On December 9th, the ballroom and lobby of Green Road Synagogue buzzed with energy as over 300 community members gathered for the Frum Finance Event and Financial Services Expo, organized by Agudah Ohio. This event was part of the AKA series, which stands for Awareness, Knowledge, Action — creating awareness, providing knowledge, and offering the opportunity to take action. Attendees received valuable financial insights through expert presentations and had the chance to network with industry professionals. The event also highlighted the Community Achrayus Project, a campaign led by Agudah Ohio to encourage families to obtain financial protection in case of tragedy through life insurance and Areivim membership.

Attendees heard financial guidance from notable speakers, including Mr. Jay M. Frank of Wealthspire Advisors, Mr. Jack (Yank) Gecovich and Mr. Dennis Schwartz of The Wealthcare Group of Raymond James, a presentation on credit from Mr. Dan Eleff, CEO of DansDeals.com and a special session titled Financial Strategies for Klei Kodesh, presented by Rabbi Mordechai Zimberg, CPA, which was tailored to the unique needs of this population.

Mrs. Chana Barrett, Director of the Gesher division of Agudah Ohio emphasized the motivation behind the event: “Our goal was to increase access to financial knowledge for middle-income families, eliminating financial and informational barriers with essential tools to plan for current and future expenses, such as simchos, tuition, and other significant life events.”

The Financial Services Expo featured numerous financial service providers, offering personalized consultations on topics ranging from life insurance, available camp grants, estate planning, and mortgage and refinancing options. Attendees also had the opportunity to complete Halachic Medical Directives and other important documents with on-site notarization. Dozens of documents were completed and notarized.

Rabbi Yaakov Berger, Associate Director of Agudah Ohio highlighted the organization’s dedication to community support: “Agudah Ohio is committed to serving as a resource for our community, assisting, guiding, and stepping up to fill communal needs. The invaluable information gained by the attendees will help them both in the present and for decades to come.”

Rabbi Nissim Abrin, Rav, Bais Avraham, and event chairman passionately underscored the broader significance of such gatherings: “This type of event should be replicated in every frum community. It provided critical financial guidance that middle-class families, often burdened by mounting financial pressures, desperately need. Expanding access to such resources can empower families to navigate financial challenges with greater confidence and stability.”