Money is one of the most powerful tools we have, yet for many Latino families, it’s also one of the least talked about. Fear, silence, and misinformation around money have kept generations from accessing opportunities that could change their lives.
This episode is about breaking that silence.
In this live episode of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, Jackie Tapia sits down with financial educator and nonprofit founder Erika Toriz, CEO of Haven Services. With over 15 years of experience helping underserved communities navigate credit, homeownership, taxes, and financial literacy, Erika has dedicated her life to helping families build stability and generational wealth.
Erika shares how her journey began working at a nonprofit housing counseling agency before moving into banking, where she helped structure loans and guide families toward homeownership. But when the foreclosure crisis hit and she witnessed firsthand how vulnerable many families were to predatory lending and financial misinformation, she realized something deeper was missing.
Throughout the conversation, Erika speaks openly about the cultural barriers many Latinos face when it comes to money. From the fear of asking questions to the belief that credit is dangerous or that financial tools are only for wealthy people, these silent barriers can keep families stuck in cycles of financial stress.
She also shares the emotional side of her work: helping families who have been victims of scams, watching hardworking immigrants lose their savings, and witnessing the transformative power of financial education.
Tune in to episode 274 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit for a powerful conversation about financial literacy, cultural money beliefs, and the work it takes to build real generational wealth.
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