in the financial and business community with their advice and tips so you can be successful, too. It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and start building your own. People always talk about their purpose or gifts. If you have a gift, Lead with your Gift, and don't let your friends, family, or co-workers stop you from planning or living your dream. Keep Winning!

https://www.moneymakingconversations.com

https://www.youtube.com/MoneyMakingConversations

https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingConversations/

https://twitter.com/moneymakingconv

https://www.instagram.com/moneymakingconversations/

Hi, this is Rushion McDonald. Welcome to the podcast world of Money Making Conversations Master Class. I interview profits and nonprofits to learn their "Secrets to Success."  I'm a former IBM Executive with a degree in Mathematics. I started my entrepreneurial career as a stand-up comic, then became a sitcom writer, award-winning baker, social media influencer, award-winning television Executive Producer, and brand architect for super-successful celebrities and products. Money Making Conversations Master Class interviews a diverse group of celebrities, entrepreneurs, and influencers in the financial and business community with their advice and tips so you can be successful, too. It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and start building your own. People always talk about their purpose or gifts. If you have a gift, Lead with your Gift, and don't let your friends, family, or co-workers stop you from planning or living your dream. Keep Winning!
https://www.moneymakingconversations.com
https://www.youtube.com/MoneyMakingConversations
https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingConversations/
https://twitter.com/moneymakingconv
https://www.instagram.com/moneymakingconversations/

Money Making Conversations Master Class

Start your day with laughs, love, and real talk from Steve Harvey and his hilarious crew Shirley Strawberry, Carla Ferrell, Nephew Tommy, and Junior on the #1 morning radio show in America. Prank calls, life advice, celebrity guests, and nonstop energy. Follow, favorite, and subscribe now so you never miss a moment!

Steve Harvey brings his unmatched charisma and wisdom to mornings across the country, mixing comedy, culture, and connection like no one else. Whether you need a laugh, a lift, or a little perspective, The Steve Harvey Morning Show delivers it all.

Join millions who tune in every day, and make Steve and the crew part of your morning routine!

Start your day with laughs, love, and real talk from Steve Harvey and his hilarious crew Shirley Strawberry, Carla Ferrell, Nephew Tommy, and Junior on the #1 morning radio show in America. Prank calls, life advice, celebrity guests, and nonstop energy.&nbsp;Follow, favorite, and subscribe now so you never miss a moment!
Steve Harvey brings his unmatched charisma and wisdom to mornings across the country, mixing comedy, culture, and connection like no one else. Whether you need a laugh, a lift, or a little perspective, The Steve Harvey Morning Show delivers it all.
Join millions who tune in every day, and make Steve and the crew part of your morning routine!

The Steve Harvey Morning Show

Rushion interviews Ashley Christopher, who founded "HBCU Week" to create academic and professional Black Excellence opportunities.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/239e3357-cc54-4480-8c6d-afc0013597c0/transcript

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning!

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Marsha Evans.

A licensed mental health therapist, founder of Willow Tree Counseling & Educational Center, and creator of the FELT Experience and Marsha Listens wellness platform. The conversation centers on emotional health, nervous system education, sound therapy, community healing, and her evolution as a therapist and entrepreneur. Marsha shares her personal journey from being a competitive athlete to becoming a calming force for high‑functioning individuals dealing with burnout, stress, and emotional disconnection.

She explains the origins of her signature FELT Experience, a wellness model designed to help people reconnect with themselves through somatic movement, sound healing, intentional rest, and community. She also highlights the challenges and breakthroughs in mental health—particularly within the Black community—and reflects on 16+ years of therapeutic practice.

Purpose of the Interview

The interview aims to:

1. Introduce Marsha Evans’ holistic mental health approach

Rushion invites Marsha to explain how she blends psychology, somatics, and sound‑based healing to help people process stress differently. 

2. Explain the FELT Experience and its healing framework

Marsha details her signature F.E.L.T. model—Free, Expand, Listen, Transform—and why embodied emotional experience is key to healing. 

3. Share her personal journey

She discusses how sports, music, and modalities like breathwork and yoga helped her turn stress into purpose. 

4. Encourage new perspectives on mental health in the Black community

She and Rushion address the stigma, evolution, and growing acceptance of mental health support. 

5. Showcase community‑centered healing

Marsha emphasizes connection, shared experiences, and intentional spaces that allow vulnerability and transformation. 

Key Takeaways 1. Healing Requires Intentionality

Marsha explains that activities like massage or yoga can be therapeutic—but only when approached with intentionality, presence, and consent to release emotional tension. 

2. The Body Holds Stories (“The body keeps the score”)

She emphasizes that the body stores emotional experiences, and modalities like breathwork, sound healing, and somatic movement help release what the mind can’t articulate. 

3. The FELT Framework

The FELT Experience moves participants through:
F – Free: Permission to just be (coloring, resting, arriving without expectations)
E – Expand: Allowing the body to open and receive
L – Listen: To one’s own body, movement, and emotional cues
T – Transform: The hardest phase—moving from chaos to peace 

4. Safe Community Spaces Accelerate Healing

Marsha’s events often result in participants forming friendships, emotional breakthroughs, and even planning outings together—an indicator of her program’s power. 

5. People Are Conditioned to Avoid Emotions

Growing up, she was taught to hide emotions in competitive sports—especially tears as a sign of weakness. Her therapeutic mission now is to help others unlearn similar conditioning. 

6. Cultural Shifts Around Mental Health

Marsha highlights major strides in the Black community, especially post‑COVID, as more people (including athletes) publicly acknowledge mental health struggles. 

7. Therapy Isn’t Just Talking

She incorporates nonverbal tools like:
Play therapy
Sand tray therapy
Sound healing
Somatic movement
Yoga
These help clients who can’t articulate their emotions—especially those conditioned to suppress them. 

8. Human Connection Still Matters—even in an AI World

Marsha is open to exploring AI in mental health but insists that physical presence, touch, and human empathy are irreplaceable. 

Notable Quotes (from the transcript) On her calming presence

“I think laughter is good for the soul… just being able to find peace has been really big for me… It’s just a God‑given talent.” 

On coping mechanisms

“As long as I had some type of music or some form of therapy… I could navigate any stressful environment.” 

On cooking as therapy (reflecting Rushion’s habits)

“You’re creating new neural pathways… recalibrating your nervous system.” 

On intentional healing

“Yoga and massages can be therapeutic, but you have to be intentional.” 

On the purpose of the FELT Experience

“In order to release whatever your body is experiencing, you have to have a felt experience.” 

On the challenge of transformation

“We are used to chaos… but we’re not used to healed environments.” 

On the evolution of her practice

“I wanted to understand the whole person… and help them change the dial on their dashboard to fit their calling.” 

On mental health in the Black community

“People perceive admission as a flaw… but healing is about understanding your story.” 

On creating safe spaces

“By creating a space of safety and healing… people get to live the life they desired and not a life from survival.” 

#SHMS #BEST #STRAW

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-money-making-conversation-28341098/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">iHeartRadio</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-making-conversations-master-class/id1264705641" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ABAQdTXqAnhGwxrsjFa5y" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Spotify</a>, <a href="http://www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/">www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/</a> or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.&nbsp; I want to alert you, so you don&rsquo;t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.&nbsp; Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Marsha Evans.
A licensed mental health therapist, founder of Willow Tree Counseling &amp; Educational Center, and creator of the FELT Experience and Marsha Listens wellness platform. The conversation centers on emotional health, nervous system education, sound therapy, community healing, and her evolution as a therapist and entrepreneur. Marsha shares her personal journey from being a competitive athlete to becoming a calming force for high‑functioning individuals dealing with burnout, stress, and emotional disconnection.
She explains the origins of her signature FELT Experience, a wellness model designed to help people reconnect with themselves through somatic movement, sound healing, intentional rest, and community. She also highlights the challenges and breakthroughs in mental health&mdash;particularly within the Black community&mdash;and reflects on 16+ years of therapeutic practice.
<hr>
Purpose of the Interview
The interview aims to:
1. Introduce Marsha Evans&rsquo; holistic mental health approach
Rushion invites Marsha to explain how she blends psychology, somatics, and sound‑based healing to help people process stress differently.&nbsp;
2. Explain the FELT Experience and its healing framework
Marsha details her signature F.E.L.T. model&mdash;Free, Expand, Listen, Transform&mdash;and why embodied emotional experience is key to healing.&nbsp;
3. Share her personal journey
She discusses how sports, music, and modalities like breathwork and yoga helped her turn stress into purpose.&nbsp;
4. Encourage new perspectives on mental health in the Black community
She and Rushion address the stigma, evolution, and growing acceptance of mental health support.&nbsp;
5. Showcase community‑centered healing
Marsha emphasizes connection, shared experiences, and intentional spaces that allow vulnerability and transformation.&nbsp;
<hr>
Key Takeaways 1. Healing Requires Intentionality
Marsha explains that activities like massage or yoga can be therapeutic&mdash;but only when approached with intentionality, presence, and consent to release emotional tension.&nbsp;
2. The Body Holds Stories (&ldquo;The body keeps the score&rdquo;)
She emphasizes that the body stores emotional experiences, and modalities like breathwork, sound healing, and somatic movement help release what the mind can&rsquo;t articulate.&nbsp;
3. The FELT Framework
The FELT Experience moves participants through:
<ul>
<li>F &ndash; Free: Permission to just be (coloring, resting, arriving without expectations)</li>
<li>E &ndash; Expand: Allowing the body to open and receive</li>
<li>L &ndash; Listen: To one&rsquo;s own body, movement, and emotional cues</li>
<li>T &ndash; Transform: The hardest phase&mdash;moving from chaos to peace&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
4. Safe Community Spaces Accelerate Healing
Marsha&rsquo;s events often result in participants forming friendships, emotional breakthroughs, and even planning outings together&mdash;an indicator of her program&rsquo;s power.&nbsp;
5. People Are Conditioned to Avoid Emotions
Growing up, she was taught to hide emotions in competitive sports&mdash;especially tears as a sign of weakness. Her therapeutic mission now is to help others unlearn similar conditioning.&nbsp;
6. Cultural Shifts Around Mental Health
Marsha highlights major strides in the Black community, especially post‑COVID, as more people (including athletes) publicly acknowledge mental health struggles.&nbsp;
7. Therapy Isn&rsquo;t Just Talking
She incorporates nonverbal tools like:
<ul>
<li>Play therapy</li>
<li>Sand tray therapy</li>
<li>Sound healing</li>
<li>Somatic movement</li>
<li>Yoga These help clients who can&rsquo;t articulate their emotions&mdash;especially those conditioned to suppress them.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
8. Human Connection Still Matters&mdash;even in an AI World
Marsha is open to exploring AI in mental health but insists that physical presence, touch, and human empathy are irreplaceable.&nbsp;
<hr>
Notable Quotes (from the transcript) On her calming presence
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I think laughter is good for the soul&hellip; just being able to find peace has been really big for me&hellip; It&rsquo;s just a God‑given talent.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
On coping mechanisms
<blockquote>
&ldquo;As long as I had some type of music or some form of therapy&hellip; I could navigate any stressful environment.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
On cooking as therapy (reflecting Rushion&rsquo;s habits)
<blockquote>
&ldquo;You&rsquo;re creating new neural pathways&hellip; recalibrating your nervous system.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
On intentional healing
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Yoga and massages can be therapeutic, but you have to be intentional.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
On the purpose of the FELT Experience
<blockquote>
&ldquo;In order to release whatever your body is experiencing, you have to have a felt experience.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
On the challenge of transformation
<blockquote>
&ldquo;We are used to chaos&hellip; but we&rsquo;re not used to healed environments.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
On the evolution of her practice
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I wanted to understand the whole person&hellip; and help them change the dial on their dashboard to fit their calling.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
On mental health in the Black community
<blockquote>
&ldquo;People perceive admission as a flaw&hellip; but healing is about understanding your story.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
On creating safe spaces
<blockquote>
&ldquo;By creating a space of safety and healing&hellip; people get to live the life they desired and not a life from survival.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
<hr>
#SHMS #BEST #STRAW

Relaxation Tips_ Discusses her relaxation model using sound therapy.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c061d36b-f4d7-4e1a-870d-b43101730300/transcript

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning!

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Sonia Balfour Fears.

Purpose of the Interview

The interview aims to educate listeners on the mortgage industry, highlight the role and benefits of working with an independent mortgage broker, and provide practical advice on home financing options, credit challenges, and programs that support homeownership. It also shares Latrease’s entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned.

Key Takeaways


Background and Career Path
Latrease has a finance degree and started in investment operations in 1999.
Transitioned from auto financing and co-owning a car dealership to mortgage lending.
Became an independent mortgage broker in 2022 after being laid off during rising interest rates.


Role of an Independent Mortgage Broker
Holds her own license and partners with multiple lenders to offer tailored loan products.
Advocates for borrowers to ensure they get the right product, not just approval.
Specializes in helping first-time buyers, self-employed individuals, and those with unique challenges.


Home Financing Insights
Reverse Mortgages: Typically for seniors 62+, often used by those 75+ with equity and limited retirement funds. Provides tax-free cash without monthly payments; debt settled upon sale or refinance.
Zero Down Payment Programs: Offers up to 3% for down payment, attached to the mortgage; other programs provide up to 5% for down payment and closing costs.
FHA 203K Program: Allows buyers to finance home purchase and renovations in one loan—ideal for fixer-uppers.


Credit Challenges
Programs exist for credit scores as low as 500, but require higher down payments (10–20%) and result in higher interest rates.
Latrease consults and provides “what-if” scenarios to help clients improve credit over time.


Entrepreneurial Lessons
Mistakes: Starting without enough capital and a strong pipeline; economic timing matters.
Advice: Build capital, secure a solid client pipeline, and understand market conditions before going independent.

Notable Quotes


On independence:
“As a broker, you serve as that advocate for your borrower to make sure they’re getting the right loan product.”


On reverse mortgages:
“The beauty of it is there are no monthly payments going back to the institution. The debt is paid off when the home is sold or refinanced.”


On credit challenges:
“Programs go as low as 500 credit score, but those borrowers need 10–20% down.”


On entrepreneurial advice:
“Make sure you have strong capital and a solid pipeline before stepping out on faith.”


On perseverance:
“It’s all about follow-through. It’s all about your dream and whether you want to make it happen.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-money-making-conversation-28341098/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">iHeartRadio</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-making-conversations-master-class/id1264705641" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ABAQdTXqAnhGwxrsjFa5y" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Spotify</a>, <a href="http://www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/">www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/</a> or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.&nbsp; I want to alert you, so you don&rsquo;t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.&nbsp; Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Sonia Balfour Fears.
<hr>
Purpose of the Interview
The interview aims to educate listeners on the mortgage industry, highlight the role and benefits of working with an independent mortgage broker, and provide practical advice on home financing options, credit challenges, and programs that support homeownership. It also shares Latrease&rsquo;s entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned.
<hr>
Key Takeaways
<ol>
<li>
Background and Career Path
<ul>
<li>Latrease has a finance degree and started in investment operations in 1999.</li>
<li>Transitioned from auto financing and co-owning a car dealership to mortgage lending.</li>
<li>Became an independent mortgage broker in 2022 after being laid off during rising interest rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Role of an Independent Mortgage Broker
<ul>
<li>Holds her own license and partners with multiple lenders to offer tailored loan products.</li>
<li>Advocates for borrowers to ensure they get the right product, not just approval.</li>
<li>Specializes in helping first-time buyers, self-employed individuals, and those with unique challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Home Financing Insights
<ul>
<li>Reverse Mortgages: Typically for seniors 62+, often used by those 75+ with equity and limited retirement funds. Provides tax-free cash without monthly payments; debt settled upon sale or refinance.</li>
<li>Zero Down Payment Programs: Offers up to 3% for down payment, attached to the mortgage; other programs provide up to 5% for down payment and closing costs.</li>
<li>FHA 203K Program: Allows buyers to finance home purchase and renovations in one loan&mdash;ideal for fixer-uppers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Credit Challenges
<ul>
<li>Programs exist for credit scores as low as 500, but require higher down payments (10&ndash;20%) and result in higher interest rates.</li>
<li>Latrease consults and provides &ldquo;what-if&rdquo; scenarios to help clients improve credit over time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Entrepreneurial Lessons
<ul>
<li>Mistakes: Starting without enough capital and a strong pipeline; economic timing matters.</li>
<li>Advice: Build capital, secure a solid client pipeline, and understand market conditions before going independent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<hr>
Notable Quotes
<ul>
<li>
On independence: &ldquo;As a broker, you serve as that advocate for your borrower to make sure they&rsquo;re getting the right loan product.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
On reverse mortgages: &ldquo;The beauty of it is there are no monthly payments going back to the institution. The debt is paid off when the home is sold or refinanced.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
On credit challenges: &ldquo;Programs go as low as 500 credit score, but those borrowers need 10&ndash;20% down.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
On entrepreneurial advice: &ldquo;Make sure you have strong capital and a solid pipeline before stepping out on faith.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
On perseverance: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all about follow-through. It&rsquo;s all about your dream and whether you want to make it happen.&rdquo;
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Wealth Building_ She explains how financial growth is tied to discipline and common sense.  

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b4dfeb57-7eb1-4726-a28c-b431017232d8/transcript

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning!

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Latrease Price-Gistard.

Purpose of the Interview

The interview aims to educate listeners on the mortgage industry, highlight the role and benefits of working with an independent mortgage broker, and provide practical advice on home financing options, credit challenges, and programs that support homeownership. It also shares Latrease’s entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned.

Key Takeaways


Background and Career Path
Latrease has a finance degree and started in investment operations in 1999.
Transitioned from auto financing and co-owning a car dealership to mortgage lending.
Became an independent mortgage broker in 2022 after being laid off during rising interest rates.


Role of an Independent Mortgage Broker
Holds her own license and partners with multiple lenders to offer tailored loan products.
Advocates for borrowers to ensure they get the right product, not just approval.
Specializes in helping first-time buyers, self-employed individuals, and those with unique challenges.


Home Financing Insights
Reverse Mortgages: Typically for seniors 62+, often used by those 75+ with equity and limited retirement funds. Provides tax-free cash without monthly payments; debt settled upon sale or refinance.
Zero Down Payment Programs: Offers up to 3% for down payment, attached to the mortgage; other programs provide up to 5% for down payment and closing costs.
FHA 203K Program: Allows buyers to finance home purchase and renovations in one loan—ideal for fixer-uppers.


Credit Challenges
Programs exist for credit scores as low as 500, but require higher down payments (10–20%) and result in higher interest rates.
Latrease consults and provides “what-if” scenarios to help clients improve credit over time.


Entrepreneurial Lessons
Mistakes: Starting without enough capital and a strong pipeline; economic timing matters.
Advice: Build capital, secure a solid client pipeline, and understand market conditions before going independent.

Notable Quotes


On independence:
“As a broker, you serve as that advocate for your borrower to make sure they’re getting the right loan product.”


On reverse mortgages:
“The beauty of it is there are no monthly payments going back to the institution. The debt is paid off when the home is sold or refinanced.”


On credit challenges:
“Programs go as low as 500 credit score, but those borrowers need 10–20% down.”


On entrepreneurial advice:
“Make sure you have strong capital and a solid pipeline before stepping out on faith.”


On perseverance:
“It’s all about follow-through. It’s all about your dream and whether you want to make it happen.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-money-making-conversation-28341098/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">iHeartRadio</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-making-conversations-master-class/id1264705641" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ABAQdTXqAnhGwxrsjFa5y" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Spotify</a>, <a href="http://www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/">www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/</a> or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.&nbsp; I want to alert you, so you don&rsquo;t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.&nbsp; Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Latrease Price-Gistard.
<hr>
Purpose of the Interview
The interview aims to educate listeners on the mortgage industry, highlight the role and benefits of working with an independent mortgage broker, and provide practical advice on home financing options, credit challenges, and programs that support homeownership. It also shares Latrease&rsquo;s entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned.
<hr>
Key Takeaways
<ol>
<li>
Background and Career Path
<ul>
<li>Latrease has a finance degree and started in investment operations in 1999.</li>
<li>Transitioned from auto financing and co-owning a car dealership to mortgage lending.</li>
<li>Became an independent mortgage broker in 2022 after being laid off during rising interest rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Role of an Independent Mortgage Broker
<ul>
<li>Holds her own license and partners with multiple lenders to offer tailored loan products.</li>
<li>Advocates for borrowers to ensure they get the right product, not just approval.</li>
<li>Specializes in helping first-time buyers, self-employed individuals, and those with unique challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Home Financing Insights
<ul>
<li>Reverse Mortgages: Typically for seniors 62+, often used by those 75+ with equity and limited retirement funds. Provides tax-free cash without monthly payments; debt settled upon sale or refinance.</li>
<li>Zero Down Payment Programs: Offers up to 3% for down payment, attached to the mortgage; other programs provide up to 5% for down payment and closing costs.</li>
<li>FHA 203K Program: Allows buyers to finance home purchase and renovations in one loan&mdash;ideal for fixer-uppers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Credit Challenges
<ul>
<li>Programs exist for credit scores as low as 500, but require higher down payments (10&ndash;20%) and result in higher interest rates.</li>
<li>Latrease consults and provides &ldquo;what-if&rdquo; scenarios to help clients improve credit over time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Entrepreneurial Lessons
<ul>
<li>Mistakes: Starting without enough capital and a strong pipeline; economic timing matters.</li>
<li>Advice: Build capital, secure a solid client pipeline, and understand market conditions before going independent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<hr>
Notable Quotes
<ul>
<li>
On independence: &ldquo;As a broker, you serve as that advocate for your borrower to make sure they&rsquo;re getting the right loan product.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
On reverse mortgages: &ldquo;The beauty of it is there are no monthly payments going back to the institution. The debt is paid off when the home is sold or refinanced.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
On credit challenges: &ldquo;Programs go as low as 500 credit score, but those borrowers need 10&ndash;20% down.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
On entrepreneurial advice: &ldquo;Make sure you have strong capital and a solid pipeline before stepping out on faith.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
On perseverance: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all about follow-through. It&rsquo;s all about your dream and whether you want to make it happen.&rdquo;
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Real Estate Tips_ She discusses home financing options such as Reverse Mortgages and Zero Down Payment Programs.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dcdb49c3-9b40-4a40-a8b6-b4310171151c/transcript

Rushion interviews Ashley Christopher, who founded "HBCU Week" to create academic and professional Black Excellence opportunities.

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