In this powerful Season 4 episode of Tha Motiv8tors Table, Dr. JayR McIntyre sits down with Sabryn Verney, a financial strategist and educator committed to transforming how individuals and communities understand money. Sabryn shares her journey from a mixed-family upbringing in Orlando, Florida, rooted in financial discipline, to becoming a respected voice in financial planning and wealth management at just 25 years old. She breaks down why financial literacy is not optional, especially in communities that have historically been left out of financial education, and why understanding money is foundational to freedom. From her time balancing full-time school, multiple jobs, and personal adversity, to her pivot out of hospitality management and into holistic financial services with New York Life, Sabryn's story is a masterclass in resilience, self-awareness, and purpose-driven pivot. This conversation is for entrepreneurs, parents, young professionals, students, and anyone ready to take control of their financial future and build something that lasts beyond themselves.
Podcast Title:
Tha Motiv8tors Table Podcast
Host:
Dr. JayR McIntyre (Tha Hood Motiv8tor)
Episode Title:
E009 - Your First Business Is Your Life - Sabryn Verney on Money, Mentorship and Generational Wealth
Summary:
In this powerful Season 4 episode of Tha Motiv8tors Table, Dr. JayR McIntyre sits down with Sabryn Verney, a financial strategist and educator committed to transforming how individuals and communities understand money.
Sabryn shares her journey from a mixed-family upbringing in Orlando, Florida, rooted in financial discipline, to becoming a respected voice in financial planning and wealth management at just 25 years old. She breaks down why financial literacy is not optional, especially in communities that have historically been left out of financial education, and why understanding money is foundational to freedom.
From her time balancing full-time school, multiple jobs, and personal adversity, to her pivot out of hospitality management and into holistic financial services with New York Life, Sabryn's story is a masterclass in resilience, self-awareness, and purpose-driven pivot. This conversation is for entrepreneurs, parents, young professionals, students, and anyone ready to take control of their financial future and build something that lasts beyond themselves.
Main Topics:
• Why financial literacy is essential for personal and community growth
• How childhood experiences shape our relationship with money
• The realities of balancing work, school, and ambition
• What it really means to take a holistic approach to financial planning
• The role of mentorship in career transitions and entrepreneurship
• How education empowers informed decision-making
• Why generational wealth begins with awareness and action
Intriguing Quotes:
"When we know better, we do better."
"Your first business is your life."
"You don't have to be a millionaire to plan like one, but we're going to create some in that process."
"We are already behind as people in all things given our history. It is 2026. We don't have an excuse to not know these things anymore."
Key Moments:
[00:00:00] - Introduction and guest welcome - Dr. JayR introduces Sabryn Verney to the Motiv8tors Table
[00:02:06] - Understanding financial literacy - Sabryn explains her holistic approach and her belief that you don't have to be a millionaire to plan like one
[00:03:39] - Childhood and family influence - Sabryn shares how her Colombian and Louisiana roots, military parents, and Rich Dad Poor Dad upbringing shaped her financial foundation
[00:06:52] - High school and early interests - Juggling choir, soccer, dance, a job at 16, and a health academy magnet program while building independence
[00:10:09] - College challenges and balance - Full ride to USF, COVID disruptions, working full-time, and graduating in three and a half years
[00:15:03] - Career transitions - Rising from bartender to regional GM across five hospitality locations and recognising the burnout that forced a pivot
[00:20:45] - The pivot to financial services - Ignoring God's signs, surviving panic attacks in the walk-in, and finally trusting the leap out of hospitality
[00:27:04] - Entering New York Life - How mentor Ricanda Rollins recruited Sabryn, the licensing pathway, and the company's culture of constant education
[00:33:18] - Holistic financial planning - The fact-finder process, the financial doctor analogy, and building relationships over transactions
[00:38:33] - Inspiring the next generation - Sabryn's message to young women - believe in yourself, stay educated, and know that you are that girl
[00:44:17] - Final thoughts and encouragement - Why Black and Brown communities must stop running from financial conversations and start building generational wealth now
Notable Guests/Resources:
Sabryn Verney - Financial strategist, holistic financial planner, and educator with New York Life focused on empowering individuals, families, and underserved communities to build intentional, generational wealth.