Sweet Earnings: Business owner is awarded $50K through Famous Amos initiative | Feature Stories

Taryn “T Money” Ferrer was recently awarded $50,000 for her business, Money Honey, a financial coaching company that empowers women to build wealth, through an annual national award program from Famous Amos.

Famous Amos is known for its unique bite-sized chocolate chip cookies and was founded in Los Angeles in 1975 by Wallace Amos. It is currently owned by the Ferrero Group. In 2020, the company launched its Ingredients for Success (IFS) Entrepreneurs Initiative, which supports early-stage Black-owned businesses by providing mentorship, networking opportunities, educational resources and a monetary award.

This year, $150,000 was awarded to three Black entrepreneurs: Terminal B, a fragrance brand started by Fay and Chris Breedlove; Arcarea Adult Day Center, founded by Aracelis Rittenburg and Money Honey LLC, founded by Ferrer.

Ferrer is a financial coach who launched Money Honey in Pasadena in 2020. Now based in Los Angeles, she primarily works with high-achieving women of color, helping them build wealth through financial education and money management strategies.

“What sets us apart is that we combine both the strategy piece of managing money and building wealth with the holistic mindset piece,” Ferrer said. “It’s really about developing that abundance mindset.”

When Ferrer was younger, she dreamed of becoming an architect or working in interior design. But growing up in a financially abusive environment shaped her future career path. She saw how money could be used as a tool for manipulation and decided early on that she never wanted to be in that situation.

Today, she helps women make smart financial decisions, whether that’s saving, investing or using money to reach personal goals.

Ferrer said she learned she had won the award while on one of her financial wellness retreats. “I’m talking to them about expansion and what it looks like to define wealth for yourself and then to receive that during that experience…I couldn’t have written a better script, honestly,” she said, adding that she thought she still had more interviews to complete as part of the process.

Applicants for the IFS Initiative were required to submit a short video about their business. Ferrer used the opportunity to share how her mission to help women build wealth comes from the broader impact women have on their families, communities and the world. She also talked about her background and the challenges she’s faced as a business owner. Finalists then had to submit an essay describing how they would use the money and how their work connects to the “Famously You” values of Wallace Amos.

“I think as a Black business owner, there are still systemic barriers that we deal with,” Ferrer said. “Having access to funding at this level can change what you’re able to do in your business.”

She explained the importance of not just growing businesses, but sustaining them. She also praised the mentorship aspect of the initiative and said that guidance and education from more experienced professionals are important for business development.

Ferrer added that Money Honey wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the city of Pasadena. Her first brunch event was actually held at the Foothill Restaurant, and many of her clients are still based in Pasadena. “The greatest thing about it is the community,” she said.

Those interested in Ferrer’s services can visit her website at manifestmoneyhoney.com.

“I’m just really passionate about money no longer being a taboo topic,” Ferrer said. “I want us to be able to talk about it openly.”