Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!
You're IT Literacy To Legacy Mentors!
Three questions with Deborah Pratt Burns, founder and Chief Prosperity Officer of Literacy To Legacy Mentors.
About Deborah: I am a 27-year Fairfield resident with my husband, Lansing, retired High School English Teacher and a single-digit handicap member of the H.Smith Richardson Senior Men's Golf League based in Fairfield, Connecticut, and daughter, Audrey, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Loyola Marymount University based in Los Angeles, with a BA in Theatre Arts.
I am also the founder and managing principal of Burns Communications a leading Business & Brand Advisory agency based in Fairfield, celebrating 16 years in business this year. Lastly, I am the former Founder and Managing Director of the PR Division of Creative Partners advertising agency in Stamford -- a seven-figure agency I built over five years, and recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in Southern New England.
Why did you start your business?
As a well-established financial and business mentor, builder of profitable six- and seven-figure companies and brands, and a successful private investor for over 30 years, I realized a growing need for concrete, easy-to-understand personal finance education, and personalized mentoring services. There continues to be a lot of fear, confusion, uncertainty, poor financial habits ingrained early, and even general avoidance of the subject, and the pandemic only made matters worse. In addition, in 2023, there are less than a dozen U.S. states that require High School students to complete a semester-or year-long, personal finance course to graduate, so most young adults do not have an advantage in business or life without the financial tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
I launched Literacy to Legacy Mentors during Financial Literacy Month in April 2021 to help young adults, entrepreneurs, executives, individuals, couples, families, and retirees increase their financial IQ, expertly examine their limiting attitudes, habits, and behaviors around money, and begin to take charge of their financial lives. My mission is to educate, inspire, and motivate consumers to master their financial lives, think abundantly and live prosperously through personal finance education and mentoring.
In addition to personalized mentoring services available by the hour or on a month-to-month retainer basis, consumers have access to timely, relevant content on my website, including insightful articles from guest columnists and a world-class strategic partner network of veteran estates and trusts and eldercare attorneys, tax strategists, insurance specialists, and the nation’s leading college financial aid expert.
As I help clients to get to their “why” around earning, spending, saving, and investing, and how to identify and begin to change their limiting attitudes, behaviors, and habits around money, most clients prefer to retain me on a three-month mentoring basis to start. It has been my experience that a strong mentor-mentee relationship -- and the results my clients are seeking -- takes time, and developing trust is a key component to a successful outcome.
Have you "reimagined" your small business?
Over the past two years this April, I have expanded my reach and influence among my target audiences to include:
- My “Literacy to Legacy Mentors Financial Freedom Education” YouTube Channel featuring guest interviews, and my quarterly “Entrepreneur Spotlight” showcasing interviews with entrepreneurs who have built successful and profitable companies over a more than 20-year period that gives back to their communities:
- A “Money Mastery Minute” video series on my YouTube Channel and social media on a variety of relevant and timely topics people have expressed interest in learning more about
- My 30-minute “Financial Freedom Accelerator” mentoring package to address timely issues with clients that require an immediate response or solution – an extremely popular option
- HAYVN Coworking Membership, providing access to personal finance mentoring, events, workshops, and retreats to more than 200 members
- An exciting collaboration, and potential advisory board role, with a leading women-centric non-profit based in Fairfield County to empower, educate, and inspire women to master their financial lives and become more active members of society (in development)
- Invitations and speaking opportunities with women’s groups, retirement communities, high schools, and civic groups to help enlighten people about behavioral finance and how they can become more financially savvy and successful in their career and their lives!
Deborah would like to nominate Virtual Support Gal to be featured next!
Visit Literacy To Legacy Mentors online here, and make sure to check out their Facebook, and Instagram pages as well!
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!