As we head into yet another year of uncertainty, the thought of setting financial goals seems daunting. Join our panel of experts from Morgan Stanley, Union Bank and Abundance Bound as they demystify what financial wellness looks like for actors and performers – from banking basics to investment specifics. Featuring Jed Cohen, Paul Butler and Miata Edoga, and moderated by actor and writer Lori Hammel.
Please come with questions - member participation is encouraged!
PANELIST BIOS:
Paul Butler is the son of a Japanese born immigrant mother and career military father. His father served many years in both the US army and navy. Paul grew up just outside of Seattle, Washington. Paul had planned to go into law enforcement but then discovered his love of music and the arts, and he then decided to attend the Art Institute of Seattle. Paul eventually ended up putting his knowledge of business and love of music to use as the manager of a local rock band. When late nights and travel became too difficult for a family life he decided it was time for a change and went into retail management.
After many years of working retail hours, he decided to venture into the banking industry. This is where he has excelled and has been able to put his management and business skills to full use. Paul’s found great success in building several branches and teams throughout his career. His passion is to help others recognize their greatness and help them find a path to success within the industry.
Currently Paul is a branch manager for Union Bank. He served as the Pacific Northwest chairperson for PULSE. The mission of People United to Lead, Serve, and Excel is to develop a community of employees working together to increase cultural awareness as well as engage in outreach across the black community. This has given him the opportunity to work with organizations such as the YMCA, The Boys and Girls Club, United Way, Community Homes and the NW African American Museum. His primary focus is to share financial literacy with others, in particular the underserved communities within the region.
Jed A. Cohen is a Financial Advisor and founding member of The Accent Group at Morgan Stanley. As a Director of Morgan Stanley’s Global Sports and Entertainment Group, he works closely with top professionals in the sports and entertainment industries to help them grow and preserve their wealth. He understands the complexities and pressures athletes and entertainers face, and helps them effectively manage their assets as their circumstances, priorities and goals evolve over time.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2006, Jed held a number of successful careers in the entertainment and manufacturing industries. He was an award-winning writer and producer in the entertainment industry, working for such prominent studios as Nickelodeon, Disney and the Jim Henson Company. He was also a successful business owner, brokering oil and mining equipment to the Soviet Union and South America. An avid traveler, Jed has lived in Asia, Europe and South America, giving him the opportunity to enjoy many rich cultures around the world.
Always responsible for managing his own investment portfolio, Jed became a Financial Advisor for the opportunity to help others gain the confidence needed to make sound financial decisions. His diverse set of life experiences provides him with a wide array of skills and knowledge to educate and guide his clients in achieving their personal and professional financial goals. Jed prides himself on serving as a catalyst for many of his clients, bringing them together to share ideas and add value to their lives professionally and socially.
Born in Rhode Island, Jed grew up in Cincinnati and Cape Cod. He studied literature at the University of Michigan and over the years has published many of his poems and short stories. Jed is a member of the Academy of American Poets and a former council member of the L.A. County Museum of Art and Hammer Museum. In his free time, he enjoys reading, travelling and adding to his eclectic collection of art and antiquities.
Miata Edoga is an actor and the CEO and Founder of the financial education company, Abundance Bound. For over two decades, she has been helping independent workers and other non traditional earners establish a healthier, more compassionate relationship with their money – whether they are just starting out, or starting over, or starting to wonder how they should handle their growing wealth.
Miata’s Abundance Bound curriculum has been licensed by industry-leading organizations and is currently being taught on both coasts.
She also created The Artist’s Prosperity System, which, over the years, has provided thousands of creatives with a specific, step-by-step process to significantly improve their financial situation – giving them more time, energy, and freedom to focus on their creative careers and artistic pursuits.
Miata served as the National Financial Wellness Consultant for The Actors Fund – a national human services non-profit for everyone in the entertainment industry. She has also led workshops and seminars on financial empowerment for a wide range of organizations including: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, The Television Academy, The Motion Picture & Television Fund, The Writers Guild of America, The Directors Guild, SAG-AFTRA, The Casting Society of America, and The Center for Cultural Innovation.
With a strong belief that early financial education empowers young people to live their very best lives, especially those who will likely not be entering the more traditional work force, Miata shares her signature seminars with students (and their parents) in schools around the country including: Yale School of Drama, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, USC School of Dramatic Arts, Columbia University, PACE University and the California Institute of the Arts.
For additional information please visit: https://abundancebound.com/about-miata/
Lori Hammel is a NYC-based actress and writer who has performed on Broadway, Off Broadway and in National Tours including: MAMMA MIA, DOLLY PARTON'S 9 to 5 and as Ethel Mertz in I LOVE LUCY Live. TV includes JESSICA JONES, BLUE BLOODS, FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE, MASTER OF NONE, HIGH MAINTENANCE, 30 ROCK and THE COLBERT REPORT. Film work includes the features PUZZLE, SPOILER ALERT, the Coen Brothers' BURN AFTER READING, SHE'S LOST CONTROL and the lead in CONEY ISLAND QUEEN (Cannes Shorts Corner). Lori received an Excellence in Acting Award at the NY International Fringe Festival. She is the recipient of a Jeff Award, two Jeff nominations, two After Dark Awards and the SAG-AFTRA Joseph C. Riley Service Award. Lori co-authored the critically acclaimed guidebook MINDING THE EDGE – STRATEGIES FOR A FULFILLING, SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS AN ACTOR and is a contributing writer for ACTING FOR THE STAGE (Focal Press). www.lorihammel.com
