HFAR Learning Experts

Sophia ( Meh•lo•nie) Melonē, the Debt Demolisher®, is a Financial Literacy Advocate/Financial Prosperity Coach who facilitates workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and coaching to deliver the blueprint to a healthy money relationship. She is extremely dedicated to the success of families, communities, entrepreneurs, and
mission-oriented businesses across the world. Her movement to make "Debt Freedom the New Norm and Wealth Building the Natural Nature of Habit" has pushed Sophia into her purpose of sharing the endless possibilities of financial transformation.

After single-handedly paying off over $83K of debt in 21 months while being a caregiver, Sophia launched her financial education company, SMASH Debt®, to help families strategize on how to get out of debt, start building wealth, and become leaders in their financial house. She has many success stories with her clients who have overcome severe anxiety around their finances, paid off 5-figure debts in record time, drastically improved their credit score from 619 to 800, and started building a financial cushion they never thought could be possible.

Sophia has spoken on stages at wealth empowerment conferences with heavy influencers such as Lisa Nichols, Dr. George Fraser, Constance Carter, Sally-Ann Roberts, Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda, and more. She is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), member of the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE), and a member of the Personal Finance Speakers Association. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, an MBA in Financial Management, and has over 14 years of experience in the accounting field. To date, Sophia has DEMOLISHED over $260K of debt in less than five years while being a caregiver and managing two households.

Sophia Melonē is a natural giver at heart and loves to SERVE and TEACH. But what brings her the most joy is seeing the mindset shift occur in her students as she educates them to leap toward their financial prosperity. She is a FINANCIAL POWERHOUSE who is excited and passionate about teaching all classes of human kind to spend more fiscally responsibly, begin building wealth in the most effective manner possible, and become financially free for the sustainability of their legacy. Sophia Melonē has the blueprint to a healthy financial relationship and serves families with the strategy and accountability they need to leave the financial footprint they desire and that their legacy deserves.

Shanike Wallace received her Bachelor degrees in the fields of Communications and Marketing from the University of Phoenix. She is the Co-Founder of “The Ark Financial Services” a company that provides a wide range of financial services to their clients. Shanike, is a strong advocate for Life Insurance especially for minorities in low-income communities. In 2020 she was honored for her contributions to the Ratcliffe Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia. With her passion for education, she serves as a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and uses her professional association to educate others on the importance of financial literacy. She involves herself in community out-reach activities that promote and educate families on proper burial and estate planning. Her professional interest include teaching and empowering women to take a more active role in their family’s financial success. Through her communicative approach to language and teachings on life insurance she continues to educate others in the area of financial literacy.