Foreword ix Prologue xiii Introduction: America's Upgraded Business Plan 1 Dreams, Decisions, and Destinies 9 Section I What's the Issue and Why Should We Care? 27 Chapter 1 Credit Is a Tool, Not a Toy 29 Chapter 2 The Civil Rights Issue of Our Generation 35 Section II How Did We Get Here? Aka Stories of Broken Capitalism 47 Chapter 3 Broken Capitalism and the Black and Brown People of America 49 Chapter 4 How Poor Whites Got Left Behind 67 Chapter 5 Losing Focus on the Goal: Financial Freedom 73 Chapter 6 The American Dream Deferred 79 Section III Empowerment Through Education 93 Chapter 7 Breaking the Chains: From Fast Money to Lasting Legacy 95 Chapter 8 Educating Our Kids 99 Chapter 9 Educating Our Communities 111 Chapter 10 Educating Our Entrepreneurs 121 Chapter 11 Educating Our Workforce 133 Chapter 12 Elevating Credit Scores and Empowering Dreams 143 Section IV It's a Movement, Not a Moment 151 Chapter 13 Empowerment Through Education 153 Chapter 14 Join the Movement 161 Conclusion: A Ladder for All 165 Epilogue 171 Financial Literacy Resources 177 The Financial Literacy for All Initiative 183 Acknowledgments 189 About The Author 195 Index 199

Praise for FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR ALL "Fixing income inequality will reignite the American dream, and John takes aim at one of the biggest challenges of our time in Financial Literacy For All. I share John's optimism that we can help change the world and address our problems with the right skills, tools and knowledge. Drawing on lessons learned from history and his own personal experiences, John creates a powerful business plan for America to drive empowerment through education."—Jamie Dimon, CEO, JPMorgan Chase "I've personally experienced John Hope Bryant and his fierce commitment to empower the underserved and underrepresented by arming them with the building blocks to better. His latest book Financial Literacy For All promises economic shelter in turbulent times! His brilliance and courageous service promises radical reforms for all of us who desperately need fiduciary fidelity and 20/20 focus in the pursuit of strategic goals, for current conquest, as well as future generational equity! It's not a purchase or simply a must-read, it's an investment that alters the trajectory of those who dare to dream!"—T.D. Jakes, Senior Pastor of The Potter's House, CEO and Founder of the T. D. Jakes Group "Our partnership with John Hope Bryant has had a significant impact in the lives of thousands of Delta employees and their families. His innovative, real-world approach to teaching financial literacy, combined with a meaningful investment from the company through our Emergency Savings Program, has equipped them with new skills around budgeting, saving and preparing for life's emergencies. That means less stress, more confidence and a brighter financial future."—Ed Bastian, CEO, Delta Air Lines "Read. Engage. Act. Dive into the inspiring stories and clear-cut advice in this transformative book by John Hope Bryant. Discover how financial literacy can reignite the economic power of communities and neighborhoods. It's more than just numbers — it's a call to action for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow. Are you ready to be part of the solution?"—Sarah Friar, CEO, Nextdoor "If there was ever the right book for the wrong time, it's this one! Misinformation is at an all time high and financial literacy is at an all time low. As a result, regular folks out there are struggling! Thankfully John Hope Braynt, a man I've known for years as an incredible entrepreneur and philanthropist, has come through with actual and actionable steps people can take to turn their lives around."—Charlamagne Tha God, Media Mogul, Bestselling Author, TV and Radio Host

"Fixing income inequality will reignite the American dream, and John takes aim at one of the biggest challenges of our time in Financial Literacy for All. I share John's optimism that we can help change the world and address our problems with the right skills, tools and knowledge. Drawing on lessons learned from history and his own personal experiences, John creates a powerful business plan for America to drive empowerment through education."—JAMIE DIMON, CEO, JP Morgan Chase "I've personally experienced John Hope Bryant and his fierce commitment to empower the underserved and underrepresented by arming them with the building blocks to better. His latest book Financial Literacy for All promises economic shelter in turbulent times! His brilliance and courageous service promises radical reforms for all of us who desperately need fiduciary fidelity and 20/20 focus in the pursuit of strategic goals, for current conquest, as well as future generational equity! It’s not a purchase or simply a must read, it's an investment that alters the trajectory of those who dare to dream!"—BISHOP T.D. JAKES, Senior Pastor of The Potter's House, C.E.O. and Founder of the T. D. Jakes Group "Our partnership with John Hope Bryant has had a significant impact in the lives of thousands of Delta employees and their families. His innovative, real-world approach to teaching financial literacy, combined with a meaningful investment from the company through our Emergency Savings Program, has equipped them with new skills around budgeting, saving and preparing for life's emergencies. That means less stress, more confidence and a brighter financial future."—ED BASTIAN, CEO, Delta Air Lines "Read. Engage. Act. Dive into the inspiring stories and clear-cut advice in this transformative book by John Hope Bryant. Discover how financial literacy can reignite the economic power of communities and neighborhoods. It's more than just numbers - it's a call to action for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow. Are you ready to be part of the solution?"—SARAH FRIAR, Chief Executive Officer, Nextdoor "If there was ever the right book for the wrong time, it's this one! Misinformation is at an all time high and financial literacy is at an all time low. As a result, regular folks out there are struggling! Thankfully John Hope Bryant, a man I've known for years as an incredible entrepreneur and philanthropist, has come through with actual and actionable steps people can take to turn their lives around."—CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD, Media Mogul, Bestselling Author, TV and Radio Host "In Financial Literacy for All, John Bryant lays out a compelling and actionable case for imbedding financial literacy education in our schools, workplaces, and broader communities. He paints a clear picture of the role of financial literacy in strengthening our collective economic fabric."—BRYAN JORDAN, Chairman, President & CEO, First Horizon Corporation In this deeply inspiring book, John Hope Bryant uses history, case studies, and poignant personal experiences to explain why a national emphasis on financial literacy is one of the greatest opportunities our generation has to inspire and build better lives and communities. Insightful, educational, and empowering, this work is an important call to action."—BILL ROGERS, Truist Financial Corp. Chairman & CEO "John Hope Bryant is a modern-day prophet. He has riveted our collective attention to the critical importance of financial literacy. Inspired by his own personal journey, this book provides a fabulous guide for how we can create a movement for financial literacy that benefits everyone."—TIM WELSH, Vice Chair, Consumer & Business Banking, U.S. Bancorp "John Hope Bryant has written an invaluable guide designed to help traditionally underserved individuals and communities achieve financial literacy, independence and success. Today we're seeing increasing disparities in income inequality and financial opportunity for people and communities across America¯even as the emergence of new technologies and ideas are leading to exciting new economic advancements for many. This book will be a vital resource in helping to advance financial literacy for everyone, with the goal of leading to significantly increased economic freedom, security and independence."—BOB PITTMAN, Chairman and CEO, iHeartMedia, Inc. "Far too many of our citizens have lost hope in the American dream. Almost two thirds of our population struggle to make ends meet at the end of every month. Financial Literacy for All provides an illuminating roadmap towards addressing some of the most crucial issues facing our nation, so that everyone can achieve a degree of financial wellness."—DAN SCHULMAN, Former President and CEO, PayPal "In his new book, Financial Literacy for All, John Hope Bryant shares what he’s learned after his three decades advocating for broader economic opportunity, including the compelling stories that continue to motivate him. John's book is a great read and a roadmap for a more economically inclusive, and better future for all."—CHELSEA CLINTON, Author, Advocate and Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation "For too long we have not educated our children on how to deal with life-altering financial decisions.  This book has the potential to inform and inspire a positive change in financial literacy in our country. There needs to be a new conversation to equip our children with the tools they need to be financially literate. John Hope Bryant takes the communication tools that he has perfected and applies them to this goal."—U.S. SENATOR BILL CASSIDY, (R) State of Louisiana