Chawn Payton is a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual in Atlanta. After graduating from FAMU, Payton began his career in engineering and landed a job at Accenture, where he worked for nine years. Early on, a conversation with a supervisor changed everything; he learned that investing in stock back in high school had already put his peer ahead financially. That realization opened his eyes to the wealth gap and sparked a passion to learn more about money. He started surrounding himself with financially savvy friends, sharing knowledge with loved ones, and eventually got licensed after a former engineer-turned-advisor encouraged him. Tired of corporate life, Payton made his foray into wealth management to help others start their path to financial freedom. He was our guest on A Seat At The Table and dropped some money-related gems.
What’s your current role at Northwestern Mutual, and what services do you provide to your clients?
Man, titles are cool, but honestly, I’m different things to different people; some call me a financial therapist, counselor, or even a guru. I work closely with families and business owners to reduce financial anxiety, help them gain stability, and ultimately build long-term security. Many folks don’t realize how much stress money causes until they sit down and discuss it. So we walk through where they are and where they want to be—personally, professionally, and financially, and I create a financial roadmap to help them get there. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about helping them feel confident and protected in their decisions.
How did your time at FAMU influence your approach as a financial advisor?
I aim to make financial conversations cool again in our Black community. At FAMU, I saw firsthand how money wasn’t something we discussed openly—there was often shame or silence around it, especially if you were struggling. That experience taught me we can’t fix what we won’t face. So now, whether I’m in a room with peers or clients, I bring up money in a real, relatable, and judgment-free way. FAMU gave me that lens—understanding the gaps we need to fill and how powerful it can be when we start addressing finances with the same energy we give mental health, real estate, and opportunity building.
How can Black families build generational wealth?
First of all, be educated; either you or find somebody that you trust that is educated. And I say that because, just like you’d see a doctor for something bigger than a headache, there are financial things you can handle yourself and others you need a professional for. So you gotta have some game plan on what you want to do with your money, and then just put systems in place and think about what legacy and generational wealth means to you. Do we have any trusts in place? Any last-will-and-testaments? Life insurance? Investment accounts? Real estate? A business? And lastly, I think there has to be some sacrifice involved; you might not benefit your generation, but you’re setting it up for the next generation.
What’s some advice for young people trying to get into wealth management?
You gotta be intentional. You gotta seek it out. So if you’re in middle or high school, ask your counselor, “Are there any finance classes? Any finance books? What careers can I look into?” LinkedIn is a powerful tool—if I see an 18-year-old reach out and say, “Hey, Mr. Payton, I see you in finance and would love to grab a coffee,” it reminds me I need to pay that forward. People want to help you achieve your goals, especially if you’re young and ambitious. Finance is one of those fields where maybe one or two percent of advisors are Black, so there’s plenty of opportunity and growth. I would say, seek it out.
