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Who Keeps Blocking Black Wealth

Who Keeps Blocking Black Wealth

by Leoler Shanklin

Education Society & Culture

Season 1

Episode 14: The Structures — What Holds Your Financial Estate

Last episode, Dana and Harold mapped the financial locations: Taxable City. The Partially Taxed Suburb. And Tax-Free Land. This week, they move from location to construction. What structures are holding your money? What was each one designed to do? And do your checking accounts, retirement plans, insurance policies and investment accounts work together as an intentional financial estate—or are they simply scattered property with no blueprint? In Part 4 of the WKBBW Retirement Planning Series, Dana and Harold examine: • The government parking structure: Social Security and Medicare • Employer-sponsored structures, including pensions, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457 plans and deferred compensation • The Rainy Day garage • Traditional, Roth, SEP and SIMPLE IRA garages • The non-qualified garage • Risk-management structures, including HSAs, life insurance, disability insurance and long-term care coverage • Brokerage accounts as custodial and recordkeeping additions • SIPC protection and what it does—and does not—cover • Why having several accounts does not automatically mean you have a retirement plan The central lesson: Financial clutter is not the same thing as financial architecture. Every structure should have a purpose, every account should support the broader estate, and every piece should help fund the retirement life you say you want. And yes—Harold is still looking for gas money.

Episode 13: Tax Buckets — Same Money, Different Rules

This week Dana and Harold tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance: tax buckets. Many people believe wealthy individuals simply avoid taxes altogether. The reality is often more nuanced. In this episode we discuss: • Fully taxable income • Partially taxed income • Potentially tax-free income • Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s • Roth accounts • Municipal bonds • Social Security taxation • Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) • SEPP strategies • Why structure matters as much as growth We also explore what scripture says about taxation, governance, and adapting to systems that have existed since biblical times. The takeaway? Nobody avoids taxes altogether. But understanding how different types of money are treated can help you make better decisions today and create more flexibility for tomorrow. Because future you is counting on present you. And present Harold still needs gas money.

Who Gon Take Care of You?

In this episode of Who Keeps Blocking Black Wealth?!, Dana and Harold tackle one of the most overlooked threats to retirement stability: long-term care. Most families assume someone will “just step in” when illness, dementia, or disability changes everything. But what happens when caregiving becomes financially, emotionally, and physically overwhelming? This episode breaks down: long-term care realities caregiver burnout morbidity vs mortality insurance and risk management Medicaid and healthcare systems preserving dignity in retirement how one health crisis can financially impact an entire family Dana also shares deeply personal experiences involving Parkinson’s, vascular dementia, family caregiving, facility care, and the painful realities many families quietly face. Because retirement planning is not just about building wealth. It’s about protecting your family from preventable chaos later.

Retirement Ain’t What You Think

Most people think retirement planning is for wealthy people. That’s the myth. This week on Who Keeps Blocking Black Wealth, Dana Mitchell and Harold Tate break down why retirement planning has nothing to do with being rich — and everything to do with understanding your future before crisis forces decisions for you. Using this week’s private-credit market losses as the backdrop, the episode explores how financial instability eventually impacts everyday communities, especially those already struggling with access to capital, retirement planning, and generational wealth building. Topics include: Why retirement planning starts with vision, not money How survival mode keeps people from preparing The hidden danger of “I’ll figure it out later” Defining retirement before building strategy Why financial systems affect everyone — even when they seem irrelevant Because retirement planning is not just about money. It’s about dignity.

YOU FILED YOUR TAXES, NOW WHAT?

This week on Who Keeps Blocking Black Wealth, Dana Mitchell and Harold Tate break down one of the biggest financial misconceptions in our community: Having a retirement account is NOT the same thing as having a retirement strategy. Using this week’s tax withholding discussions as the backdrop, the episode explores: why many single filers end up owing taxes how pre-tax retirement contributions actually work

The Bank Ain't Your Friend

Episode 9 - Banks and Black Wealth: Uncovering Barriers opens with a sharp current‑events breakdown, connecting today’s financial headlines to the lived realities of Black communities. A scripture reflection follows, grounding the conversation in timeless wisdom before the hosts dive into the heart of the episode: how banks have historically—and still today—blocked Black wealth. From redlining to modern overdraft traps, unequal lending standards, and real stories from the community, this episode exposes the systemic barriers that keep Black families from building generational wealth. The hosts unpack why distrust of banks runs so deep, how these patterns persist, and what collective action can look like—from supporting Black‑owned banks to demanding transparency and accountability. A powerful blend of history, faith, and real‑world insight for listeners seeking clarity, empowerment, and a path forward.

The System Wasn't Built For You

The system isn’t broken—it’s working exactly as designed. In Episode 8, Dana and Harold unpack wealth inequality by connecting global markets, local policy, and personal financial behavior. From oil prices and futures markets to everyday costs like gas and housing, this episode exposes how systems shape outcomes—and what responsibility looks like once you understand them. This isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness… and action. Code: WKBBW Strong Coffee Company Cozy Earth

THE CREDIT SCORE GAME

Episode 7: The Credit Score Game Most people know their credit score matters. But very few people understand what it actually measures. In this episode of Who Keeps Blocking Black Wealth, Dana and Harold break down the logic behind credit scores using a simple, relatable example: what you think about when someone asks to borrow money. Because that same thought process — trust, consistency, and risk — is what the financial system tries to measure at scale. The conversation explores: what a credit score really represents how behavior turns into a number why the system can feel confusing or unfair and why understanding it changes how you move The episode also connects these ideas to a deeper principle found in scripture: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6 This show exists to shine light on financial knowledge our community has often believed was hidden — so we can understand it and use it to our advantage.:

The Interest Rate Trap | Why Borrowing Feels So Expensive

Why does borrowing suddenly feel so expensive? In this episode of Who Keeps Blocking Black Wealth, Dana explains the forces that make up interest rates using a simple real-world example that reveals how lenders evaluate risk, time, and uncertainty. Understanding these basic principles helps explain why borrowing costs change and why financial systems sometimes feel unpredictable. The conversation also reflects on a deeper truth found in scripture: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6 This podcast exists to shine light on financial knowledge many people believe has been hidden from them, so that knowledge can be understood and used wisely.

Why Everything Suddenly Feels So Expensive

The system isn’t broken—it’s working exactly as designed. In Episode 8, Dana and Harold unpack wealth inequality by connecting global markets, local policy, and personal financial behavior. From oil prices and futures markets to everyday costs like gas and housing, this episode exposes how systems shape outcomes—and what responsibility looks like once you understand them. This isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness… and action. Promo Code: WKBBW

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