Jhakiri Brooks, Financial Advisor

I remember those summer days heading to OIC in Rocky Mount with my grandmother. 92.1 was the go to station!

I’m excited to share that I’ll be speaking at 92.1 Choice FM’s 500 Fathers Father’s Day walk-a-thon, held in Rocky Mount & Raleigh! This community event brings fathers together for a walk-a-thon and a seminar series focused on strengthening families.

I’ll be presenting on the importance of investing and financial literacy; intentional steps in which dads may take to build long-term security.

Bring the dads, grandfathers, sons, and families you care about — and please share this post to help spread the word. Head over to I Love Choice FM for all details!

Let's celebrate fatherhood, community, and wellness.

This is my face whenever someone says YOLO or "I can't take it with me".

Too often I see “You Only Live Once” used to justify choices that mask a fear. YOLO used to be a shrug. Now it’s a strategy and I’m worried.

People who shout YOLO the loudest are often the ones most afraid — afraid of scarcity, afraid of repeating family pain, afraid of being judged.

Trauma and the lessons we inherit can blur the line between genuine abundance and performative consumption.

As an advisor, I wear many hats: educator, strategist, and yes, often a compassionate listener. But I’m also clear-eyed: financial planning alone can’t heal trauma. It can, however, be an essential partner in recovery — a bridge to stability, dignity, and the possibility of legacy-building.

YOLO used as a mantra can enable short-term thrills and long-term harm.

True resilience comes from regard. Regard for yourself and for those who will carry your story forward.
High income isn’t a substitute for a plan. Options and flexibility outside an employer matter.

We can replace impulsive mantras with intentional plans, and in doing so build something that lasts beyond a post, a purchase, or a moment.

Graduation season is here. Congratulations to you all!

So, I surveyed my amazing friends and asked what was more intimidating; enduring their collegiate experience or post grad preparation?

The common denominator was limited time to make lifelong decisions.

You’ve all put in the late nights, the grit, and the growth to reach this milestone. As you step into what’s next—new roles, cities, programs, and possibilities—remember: you don’t have to make every decision alone. With newness comes uncertainty, and seeking wise counsel can turn questions into confident action.

Our team is more than a financial planning team. We’re partners in your transition, with resources to help you move smoothly and intentionally.

🏌️‍♀️Career readiness tools
🏌️‍♀️Complimentary benefit reviews
🏌️‍♂️Student loan solutions (repayment strategies and options)
🏌️‍♀️Budgeting tools (build your first spending plan and saving habits)
🏌️‍♀️A shared network of professionals (mentors, recruiters, and specialists)

Whether you’re launching a career, pursuing further education, or exploring your next step, we’re here as a sounding board and a strategy partner. Be open to partnership—your goals deserve a thoughtful plan and a team behind you.

You’ve earned this. We’re here for what’s next. Let’s connect and create your next chapter with confidence.

For far too many people, retirement planning stops at saving. But the truth is, a solid plan must also address what happens when you start drawing from those savings—and that’s where distribution strategy matters most.

I recently worked with a long-time client, a tenured educator in New York City who’s Jamaican-American and a mother of three. Over the years she’s supported twin daughters through college and a younger son, all while balancing a demanding career.

In a semi-annual review, she expressed a familiar worry: “It isn’t enough.” The headlines and uncertainty lately had her considering drastic moves. Her story reminded me why we champion a distribution-first mindset. Rather than scrambling when retirement arrives, we build action plans that coordinates all moving parts—from pensions to accounts and withdrawals.

Diversification is a safety net, not a luxury.

We crafted a plan that aligns with real life: relocating in retirement, delaying TDA withdrawals until age 72 (to optimize RMDs), and using the pension to cover essential expenses, so other assets can be diversified for taxes and market shifts.

Our team doesn’t just save; we design an integrated path to access and manage money when it’s needed most. Too often, advisors fearmonger and focus only on accumulation. We believe in abundance: creating security through practical, multi-faceted plans that adapt to life’s changes.

If you know a pension professional who could use a broader perspective—one that goes beyond the paycheck —please share this story. Let’s help more families plan with confidence for life after work, not just life during work.

Bringing like-minded professionals together is one thing, but to share a space with gentlemen like Daniel Humphrey and Jordan Nobles is a blessing.

Join us in Fayetteville, NC on June 6 at 10:00 AM for a community-focused event hosted by Daniel Humphrey, Jordan Nobles, and I.

This one-day experience brings together physical, mental, and financial wellness through a networking session, a brief panel discussion, community run/walk, and group workouts to close the event.

We’re inviting residents, local leaders, and businesses to learn, connect, and build practical strategies for stronger, healthier lives.

Local organizations and vendors are welcome — if your business or group provides resources that support wellness, financial literacy, or community development, we’d love to have you table with us.

Register using the link in my bio! Questions about tabling or partnerships? Contact: [email protected]'

For many of the incredible mothers I work with, planning isn’t just about numbers. It’s about holding the family together.

A recent client reminded me exactly why.

She reached out wanting to make a sudden change to a key piece of her financial plan. On the surface it looked like she simply felt her job benefits were enough.

However, something felt off. When we talked, the real story came out. She’d just had a baby, was on maternity leave, and was adjusting to a rapidly changing household income while her husband completes residency. In an effort to save money she’d even unenrolled from some benefits.

If she’d moved forward with cancelling planning, she would have created a larger financial blind spot for her family. Instead, we revisited her plan, dissected expenses, re-evaluated benefits, and rebuilt a strategy that reflected her new reality. The shift from anxiety to confidence was everything.

This is why so many of the wives and mothers we serve lead the planning initiative for their families: they manage budgets, schedules, care, and choices with fierce dedication. They are the family bookkeepers, caretakers, secretaries, and CEOs — and they deserve recognition.

To every mom balancing so much, often behind the scenes: thank you. Your work matters. Your care matters. Your leadership matters.

Happy Mother’s Day.

The real value of an advisor shows up when you let us do our job — and when we remind you of the “why” behind your plan.

I recently reviewed a portfolio with a client and shared that her long term returns are well over 20%.
Her reaction moved from astonishment to frustration — she’d long struggled with spending and wished she’d invested more.

Once we revisited her goals and reminded her of the unexpected expenses along the way, she relaxed and is now planning strategic lump sum contributions as life settles.

We walked through the full picture: her family was buying a home and intentionally avoided liquidating accounts, we decreased contributions.

Our team created a new lane of opportunity for our client by:
• Putting returns in context of her life, not headlines.
• Keeping emotions from driving financial decisions.
• Creating an offensive and defensive plan that gives you peace of mind.

An advisor’s value isn’t just about picking investments — it’s about helping you stay calm, focused, and on track. Let’s connect and review your financial order of operation.

I recently thought about a couple I’ve worked with for years.

They felt buried by debt and kept saying they’d save later, banked on their kids receiving scholarships, or they’d start when things were “less hectic.”

I urged them to start small. Let it snowball. They waited.

Fast-forward: their oldest child starts college in the Fall, and they are expected to come out of pocket each semester.

They chose chance over choice.

If they’d put aside a modest amount five years ago, that money could easily have grown to roughly $14k–$21k (with consistent monthly savings of $200–$300 and modest market returns).

Had they made minor adjustments to their financial system earlier, they would have avoided an unexpected expense. The goal is to have confidence in your choices, not anxiety from chance.

The biggest price tag many families don’t see? The cost of waiting.

We refuse to slow down our educational efforts in Eastern North Carolina.

Our team has earned the opportunity to partner with The Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce. Ruby Wesley - Northwestern Mutual Reggie Joe - Northwestern Mutual CFP, CLU, ChFC, RICP, and I will be your panelists during this insightful conversation.

Unity, comfort, and clarity will be in the air as we cover strategies and topics to help shape your families' future. We look forward to seeing you all April 9th.