Ryan Mack has a life mission to build and develop a durable financial empire geared towards educating his community and beyond. In addition to being a financial advisor working with many prominent clients across the US, he charitably lends his support to inner-city communities by coordinating workshops and creating economic empowerment initiatives that teach the principles of understanding the power of financial literacy. Unions, churches, government-subsidized housing communities, municipal programs, nonprofits, inner-city organizations, international communities, and especially colleges and universities have benefited from the financial workshops/programs that he has developed and instructed through Optimum Capital Management. As a renowned public speaker he has provided many keynote presentations to organizations across the country such as NAACP, National Urban League, National Black MBA Association, and many others. With a strong sense of philanthropy he flew to South Africa to teach economic empowerment principles to those in need and has partnered with his District Attorney’s office to teach financial literacy to previously incarcerated community residents with the aim of lowering recidivism rates. He can be regularly viewed on television networks such as CNBC, CNN and BET discussing economic issues that impact American citizens. He has been profiled in Tavis Smiley's Covenant and Action, co-authored a handbook “The Black Male Handbook” with Kevin Powell, featured in Black Enterprise Magazine, and received Tom Joyner's "Hardest Working Financial Advisor Award" because of his efforts to empower the community with the crucial life skills of financial literacy.

Blog Entries by Ryan Mack

Ryan Mack's Confession: I LOVE Eating TOO Much!

2 Comments | Posted November 9, 2009 | 06:00 PM (EST)


I am great when it comes to numbers. I can break down a financial principle with the best of them and can speak on economic empowerment ALL DAY without taking a break because I love it so much. I know that it is protocol in the blogger world to only...

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Real Investing Vs. The "Pinky Ring"

4 Comments | Posted October 22, 2009 | 05:51 PM (EST)


If I gave you $100,000 today how would you spend it? Before you continue to read, I want you to take a moment and think hard about this question. How would you put that money to work? After you have thought about it, which of the following two scenarios describes...

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The Optimum October Fight Against Recidivism [VIDEO]

Posted October 16, 2009 | 08:56 AM (EST)


Of the 2.7 million people who are incarcerated in our prison systems across America, 650,000 will be released this year and 63 percent will return within three years. Recidivism is something that impacts all of us because there is no such thing as a victimless crime. In an effort to...

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Mackonomics: 1 Recession = Millions of Financial Leeches to Suck You Dry!

Posted October 14, 2009 | 06:12 PM (EST)


With an economy that is in a recession that feels like a depression in many cities across the country...the sharks (financial predators) are in the water. Many companies prey off of public fear and ignorance and wanted to provide a "cheat sheet" for all readers to use in case they...

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Picking Up the Pieces: 11 Financial Tips for the Unemployed

1 Comments | Posted October 14, 2009 | 04:00 PM (EST)


Jobs, jobs, jobs ... while the economy seems to be improving, those who have stumbled into the ranks of the unemployed find little comfort in recent statistics (i.e. a slight stabilization in housing prices, better-than-expected corporate earnings, and over 50% returns in the US stock markets since March 9th lows)....

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Starting Over After a Recession: Helping Obama Build an Economic "House on a Rock"

Posted October 12, 2009 | 11:40 AM (EST)


"We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand. We must build our house upon a rock."
These words were spoken by Barack Obama during his economic address at Georgetown University on April 14, 2009. The operative word in this sentence is the word "we." The significance of...
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Ryan Mack's Open Letter to Detroit: Safer Exotic Bars = Faster Economic Recovery

12 Comments | Posted October 3, 2009 | 02:53 PM (EST)


I received an email with a link to a YouTube.com video that displayed a hearing being held in Detroit, Michigan in front of the City Council. Various people of the community were expressing their concerns over the vast number of strip clubs that exist in the Detroit area. The others,...

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Worried About Money

Posted September 25, 2009 | 11:13 AM (EST)


An Ode to Greed, Ignorance, and Self Righteousness in America

I woke up early...worried about money.
Too many late bills to pay.
I paid most with my check.
Kept some for myself to celebrate.

I woke up early...worried about money.
They're turning off my lights.
...

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Policies of Fear or Ignorance?

1 Comments | Posted August 26, 2009 | 12:13 PM (EST)


In teaching financial literacy to audiences across the country, I often cover the topic of "End of Life Planning." Included in this part of the course I will inform the attendees of the importance of planning ahead in this arena, and not letting someone else make these crucial life decisions...

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How the Enron Disaster Could Have Been Avoided

1 Comments | Posted May 21, 2009 | 03:06 PM (EST)


My grandfather used to tell me a story of a horse being ridden by his master who begins to ride into a dark tunnel when the horse stops and refuses to go into the pitch black tunnel. The master takes out his handkerchief, blindfolds the horse and they ride into...

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Why the AIG Bonus Story Matters to America

Posted April 5, 2009 | 04:18 PM (EST)


Somewhere in Detroit, right now, there is a union worker sweating as he helps to produce cars for this country on the assembly line. He thought that his contract with the UAW was set in stone but, unfortunately, to his dismay it was renegotiated and he has just found out...

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A Letter to Russell Simmons: Stop Selling Your Rushcard!

Posted January 13, 2009 | 06:13 PM (EST)


Dear Mr. Simmons:

My name is Ryan Mack and I have followed your career for most of my life. I have been a long-time admirer of your work, a tremendous fan, and believe that millions are inspired by the paths that you have created in the field...

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Fire, ready...AIM! Does McCain Have the Temperament to Lead?

Posted September 24, 2008 | 11:42 AM (EST)


John McCain has consistently shown that through all of his bluster and hawkish banter, he does not possess the temperament to make the tough decisions that mean the most to this country. Meanwhile, Barack Obama has consistently shown that not only can he be cool and measured in his decision...

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"Too Big to Fail" Vs. "Too Big to Be Responsible"

Posted September 22, 2008 | 12:47 PM (EST)


6.1% unemployment rates, 604,000 jobs lost since January, record foreclosure rates, near $4.00 per gallon gas prices, stagnate real wages, record prison population rates, and increasing food prices are just a few of the problems that plague American people in today's economy. As we all wait patiently for housing prices...

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