JMMB’s signature financial empowerment conference, JMMB Elevate 5.0, took place on Saturday, January 21st at the AC Hotel Kingston. Under the theme ‘Living Your Best Life’ the day-long hybrid event encouraged participants to reflect on and celebrate their 2022 achievements while also planning a strategic approach towards the year ahead — with financial education and personal goal-setting at the core of all presentations being made.

Headlining the conference were internationally recognised author, entrepreneur, and relationship expert Paul C Brunson, alongside Dr Terri-Karelle Reid, media personality, entrepreneur and community builder. Sessions also featured Anna Palomino – The Money Coach; Keisha Bailey – financial strategist and founder of Profit Jumpstarter; David Rose – business journalist; Peter Thompson – group chief investment manager at JMMB, and Camille Steer – senior corporate manager, fund services at JMMB.

“We are so excited to finally return to an in-person event! Each year, JMMB Elevate strives to educate and inspire our Jamaican people,” chief marketing officer at JMMB Group, Kerry-Ann Stimpson, explained. “Financial literacy is an asset that arms and empowers our attendees with the tools and the mindset they need to take on their goals for 2023 and beyond. Nothing replaces your own education; this is why we’re so excited to see so many persons taking the time out to invest in themselves by coming to ‘Elevate’ and we’re so honoured and humbled to provide this opportunity for them. Our speakers shared their stories, their personal journeys, and their expertise and really made an impact on our in-person and virtual audience.”

Dr Reid, who made her debut as a speaker on this year’s Elevate stage after being a participant, host, and panellist for previous stagings, shared how the Elevate event series has impacted her life.

“Commendations to JMMB because I really think that what they are doing is magnificent. Elevate has been consistent over the years; they didn’t just want to make it a money management conference but rather an empowerment summit, and I think it’s a fantastic way to start out the year. I’ve had the pleasure of not just being an attendee but also a facilitator/moderator and a panellist, and one thing I can say is that the audience always craves information. It’s always an atmosphere that is charged positively and I think there is always a rich exchange, so if no one has ever had the opportunity to attend, it is something that I think is a must. It is a calendar event and it never disappoints — it always delivers.”

Making his return to the JMMB Elevate stage for the second time as a keynote speaker and this time with his family present to witness him in action on stage, Brunson shared why this year’s presentation was particularly special for him.

“It really feels full circle to be back and to have my family here this time to see me on stage — they’re such a big part of my story. My hope is that I continue on from where Terri started with the point to ‘outwork your self-doubt’, and that to do that requires just one step. And I think that my life is testimony to that because I don’t have any skills that anyone else in this room doesn’t have, but it’s through using strategy — consistent, targeted, unmissable content — that I’ve been able to create my career. So, what I really hope is that people leave here with the belief in themselves that they can do it too.”

This year’s staging saw over approximately 1,700 guests both virtually and in-person in their new hybrid format, which was adopted to cater to the demand both locally and internationally. Speakers touched on topics related specifically to financial literacy, retirement planning, strategic planning, investment, building and monetising your personal brand, and ultimately, living your best life. The speakers shared tips on how to develop and nurture a growth mindset, release self-doubt, ask for help, and the importance of action and execution on the journey to success in 2023 and beyond. For those who may have missed the conference online and in person, the full recording will be uploaded to the JMMB Group’s YouTube page for repeat viewing.