Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Moody. He shared his story with us below:
After receiving an Engineering degree from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Moody spent 17 years as a leader with Fortune 500 companies such as Procter and Gamble, Weyerhaeuser, and Target. Since 2011, Moody has served as a Stewardship Pastor for Life Church.
As a graduate of Hamilton High School, faith leader, and financial consultant, Travis has positioned himself to lead the working class of Bluff City to financial stability.
His passion for ending predatory lending has been highlighted by Memphis Business Journal, Live At 9, Bluff City Life, and many other local media outlets. Moody also authored three books that illustrate the importance of financial freedom. Travis is actively leading Memphis families to sustainable financial health and reversing generational poverty.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our experience has convinced us that there is a sustainable solution for every case when a person in Memphis earns at least $30k. The challenge we sometimes have is that some of the families we serve want our financial assistance, but are not willing to take the recommended steps toward a sustainable solution.
For instance, we may recommend steps such as canceling cable services in order to receive our help.
It’s difficult when we aren’t able to help these families who are struggling financially, but it also keeps us focused on providing financial assistance to those who are truly in need and are ready to move forward in their finances.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
First, Memphis, Tennessee is the payday lending capital of the world with more than 100 stores located in predominantly Black and Latino communities. Predatory lenders can charge annual percentage rates as high as 459% which means you may pay back almost 5 times the amount you originally borrowed.
Forward Memphis offers a pathway out of the cycle of predatory lending by providing free one on one personal financial coaching and access up to $5000 with no credit check to working Memphians who need emergency financial assistance.
Our partnerships with financial institutions, faith-based organizations, non-profits, and corporations across the city of Memphis can help us end generational cycles of payday lenders.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’m a South Memphis native and a proud graduate of Hamilton High School. I also played football for Georgia Tech during my college years. I met my wife in the first grade at Alcy Elementary. We have been married for over 32 years and have four adult children.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://forwardmemphis.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardmemphis/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forwardmemphis/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-memphis
Image Credits
Carlos Hernandez
