Gail Perry-Mason Takes OP Students to the Market!

By: David Ryals

Detroit’s own Gail Perry-Mason has come a long way, from foster care to caring for others. She is a respected authority in the financial industry, and best-selling author. Her years of experience, coupled with her “down-to-earth” but also “down-to-business” style, has made her a sought-after speaker and presenter.

Regularly addressing capacity crowds, she educates people on financial literacy conducting financial training sessions and workshops for companies such as Chrysler, IBM, MGM, Blue Cross and Wells Fargo.

Recently, she took top-performing Oak Park and Detroit area high school and middle school students on a trip to the Chicago Board Options Exchange. She said of the experience, “My intentions about taking the students on the first trading day of the year was so they could learn how the Exchange works. The trip was just part of the lesson, and they also attended a luncheon at 5/3 Bank and learned the importance of banking, credit and savings. This trip had such a great impact on our young investors. Some of our youth now want to become investors.”

While juggling her demanding financial career and public appearances, Gail found the time to write and publish her first book, Money Matters for Families, which served as a manual for the employees at DaimlerChrysler on managing finances. The book is geared toward families and focuses on the critical elements for building a strong financial foundation Gail’s second book, Girl, Make Your Money Grow, written with co-author Glinda Bridgforth, was a national best-seller. This guide, featured on Oprah’s Debt Diet helped build Gail a national following.

Despite her eons-long career of achievements, she told Ferndale Friends, “My proudest accomplishment is seeing our youth walk across the stage and receive something no one can take away from them: Degrees, business owners, skill trade certificates, etc.. My biggest accomplishment is when all of my youth are better than me…that is all I want out of life.” It’s such a blessing to see many of the youth from years ago that attended the money camp volunteer and mentor others.