Eric Smith is the founder of The EKS Group, LLC, and creator of The Financial Literacy Coach and The Money Game Literacy Programs.
Eric is a nationally acclaimed financial literacy presenter with the expertise needed to teach others how to succeed financially. Eric’s resume is unlike anyone else you will meet. Eric was the first ever financial literacy speaker on the NCAA’s national Speaker Registry. Eric has shared his financial education programs with over 230,000 college students and over 20,000 middle and high school students since 2011. He has also been an invited presenter at 27 NFL rookie camps, has been hired twice by the NBA to teach money skills to all of their G League players and even presented at the NBA Draft Program. Eric currently has the highest reviewed in person financial education program ever created for college students. Eric’s passion is helping to empower, educate and inspire everyone that he meets how to make the most of their financial opportunities As a low income first generation college student himself, Eric is passionate about making an impact in the lives of others and in addition to serving many athletic teams and programs across the country, he has served as a resource for nearly 100 federally funded groups such as GearUP, IRCO, CAMP, Veterans Upward Bound and other TRIO groups.
For nearly thirty years, Eric Smith was a successful lender and banking executive in the Atlanta, Georgia area. During the nineties, Eric was one of the highest producing mortgage originators in the metro area originating over one half billion dollars of residential mortgages.
As a commercial lender and manager, he originated and managed nearly one billion dollars of loans, making him one of the highest producing commercial lenders in the metro Atlanta market. As the youngest executive officer of a regional banking company, Eric was involved in the credit review of thousands, many of whom were professional athletes. Speaking of professional athletes, Eric was even a professional business manager for NFL players before he decided to finally pursue his passion for teaching others how to succeed financially.
Eric graduated with honors from Georgia State University and from the Graduate Banking School at LSU. He understands the importance of community service and has served previously as a Director of the Midwest Georgia Homebuilders Association, a county representative for a State of Georgia Water Planning Board, and as Finance Chair for the Boy Scouts. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Coweta County Water Authority. He has a work ethic that he describes as crazy compulsive and makes it a point to never take himself too seriously. Eric’s passion is helping to encourage, educate and equip others to make better financial decisions and as a result increase their chances of winning their own “Money Game.”
In a world of theory, Will Baggett brings the receipts. A serial entrepreneur and operational strategist, Will has managed the bottom line for some of the biggest brands in sports and business. His expertise is built on a solid educational foundation—holding a Master of Science in Sport Management from Baylor University and a B.S. from the University of Mississippi—which he translated into high-level execution. From overseeing complex, multi-million-dollar budgets at the College Football Playoff to securing SBA loans for franchise startups, his financial acumen is battle-tested.
Now, as the co-founder of Monetize Your Message and author of Hues of Hope, Will helps others navigate the business landscape with eyes wide open. He specializes in career readiness, teaching aspiring leaders that executive presence must be backed by the hard skills of fiscal management and strategic planning. Will provides the practical blueprint for those ready to move from potential to production.
As a serial success creator, Will has created several successful businesses all with the primary goal of improving the lives of others. Brand awareness and financial readiness along with teaching others how to communicate effectively for a lifetime of success are all passions of Will’s. Will’s clients have included many Fortune 500 companies, many NFL teams, the NCAA, the N4A, Greek Life, numerous Power 4 collegiate athletic programs, SHRM groups, business employee groups, numerous national conferences and TRIO groups.
Aaron Barnard has a passion for equipping others with the financial knowledge and mindset necessary to win in life. Aaron earned his degree in Business Management while competing as a collegiate athlete, an experience that shaped his discipline, resilience, and competitive mindset. Balancing academics and athletics gave him firsthand insight into the unique pressures student-athletes face — managing performance, expectations, time, and long-term planning all at once. It also gave him a strong understanding on how to successfully manage and grow his limited financial resources.
After college, Aaron began his career in banking and finance, where he developed a strong foundation in financial literacy, wealth principles, and strategic decision-making. For the past 20 years, he has served as an Account Executive, building trusted partnerships, navigating complex markets, and helping organizations think long-term about growth and financial sustainability. Drawing from his own journey, Aaron speaks candidly about money, discipline, identity, and preparing for life after the college experience. His authentic message centers on intentional stewardship, smart decision-making, and building a foundation that lasts long after the last exam or whistle.
