Jim is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, Certified Financial Planner™, and former Assistant Professor of Economics/Finance at West Point. Over a 22-year military career, he led global law enforcement and security operations in the United States, Germany, the Pacific, Kuwait, Korea, and Afghanistan — culminating in commanding a 1,150-soldier Military Police Battalion in Germany. He has served as an academic fellow researching terrorism financing and taught finance and economics to future Army leaders.
Jim holds an MBA from Duke University - Fuqua School of Business, an MA from Webster University, and a BA from Purdue University. Along with his passion for his family and personal finance, he is an avid Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt practitioner, fantasy enthusiast, and vintage comic book collector.
He’s the founder of The Financial Forge, a financial education and coaching platform that blends disciplined expertise with immersive storytelling. After decades of leading Soldiers, navigating law enforcement encounters, and teaching future leaders, he’s seen firsthand how financial stress can quietly erode confidence, opportunity, and peace of mind. That’s why he built The Financial Forge — to craft tools that empower people to take control, build resilience, and unlock the freedom they deserve. His mission: to help every individual "forge" their own financial freedom.
Specialist Rivera had just returned from deployment with a pocket full of hazard pay and a head full of plans. First stop: the dealership. He signed for a brand-new Camaro — zero down, high interest, 72-month loan. It felt like freedom.
Three months later, the payments hit harder than expected. Insurance was brutal. Gas guzzled his budget. And when his unit moved to a remote training site, the car sat idle — racking up costs while his savings stayed empty.
A crusty Sergeant Major pulled him aside one day. “You’re forging your future with every dollar, Rivera. Right now, you’re crafting chains.”
That stuck.
Rivera took a financial readiness class. He learned about compound interest, budgeting, and how to read the fine print. He sold the Camaro, paid off his debt, and started investing in the TSP. By the time he pinned Sergeant, he wasn’t just leading troops — he was mentoring them on money.
Because the strongest armor a Soldier can wear isn’t always Kevlar. Sometimes, it’s financial literacy.
💰 Taking a personal finance class in high school has a lifetime benefit of roughly $100,000. That’s according to a 2024 report by Tyton Partners and Next Gen Personal Finance, which found that students who complete even a one-semester course gain long-term advantages like avoiding high-interest debt and securing better credit scores for major purchases.
💰 The lack of financial literacy cost Americans an estimated $388 billion in 2023. That includes everything from poor credit decisions to missed investment opportunities and excessive fees.
💰 Adults with very low financial literacy are 7× more likely to spend 20+ hours/month dealing with money problems.
💰 22% of Americans say not saving early for retirement is their biggest money regret.
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