About Us
Who We Are
We are a black-owned company looking to spread financial literacy one book at a time. We are geared toward the youth because we believe in building up our future leaders and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed.
Finance isn’t always a fun topic, so we approach it in a more fun and interactive way through story telling. We assist parents in introducing finance terms through captivating stories and activities.
Meet our 3 Main Characters
Aniyah, A’lana, and Daniel are the three main characters we follow. Being a minority-founded business, we think it’s critical to depict minorities positively in literature.
To represent our community, these figures have skin tones that range widely. They are also incredibly significant to the creator because every single one of them was modeled after her children, right down to the names, physical traits, and skin tones.
Giving Back
We recognize the injustices that are still present in our society today. Low-income neighborhoods continue to face many struggles, including the lack of financial education, which plays a significant role in individuals being trapped in that same cycle. We want to do our part to help bridge the wealth gap.
At the end of every year, we will donate a percentage of our profits in books to underserved schools. We are hoping to get as many books as possible in these schools, so students can build up their financial knowledge. Given we are based in Southern California, our current focus will be schools in areas like East San Diego, Spring Valley, Compton, Inglewood, and South Central.
The Founder
Celina is a seasoned finance and real estate professional with extensive experience across asset management, wealth management, and commercial real estate. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of South Florida and holds Series 7, 66, and 63 securities licenses.
She launched her career at Goldman Sachs as an Analyst, specializing in fixed-income securities valuation, market analysis, and asset pricing. She later transitioned into the firm’s wealth management division, where she played a key role in supporting high-net-worth clients and driving the success of a top-performing advisory team.
Seeking a more direct role in wealth management, Celina became a Financial Advisor at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she developed customized investment strategies and built lasting client relationships. Her expertise in financial storytelling and strategic marketing led her to Capital Group, where she worked closely with investment sales teams to create compelling materials that secured institutional clients.
Expanding her focus, Celina transitioned into commercial real estate at Jones Lang LaSalle, leveraging her financial acumen to help investors and business owners analyze and execute real estate deals. While much of her career has been centered around high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors, she is deeply committed to making financial literacy accessible to all.
Having grown up in poverty, Celina understands firsthand the transformative power of financial education. Determined to bridge the knowledge gap, she founded Smart Money Buddies, an initiative dedicated to teaching children and young adults the fundamentals of finance and investing. She believes financial literacy isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s a necessity that should be instilled in every child from an early age.