Constance Craig-Mason is a passionate, dedicated and experienced licensed insurance broker, financial coach and former small business consultant. She has been helping individuals, families and businesses for nearly 10 years. Being licensed in Maryland and Pennsylvania, Constance has been blessed to have worked some of the top insurance carriers to include Transamerica, State Farm, Baltimore Life and Primerica. She provides a full Complimentary Financial Analysis that includes spending plan, short and long term savings, credit restoration, debt elimination, insurance protection and retirement supplement strategies. As a financial coach, Constance works with her clients to develop realistic strategies that reflect their current needs and future goals, Â periodically following up to make sure that they are making positive strides and re-assess, if things have changed.
In 2015, Constance guest-blogged on the topic of life insurance on Dr. Maria James’s Pocket of Money, LLC. She is active in her community and an awareness advocate for breast cancer, sexual assault and mental health. As an Ambassador for Shay Sharpe’s Pink Wishes (SSPW), Heal A Women to Heal A Nation (HWHN), About Her Business (AHB) and an Influencer Member of the International Women’s Association (IWA), Constance is obviously very passionate about women’s empowerment. In April 2018, she received an award from Women In Business International (W.B.I.) for her efforts in the community. Later in July of this year, Vital Magazine selected me for the cover, feature interview and awarded me the honor of Financial Coach of the Month.
Last but not least, Constance hosts a free quarterly financial literacy and networking event called, “Who’s On Your Financial Dream Team” for individuals and business owners, where she hand picks a panel of local Financial Industry Experts to teach and answer various frequently asked questions. Constance believes there is no other career that has been more rewarding than being directly involved in her clients’ successes. She also believes financial literacy is the key element in shifting the negative behaviors, habits and emotions about money that impede growth. Get down to the bottom line with Constance below.
Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Constance, Constance?
Constance: My swagher is fun, approachable, relatable, positive, supportive and authentic! I love to cheerlead and show enthusiasm for those who want more for their lives.
Fancy: Would you say financial literacy was instilled in your upbringing?
Constance: Absolutely not! Unfortunately, financial literacy was an unknown concept to my family growing up. Neither my grandparents nor my parents understood “how money works†and therefore neither did I. As a young adult, I learned through making mistakes and then researching how to fix them.
Fancy: So what sparked your interest in finance?
Constance: Because I was financially illiterate, I made a lot of financial mistakes as a young adult. I went from having no credit to having bad credit in no time! I didn’t understand that excessive inquiries hurt your credit score. I didn’t realize that once you didn’t pay a creditor that a collector would come after you also. And then you would have two blemishes for the same account! Once I started researching how to fix my credit and how expensive my ignorance was, I started telling everyone I could about what I had learned. I became passionate about teaching others. I knew that if I didn’t know these things, there had to be others who didn’t either. I became licensed ten years ago and have been helping clients ever since.
Fancy: Why is it so imperative for women to take control of their finances?
 Constance: It is imperative that women understand and take control of their finances, because we live longer than men but still earn and invest less than they do. We are caregivers of our children, spouses and parents, but do not have a full understanding of the income and assets that we need to sustain our lifestyles.
Fancy: How would you describe your ideal clients?
Constance: My ideal clients are those who are eager to learn and ready to do the work required to reach the financial goals that they have set for themselves.
Fancy: Right now, financial literacy is a hot topic, but for those of us who do not care much for math, it can be hard to dig into. Do you have any tips or suggestions?
Constance: Firstly, because many of us have not been taught even basic money matters, we have negative behaviors, habits and emotions that have to be identified and shifted. The “math†involved is not as difficult as one may think, particularly because there’s a variety of online tools and calculators that make things very easy!
Fancy: With the holidays approaching, do you have any tips for better spending habits?
Constance: The holidays are a time of great joy and the spirit of giving. It can be a time of over indulgence as well. We must be careful not to overdo it! I recommend saving throughout the year for holiday spending. Once you have that set amount to spend, do not go over it. Have a list of items that you want to purchase. Also, look for discounts so that you can purchase more with the same budgeted amount. Do not shop when hungry, tired or upset. Our emotions can cloud our judgment.
Fancy: What’s one fun thing about you that most do not know?
Constance: Most do not know that I love hip hop music and am a 90s baby to my heart! Many that follow me on social media find that I love to have fun, dance, and bring positivity!
Fancy: Please share any upcoming events or projects you are working on.
Constance: This year has been amazing! I hosted three financial literacy workshops for personal and business finance, as well as my first client appreciation party in ten years! I was selected for the July cover and featured interview for Vital Magazine and just came back from my first international speaking engagement in Toronto, Canada!
On November 18, 2018, I conducted a workshop called “The Three Most Common Untruths About Money†at the Passion Purpose & Pumps Conference at the Radisson Cross Keys in Baltimore, MD. And on January 19, 2019, I will be hosting my quarterly financial literacy workshop called, “Who’s On Your Financial Dream Team: Business Owner’s Edition†in Reisterstown, MD. Both events are on Eventbrite.
Connect with Constance below.
Website: www.tanconnects.com/ccraigmason
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ccraigmasonta
Instagram: www.instagram.com/officialccraigmason
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/constancencraig
