Supplied photo.
Money is one of the longest relationships we’ll ever have, says financial advisor Janasha Bradford. We use it to make decisions about where we live, how we work, how we define success and security. For Bradford, the relationship began with personal loss. At just 7 years old, she watched her mother struggle to manage a large life insurance policy after Bradford’s father died unexpectedly.
“She had no formal financial education,” Bradford says. “As the oldest child, I witnessed the emotional and financial toll of mismanaging money. It wasn’t from neglect—it was from a lack of access and knowledge.”
That early experience planted the seeds of a career in finance, and later, a calling. Bradford became a financial advisor, but even as she studied for her Series 7 exam, she was struck by how foreign the language of finance felt. “Why didn’t I learn this when I was a child?” she wondered. Again and again, she heard the same sentiment from clients: I wish I had learned this earlier.
So she set out to change the starting point.
Enter Mahogany & Friends: Tiny Investor Club, a vibrant financial literacy brand that teaches kids about money through storytelling, play, and creativity. From colorful characters to hands-on workshops, Bradford’s goal is to make money approachable, joyful—and most importantly—empowering.
“Financial literacy gives kids the language and tools to navigate the world with confidence,” Bradford says. “If we want them to thrive in life, we have to start early.”
Through storybooks, financial workbooks, and play-based curriculums, Tiny Investor Club introduces money concepts in ways that resonate with children. There are online summer camps, school-ready lesson plans, and even Mahogany Coin, a kid-friendly currency that’s part of an upcoming digital platform. A forthcoming animated series will bring the brand’s characters to life.
Bradford’s nonprofit arm, Mahogany & Friends Foundation, recently hosted a flagship workshop called Budget Does It during Financial Literacy Month, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia. More than 300 kids participated across three locations, using Skittles to learn the basics of budgeting and financial decision-making. Each child left with a literacy kit—and a new sense of empowerment.
Thanks to local sponsors and donors, the event raised more than $13,000 and included everything from budgeting games to raffle prizes and free meals from Raising Cane’s. The workshop is now set to become an annual event.
In summer of 2025, Bradford launched a two-week financial literacy and entrepreneurship program for rising seventh to ninth graders in partnership with UVA’s Starr Hill Pathways. During the program, students visit local businesses like CNF Bank and WillowTree to see how money flows through different industries.
Bradford hopes to expand even further—with help. “We’re always looking for volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who want to empower the next generation,” she says.
In a world where money can be intimidating or elusive, Bradford is showing kids that it can also be empowering—and fun.
