Creative Planning Strikes Its First 2021 Deal, Opens Nonprofit

"Pathway Financial Education is a response to a clarion call to address racial injustice and inequity in our under-served communities," said Mallouk, in a statement. "By creating access to financial education, we hope to narrow the gap of inequity."

The organization offers both in-person classroom instruction and online educational courses to teach high school kids and adults about spending, saving and investing money and to teach small-business owners about accessing capital, taxes, and bookkeeping and recordkeeping best practices. Upon graduation, students can access resources for resume writing, interview help and fixing their credit.

Initially, lawyers, accountants and financial planners from Creative Planning will teach the courses at Pathway, but once the organization becomes more established after a couple of years, Mallouk envisions professionals from outside the firm will assist.

In the meantime, the organization has more volunteers than it can use, Mallouk said, adding that Creative Planning has been involved in inner-city projects in Kansas City over the past 20 years.

Pathway has received financial backing from Creative Planning and The Mallouk Family Foundation and financial support from JE Dunn Construction, Royals Charities (the philanthropic arm of the Kansas City Royals baseball team), BlackRock, Dimensional Fund Advisors and The Opus Group.

(Image: Adobe Stock)

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