“For those with poor financial discipline, a lack of money is not the problem, therefore more money is not the solution.” – Chris Brady
The constant flow of Financial Fitness success stories is evidence of a product that works. Thousands of families from across the globe have bought into the idea that they, too, can free themselves from the Financial Matrix; and our goal is to be able to feature as many of those stories as possible. The reality is that these testimonies are real people who are getting real results from the Financial Fitness Program and it’s changing their lives. Check out this inspiring story from Roosevelt and Marie-Jo Jean-Francois:
As an immigrant born and raised in Haiti, I understand there are two United States. First, there is the one you discover as a visitor when you come for a few weeks on vacation, learn the culture and then go back home. Then there’s the other one, when you come to the United States to stay and live permanently and eventually call this place your home.
As far as I know my parents didn’t have any debt. My dad was an army officer and my mom operated a small shop, and from these streams of income they raised 9 children. They built their home one room at a time and my dad’s first car, a 1971 Hillman, was paid for in cash.
“My parents did not have much; however, they did not owe much neither. Food and education were their most important investments.”
As a boy, it was always my dream to travel to the United States. Some of my friends would tell stories that they heard from their parents living here saying that money grows from trees and you can shake a tree and money will fall to your feet.
After college, I started a career as a journalist reporting local Haitian political news on television. I was also a freelancer for The Washington Post and Newsweek.
My first visit was in Miami in 1988. I stayed with my uncle. Then, I have been coming and going back and forth.
I eventually married Marie-Josee who was also a journalist and we had three children together: Jonathan, 24; Cassandre, 21; and Axel 17.
In 2005, we moved to Fort-Lauderdale, Florida. We left Haiti with no personal debt and with some extra cash from items and personal belongings we sold before coming here. We also left with a sense of belonging to a community where we could ask questions and follow the footsteps of people who were more successful than we were.
We stayed with my brother Luc for two weeks before we purchased our home. We had a mortgage and immediately got into what best-selling author, Orrin Woodward, calls the “Financial Matrix.”
Luc introduced us to the Financial Fitness Program and compensated communities where we met with long time friends and mentors- John and Marie Delpe, Ken & Joan Hendon, Jerry & Polly Harteis.
I had a Fulbright Scholarship. I had the opportunity to work at the University as an Adjunct Faculty teaching a class on Diversity Issues for 5 years and work as an Admissions Advisor. These positions taught me about the financial aid program and the burden of student loans.
Through association, example, reading good books like Financial Fitness, and listening to compelling stories from others who have applied the principles, we learned to limit our debt, tighten our belt, and live below our means.
“The Financial Fitness suite of products and services taught us the theory and practice of good financial habits. We don’t have car payments, student loans or personal debt.”
We still have the notebook we started in 2005 to track our expenses and now we use the Track and Save app to control our expenses.
We learned to embrace everything that was offered through the Financial Fitness Program since its inception. The principles of financial management taught by Orrin Woodward in his solo book Resolved gave us the proper tools to understand the financial trap in the United States economy.
Our most important success is to have gone through the educational system with kids who have Bachelor’s Degrees but no student loans. Our children are able to start their careers with no debt or shackles tied to their feet.
We have been diligently playing defense with our finances and as a family we read, listen, and associate as much as we can with other leaders who are also learning from the Financial Fitness Program.
“I have been producing a daily radio show in Creole on economics and personal finances for the Haitian community. I also volunteer time doing seminars and workshops in several churches in southern Florida and Haiti about personal finances using the Financial Fitness Program. This product works!”
We also have a very aggressive offensive strategy. We now invest more in our personal development because we know we are our most important asset. Our kid’s also know the principles well and practice these habits and have read Financial Fitness for Teens and Tools of Money.
“Ce que tu cherches te cherche.” My mentor Jean Delpe always told me “what you are looking for is looking for you as well.”
I am still looking for those trees where money grows…
Congratulations to Roosevelt and Marie-Jo Jean-Francois for having the courage to go against the status quo and escape the Financial Matrix!
If you were inspired by this story, please be sure to leave a comment below. Also, don’t forget to tell us how the Financial Fitness Program is making a difference in your life!
Financial Fitness: Get out of Debt and Stay out of Debt
*The people in this article are not actors nor have they been paid to participate, but are real people that have used the products and services and have signed testimonial verifications attesting to the validity of the numbers claimed.
Myrna Jussila says
Thank you for sharing your story. We hear about this amazing Haitian community, so stories like this makes you real, and to read what your doing on a daily basis to create the impact on your communities is so inspiring.
Marie France Jean-Francois says
Great read Roosevelt and Thank you for sharing.
Yanick Landess says
Thank you for sharing your inspiring success story. I hope it will inspire others to follow your lead. Congrats.
Carline Mintoban says
I am so proud it’s not from another group ethnic come from that beautiful and inspire story it’s from a brother and a sister longtime friend we love you the Jean Francois family may God continue to pour all the blessing upon you and your family guys don’t forget when you find that tree who money grew please share with us same like we were part of that story❤️️
Gregory Joseph says
Wawwww proud of you Roosevelt et Marie-Jo…very inspiring
Paulette Lacroix says
Compliments!!! It is a powerful and inspiring story.
I would like to know more….
Ken Hendon says
Joan and I are proud to call you our friend. You have always listened and demonstrated your loyalty to the people around you and the principles you hold so dear. Your writings bring to mind so many good times we had in Haiti and the US. God Bless.
Ken and Joan
Steven says
Awesome, I wish every people in the world , will tell the same story about themselves one day.
Luc says
Awesome story. We are so proud of you both. Thank for blazing the trail out of the matrix for the family.
Luc & Natalie.
Luc says
Awesome story. We are so proud of you both. Thank you for blazing the trail out of the matrix for the family.
Luc & Natalie.
Shirley Marron says
Congratulations to you and your family. What you are doing is helping you and your family and the people around you. Great from Shirley