Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Walker-Joseph.
Hi Tara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career in the behavioral health and autism therapy field right after I graduated from Southern University, where I spent more than a decade serving families, leading teams, and helping children thrive. That work taught me patience, empathy, and how to guide people through important decisions with clarity and compassion.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, my world shifted. Like many families, mine experienced major changes, and it encouraged me to think about how I could serve people on a deeper and more long-term level. That period of transition became the foundation for the next chapter of my life.
During that time, I Co-Founded GSD Agency Partners. What began as a response to uncertainty grew into a purpose-driven business. As the Co-Founder and CEO, I built a thriving practice as a Behavior Consultant, business owner, and mentor. My focus has always been to help families and business owners create stability, build generational wealth, and make informed financial decisions that protect their future.
Being an HBCU alum has also had a significant influence on my journey. It strengthened my commitment to spreading financial education and wealth knowledge, especially within Black communities, where access to clear guidance and long-term planning is often limited. That passion for empowerment continues to shape the heart of my work.
Entering the financial services industry allowed me to blend my background in human behavior with financial education. I launched my business as a financial consultant and worked my way up from a new agent to developing and leading others. Today, our agency is dedicated to empowering people with real guidance, practical strategies, and long-term planning so they can build the life and legacy they envision.
My journey reflects adaptability, faith, and determination. Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and two sons. Every step from behavioral health to entrepreneurship has shaped who I am today and fuels my passion for helping people build, grow, and serve with purpose.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but every challenge has shaped me in powerful ways. Transitioning from behavioral health into financial services was a major shift, and starting a business during the Covid-19 pandemic added even more weight. There were moments where I had to rebuild my confidence, learn an entirely new industry, and adjust to the realities of entrepreneurship all at once.
I also learned firsthand that entrepreneurship is not for the weak. It builds character, tests your resilience, and forces you to grow in ways you never expected. As I moved deeper into the financial services industry, I began to see the truth behind the scenes. Many companies talked about serving the middle class, but in reality, they often preyed on them, withheld information, and relied on people not knowing their options. I saw how easily families could be taken advantage of simply because they trusted the wrong guidance.
I also learned that the financial industry, like any industry, can become very political. When you become a threat by speaking truthfully, educating people honestly, and empowering them with real knowledge, some individuals or organizations try to hold power over you. Greed can stunt your growth if you are not careful about who you stay connected to and whose leadership you sit under. I had to learn to protect my purpose, my integrity, and my proximity, because the wrong environment can limit you just as much as the right environment can elevate you.
Balancing family life, managing unpredictable income, and staying grounded through these challenges taught me resilience, faith, and discipline. Every obstacle pushed me to grow stronger, lead with honesty, and remain committed to serving families and communities with transparency and compassion.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about GSD AGENCY PARTNERS?
GSD Agency Partners is more than a financial services business for us. It is a mission, a calling, and a commitment to serve families and business owners with honesty, education, and real strategy. As an HBCU graduate couple, we carry a deep understanding of how generational knowledge, community, and access can shape a family’s future. That perspective is woven into everything we do.
Our agency specializes in wealth protection strategies, long-term legacy planning, tax-efficient solutions, and generational wealth building. We focus on helping families understand the “why” behind financial decisions, not just the products. What we are known for is our ability to break complex financial concepts down in a way that feels simple, relatable, and empowering. Our clients appreciate that we meet them where they are, whether they are just getting started or ready to build a long-term legacy.
What sets us apart is our background in human behavior combined with financial strategy. Understanding people is just as important as understanding money. Because of our roots in behavioral health, we approach financial planning with empathy, patience, and cultural awareness. We know many families have never been given real financial education, and we take pride in providing a safe space where people can learn without judgment.
Brand wise, we are most proud of our commitment to transparency. Too many people in this industry focus on selling. We focus on serving. We want every client to walk away with clarity, understanding, and confidence. Our brand stands for integrity, community impact, and generational change.
For readers, we want you to know that GSD Agency Partners is built to serve people. We offer personalized financial consultations, generational wealth strategies, income protection solutions, and education that helps families break cycles, build wealth, and protect what matters. Our purpose is to ensure that the middle class and upper advanced markets, who often earn high incomes but may lack financial literacy and long-term strategy, have access to the same knowledge, tools, and planning traditionally reserved for the wealthy.
We are proud to be an HBCU-built, family-led, service-driven agency that is committed to helping others create stability, build legacy, and achieve long-term financial peace.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was always a natural leader. From a very young age, I found myself stepping into roles where I could guide, organize, or encourage others. I was active in student government from grade school all the way through college, which gave me early experience in leadership, teamwork, communication, and advocating for the people around me.
I was also an athlete, and that competitive spirit shaped a lot of who I became. Whether it was on the track, on the court, or in the classroom, I was driven to excel and to push myself beyond what others expected. Sports taught me discipline, resilience, and the mindset to keep going even when things got tough. That competitive edge stayed with me well into adulthood and continues to show up in my work ethic today.
Personality wise, I was always outgoing, energetic, and people oriented. I loved connecting with others, helping where I could, and building friendships and community. I had a strong will to win, not just in competition, but in anything I set out to achieve. If I committed to something, I was determined to see it through.
Those qualities of leadership, competitiveness, confidence, and a genuine love for people followed me from childhood into college and eventually into my career. Looking back, I can see how those early experiences prepared me for entrepreneurship, community impact, and the work I do now helping families and business owners build strong financial futures.
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D. Lacy
