A lively group of women could be heard laughing and clapping inside the Hughes-Trigg Ballroom during the 44th annual Women’s Symposium.
The event featured financial expert Glinda Bridgforth, founder of Bridgforth Financial Management Group LLC.
Bridgforth, a regular contributor to Essence, Black Enterprise and Money Magazine, worked to educate the crowd on how to take control of their financial situations.
She began by telling those in the audience that the underlying themes of financial management are all the same.
“The information in my books is universal and applies to everyone not just women,” Bridgforth said. “For those who know, this is a reminder. For others it is a wake up call.”
She told the audience her story and how she overcame years of financial distress. She said in her career as a bank manager, she was able to manage other people’s finances, but she was living paycheck to paycheck.
“Like the Jones’, I had to buy the right house and the right car. I was making the most money in my life but I was broke spiritually and financially,” she said. “I was living paycheck to paycheck, and my marriage was falling apart. I knew I had to do something.”
She said the turning point was when she weighed herself and she was 99 pounds.
“I knew if things did not change I was going to die.”
She told the audience she took a leave of absence, met with some financial coaches and started paying off her debts.
She showed footage of her appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” where she was featured during a six-part series “America’s Debt Diet.” She spent a year working with a family to help them get their lives back under control and free themselves of debt.
“Our nation is experiencing difficulties now that no one in this room remembers. There is a sale going on now and only those with money and available assets can take part in it,” she said. “However the next time these opportunities come up you too can join in the buying if you take care of your finances.”
She started to give tips and the audience, which was comprised primarily of women, listened attentively.
“Don’t buy a luxury vehicle if you have a landlord. Your building someone else’s assets while you’re driving around in a depreciating vehicle. Don’t play games with yourself. Don’t under estimate the power of the little things. Everything adds up,” Bridgforth said.
Monica Jones-Davis, membership team leader for the Girl Scouts of America, said one of the key messages of the organization is leadership.
“We wanted to come here to see what other organizations are in the community to help our girls,” she said. “Here [at the conference] women are the ones in leadership roles.”
After the luncheon, guests were able to meet Bridgforth and purchase signed copies of her books. Her latest book is “Girl, Make Your Money Grow.”
