From Haiti to Wall Street, Farrel Liger says he’s on a mission to improve financial literacy in Black and immigrant communities, particularly those of Haitian descent.
After moving to New York in 2014, Liger has since built a successful career on Wall Street as a stockbroker and financial advisor.
But what truly sets him apart is his commitment to financial empowerment and education, a passion that led him to found Farrel Liger, Inc. in 2019.
Liger told Caribbean Life on Monday, Dec. 2, that his firm offers “accessible financial education through NASBA-accredited CPE courses and tailored programs for students, professionals and underserved communities.”
He said his work addresses the financial knowledge gap that exists in many immigrant and Black communities, helping individuals build generational wealth through informed decision-making.
As a proud Haitian and financial educator and managing director on Wall Street, Liger said he brings “cultural understanding and a deep sense of community to his work.
“When I was in Miami, I worked at Bank of America, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley. Those firms were pivotal to me knowing that this is what I wanted to do, he said. “The reason being, prior to working in finance, I was studying biology to be a doctor.
“However, I did not like blood and needles. That is when I transitioned into finance,” he added. “The success I had in the space further confirmed my goals and direction.”
Liger said that when he moved to New York to work on Wall Street, he had three suitcases, a box of books and $1,000.
“I moved here on faith and work ethic,” he said. “I had absolute certainty that I would make it. These were pivotal moments to my success.”
But Liger said building a career on Wall Street is “no small feat, especially for someone coming from an immigrant background.”
He said he encountered several barriers moving to New York.
“I did not have a natural market of wealthy individuals to tap into for success. I was new to New York,” he said. “I had to learn how to navigate the city.
“The first few months of moving here I used to get lost every single day,” he added. “I had to learn the city, learn the business, and adapt all in once.
“It was truly a learning experience,” Liger continued. “I had to work 10 times as hard to have half the chance to make it.”
Therefore, he said “the journey” inspired him to start Farrel Liger, Inc.
“Every aforementioned firm that I worked for I was always the source of information for my community,” Liger said. “What would be basic information as a professional in the space was life-changing for people in the community. That is when I identified the need.
“After I realized the need, I wanted to do something about it,” he added. “That is when I started doing financial education informally. I have been doing financial education and providing financial literacy since 2007.”
Liger said he formally launched Farrel Liger, Inc. 12 years later after helping to educate tens of thousands of students and professionals.
He said that being Haitian “isn’t in what I do; it is who I am.
“The work ethic, strategy, and execution come from that,” Liger said. “I have done a lot of work in the Haitian community in South Florida before moving.
“I ensure that we have different means to execute and provide education and information,” he added. “I have provided these seminars via in-person and zoom.”
For many young Haitian-Americans, financial literacy can feel like a daunting topic.
But, as they start navigating their own financial journeys, especially in terms of building generational wealth and planning for the future, Liger advises them to “just start, be curious, and ask questions.”
