WHY WE EXIST
Our Mission
The mission of My Why Foundation is to provide knowledge and build confidence in investing in the stock market for the purpose of building wealth to meet the specific goals of each person.
Our Story
At the My Why Foundation, we believe everyone deserves to understand how money works — and why it matters. Founded by financial advisor John Travis, our mission is to bring real-world financial education to underserved communities across the country. We focus on one thing: helping people find their “why” — the personal reason they want to save, invest, and build wealth.
My Why Foundation was founded in 2020 by John Travis, a financial advisor who wanted to make an impact in our underserved communities. He works in the financial services industry helping people with retirement by investing in the stock market and making smart financial decisions. While many factors contribute to the wealth gap in America, investing (or not investing) in the stock market is one of the contributing factors, and he has a passion to educate people and can help them open up their first stock market account.
My Why Foundation provides an overview of the stock market and then helps participants open up accounts on-line at Charles Schwab. Two matching programs are available to participants who contribute to their accounts within 45 days. My Why Foundation will match $ for $ up to $100. Charles Schwab will match $100 if $1,000 is invested.
Building wealth takes time. But if we begin to open up accounts and teach our kids, grandkids, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, parents, friends, co-workers, and others we care about, we can begin to close the wealth gap in America. Thank you for your consideration in supporting the My Why Foundation, where 100% of your donations are invested back in the community.
NOTE: John Travis does not benefit from participants opening up stock market accounts through the My Why Foundation. This effort is totally separate from his business and is strictly a volunteer and ministry effort.
Our Leadership
John Travis
My Why Foundation Co-Founder & Financial Advisor
John is an advisor with Richard Young Associates and co-host of the MoneyMD podcast. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA in Finance, followed by an MBA in 1992. John had 15 years of experience in corporate financial planning before joining Richard Young Associates in 2007. He is a Dave Ramsey Certified Counselor as well as a Certified Kingdom Advisor®. From 2008-2020, John was a Ramsey Local Provider for investments and long-term care insurance. He is licensed in both securities and investment advice.
John co-founded My Why Foundation and currently serves as a founding member of the ACTS vehicle ministry team. In addition, John volunteers in his church as the leader of the finance ministry team, where he counsels those in need and has helped facilitate over twenty Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University classes since 2009. John and his family have a passion for teaching our youth about finances, and have sponsored Dave Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance for local CSRA high schools since 2014. He has served on the boards of directors of the Megiddo Dream Station, Leadership AC, Salvation Army, Performing Arts Group, and Hungry No More charitable foundations. John and his wife, Tammy, have two grown kids – Danielle, who works in Orlando, Florida, and Matthew, who works at Richard Young Associates!
Additional Board Members
Mandy Collins
Marcey Bush
Jay Watts
Jay Creamer
Chris Wilcox
Cynthia Rhodes
Nikisha Davis
Paul Bush
