This Is Why I Do What I Do
We all have a story that shapes us. Mine is layered with tragedy, influence, and transformation. It’s not just about money. It’s about meaning.
In this episode of the Financial State of Minds Podcast, I opened up like never before. For nearly 60 minutes, I shared the full journey—how the loss of my immediate family changed everything, how the challenges I faced pushed me to seek financial stability, and how influence from the right people showed me it was possible.
This is more than my origin story. It’s my why.
🕊️ Tragedy Wasn’t the End—It Was the Beginning
Losing my family reshaped me. It stripped away the noise and made me confront questions many of us try to avoid:
What am I really doing with my life? Who am I building for? What happens when there’s no safety net?
In the midst of that grief, I realized I didn’t want to just survive anymore—I wanted to build something meaningful. Something stable. Something lasting. That desire led me to financial planning—not just as a profession, but as a personal promise.
💬 The Power of Influence
I didn’t get here alone.
This episode also reflects on the people—mentors, friends, family—who poured into me when I needed it most. Their belief in me was like fuel. They didn’t give me shortcuts; they gave me perspective. They reminded me that pain doesn’t have to be permanent—and that financial peace isn’t just for the wealthy or privileged. It’s for us, too.
💡 A New Mission Was Born
Financial State of Minds isn’t a business for me—it’s a legacy project. It’s a space for people who’ve been overlooked, overwhelmed, or told they’re too far behind. It’s for people trying to figure it out after loss, after failure, after the fog clears.
It’s where I turn my experiences into tools—for you.
Whether it’s my story, my services, or my podcast, everything I do is designed to help others build financial lives that are rooted in clarity, purpose, and powerNo one starts with it all together.
You just start where you are—with what you’ve got—and you commit to doing better.
That’s what I did.
That’s what I’ll help you do, too.
Darrin Harvey
Financial Planner + Business Consultant
Darrin Harvey is a financial planner and the host of the Financial State of Minds podcast, where he breaks down personal finance in a way that’s clear, relatable, and empowering. Raised in a middle-class home by parents who emphasized financial literacy, Darrin entered adulthood with a foundation in money management—but still faced his share of financial highs and lows. He overcame periods of debt and instability by learning to plan intentionally, all while navigating life as a legally blind individual.
Darrin now uses his experiences to help others do the same. His mission is to educate and uplift communities that are often overlooked when it comes to financial planning—college students, African American and other minority communities, and the disabled community. Through one-on-one coaching and his podcast, he offers practical tools, real-life strategies, and a supportive voice for those ready to take control of their finances. For Darrin, financial literacy isn’t just about money—it’s about access, confidence, and building a future you can be proud of.
