Harris Financial Coaching Blog

Looking for financial coaching in Jacksonville, FL? Accredited Financial Counselor Annette Harris helps families, veterans and individuals with budgeting, debt, saving and personalized financial strategies.

I read books that helped me understand Black history not as a separate topic, not as something boxed into one month, and not as something disconnected from everyday life. I read these books because history does not stay in the past. It shows up in where people live. It shows up in how schools are funded. It shows up in who gets access to jobs. It shows up in how laws are enforced. It shows up in who gets believed, who gets protected, and who has to keep proving they belong.

You can work hard, pay your bills, stay out of trouble, and still feel like your family is one emergency away from falling behind. That feeling is real for many households. It is not because Black families do not work hard enough. It is not because they do not care about money. The bigger issue is that many Black families have been trying to build wealth without the same starting point.

The United States did not become wealthy by accident. That is a hard sentence to sit with, but it is an important one. Wealth does not just appear. It is built through systems, labor, access, ownership, policy, and power. In The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism, Edward E. Baptist makes a clear argument: slavery was not separate from America’s economic growth. It was deeply connected to it.

My daughter and I decided to unplug. No screens. No noise. No deadlines. Just us, the trail, the trees, and enough space to breathe. Sometimes we do not realize how much we are carrying until everything gets quiet. Sometimes peace begins when we pause long enough to notice what is already around us. In Japan, this practice is called shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.

Taking control of your financial future can feel overwhelming, especially when life throws unexpected challenges your way. Whether you’re managing a household budget, planning for your family’s future, or navigating the unique financial landscape of military life, having a trusted partner to guide you can make all the difference. That’s where financial coaching steps in.

Herbs and roots have been used across cultural traditions as symbols of luck, protection, and prosperity. This guide shares eight options, the history behind them, and simple money coaching prompts that turn intention into action. You will also find space to add shopping links if you want tangible tools to support your practice.

Inheritance discussions are often avoided, but silence creates confusion and conflict. Learn how to start simple family conversations that strengthen any financial plan.