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The Atlanta Business League hosted its 40th annual Super Tuesday conference on Oct. 15, with panels, seminars, fellowship, and networking opportunities celebrating Black female business owners across the metro Atlanta area. This year’s conference theme was “One Great Day: The Ballot, The Book and The Buck,” a phrase that examines the intersections between civic engagement, education, and economic empowerment.

The Atlanta Voice publisher Janis Ware was among the panelists who gave her insight into the importance of building a legacy and generational wealth. In a packed conference room, Ware was joined by Andrella Kenner, founder and CEO of CI² Aviation Inc., and Jason Halliburton, senior vice president of The Halliburton Group, to discuss building and maintaining financial security.

A quote by radio personality and finance expert Dave Ramsey seemed to be the sentiment that carried the room: “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.”

Naima Judge, the managing director and private bank market leader at Bank of America, moderated the panel.

The panelists provided valuable insights on building wealth as business owners. They highlighted several important actions, such as letting go of liabilities, avoiding procrastination with trust and estate planning regardless of your financial situation, vetting financial advisors through referrals and reputable firms, and ensuring the next generation is cared for.

“I believe true wealth means having enough for multiple generations—not just for yourself or your children, but also for your grandchildren,” said Halliburton.

Halliburton, Kenner and Ware shared cautionary tales and personal anecdotes that shaped their lives. They highlighted issues such as assets being seized in probate court due to a lack of a will or trust and the importance of developing programs that benefit employees in the future.

Andrella Kenner emphasized the significance of having a will and trust, stating, “You don’t need to have a lot of assets to put these measures in place. While you can hire an attorney to help with the process, it’s the most important thing you can do. I would never want my family to face that situation.”

Among the various tips and tools that successful business owners provide for developing financial literacy, Ware specifically emphasized the role of sacrifice as a business owner and the great need for balance.

“We have to decide what’s going to be important to us, how we intend to live our lives, and if there’s something to leave to the next generation,” Ware said. “I think you ought to have balance in your life. I think it’s important for you to have a work environment, but you’ve got to live. And unfortunately, sometimes we give up our lives to run a business, or we give up ourselves to have a family, and then we get to be 70, and you try to figure out what happened and what did I do? So enjoy whatever part of life you do have.

“But I still say manage your finances,” she ended with laughter from the crowd.