Join us for our April CTC Friday Conversation: "Get Fit Financially - Closing Generation Wealth Gap."

April marks the 22nd anniversary of Financial Literacy Month, a crucial time for promoting financial education and empowerment. As our members face challenges from inflation, global events, and economic pressures, enhancing financial literacy has become more important than ever. At AACUC, we are committed to advocacy and education aimed at building financial health and narrowing the wealth gap. 

Financial literacy serves as a strong foundation for lasting financial wellness, helping individuals avoid common money pitfalls, navigate difficult times, and maximize their financial resources. To aid your members in their pursuit of financial well-being, we invite you to join us for an enlightening panel discussion with experts who will share practical concepts and tips to enhance your members' financial situations and instill peace of mind. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your financial knowledge and empower your members for a brighter financial future.

Our esteemed panelists are:

• Erika Young, Founder, Tailor-Made Budgets
• Fonta Gilliam, Founder & CEO, Wellthi Technologies
• Kelli Holloway, PCEO, Kelli & Co
• Kwame Smith, Executive Benefits Specialist, TruStage

Ronaldo Hardy, President/CEO for BALANCE will moderate this conversation.

Register Now

Keep reading to learn more about our panelists and moderator.

Erika Young
Founder
Tailor-Made Budgets

Ericka Young founded Tailor-Made Budgets in 2005 to help families take control of their finances. After paying off $90,000 in debt with her husband, Chris, she created a proven framework to eliminate debt and build confidence. Ericka has guided over 500 families in paying off millions of dollars collectively. Through her book, Naked and Unashamed: 10 Money Conversations Every Couple Must Have, and podcast, For Better and Worth, she helps couples align their finances and relationships. Ericka also creates financial wellness programs, trains financial coaches, and partners with credit unions to ignite financial transformation.

Fonta Gilliam
Founder & CEO
Wellthi Technologies

Fonta Gilliam is the Founder and CEO of Wellthi Technologies, a fintech company reimagining mobile banking for the next generation by embedding social and AI-powered banking products inside mobile banking apps to help credit unions attract younger customers and cultivate cross-selling opportunities."

Kelli Holloway
PCEO
Kelli & Co

Kelli Holloway is the secretary of the Texas Regional Chapter of AACUC. In addition to her volunteer role, she supports AACUC as senior advisor for the Boost My Wealth financial education initiative, which focuses on helping young adults ages 18 to 35 navigate their wealth-building journey. With over 14 years of experience, she previously served as SVP of Outreach for SECU of North Carolina.

Kwame Smith
Executive Benefits Specialist
TruStage

Kwame Smith is a registered representative of LPL Financial, offering products and services as part of the executive benefit plans at TruStageTM, a company that specializes in the design, implementation, financing and ongoing administrative support of supplemental executive benefit programs (SERPs) specifically tailored to credit unions. He began his career in the financial industry in 2000 with Synovus Financial in Columbus, Georgia, where he held several roles including financial support, branch management, and retail financial advisor.   Kwame has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga. (2005). He is FINRA Series 7 and 66 registered with LPL Financial.

Ronaldo Hardy
President/CEO
BALANCE

Ronaldo is a two-time credit union CEO and the current CEO of BALANCE, a national leader in financial wellness. His passion is helping leaders break free from mediocrity and build bold, trust-driven, innovative cultures. He’s led award-winning transformations, including turning Southwest Louisiana Credit Union into a certified CDFI and securing $950,000 in federal funding. As former CEO of NACUSO, Ronaldo championed nationwide innovation and collaboration. He’s also owned a consulting firm focused on leadership and cultural transformation. Today, Ronaldo speaks on Audacious Authenticity, Training Trust, and Future-Ready Leadership—empowering leaders to ditch the masks, lead boldly, and build thriving organizations.