Biography

Valerie Coleman Morris

in

• With the Family in Mind

Emmy award winning journalist, Valerie Coleman Morris is the former Business Anchor for CNN domestic and international. She focuses on her passion, financial literacy for women, young adults and people of color - the most disenfranchised segments of the population concerning money issues.

Morris writes and narrates the nationally syndicated radio column, which she created in 1986. called With the Family in Mind - that focuses on family and sandwich generation issues and their money implications - which airs on CBS Network Radio three times a week.

A popular lecturer on financial literacy for women of all ages and stages in life, Morris’ broadcast career spans more than 35 years and includes both coasts.

Valerie has two adult daughters, is the very proud grandmother of two “grand littles” and lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband, Robert L. Morris, Jr., an emerging markets strategist.

Getting to know her:

What is your favorite book of all time?

Impossible to narrow it down to just one favorite book! I read voraciously and depending on the circumstances (i.e.: traveling, at home, on vacation, etc) I determine which of my favorite literary genres (forensic mysteries or historically based fiction) will keep me company. Some of my all time favorite historically based fiction novels are by Jean Auel: "Clan of the Cave Bear", "The Valley of the Horses" and "The Mammoth Hunters". These detailed, rich, believable and lengthy novels touched my heart and my family history. My Native American (Southwest Pima) maternal great-grandmother was the medicine woman/midwife among her tribe as was Auel's key character Ayla. As for my forensic mysteries - I'm a Patricia Cornwall fan. This prolific author created Dr. Kate Scarpetta, Medical Examiner and I'm hooked.

Where have you enjoyed visiting the most?

I'm an Air Force kid aka "brat" and proud of it! My parents made me a global citizen before it became popular. I lived in England, France, Scotland and Japan by the time I was a junior in high school. My late father was a Lieutenant Colonel who rose through the ranks post his Tuskegee airmen days. He wasn't a pilot. He was a ground transportation specialist, which eventually took the family to Great Falls, Montana - our last assignment before Dad retired. If I had to say just one place that I enjoyed visiting the most, it would have to be Cairo. Just a few months after my Dad's death (my Mom pre-deceased him by six months), I traveled to Egypt to moderate sessions at an international women's gathering. I sat on the pyramids and said my father's name out loud - for this was the region of Africa from which his family came. International travel has always been part of my life. Now I'm looking forward to sharing the globetrotting that my husband and I will do - with our two grandlittles - nearly 7-year old Morgan and his little sister, 3-year old Savannah. We send them maps and postcards from wherever we are and talk about what we'll take them to see when we visit these places again - with them in tow.

If you had an extra million dollars, what would you do with it?

I take all money issues very personally. Even though the chance of most of us ever having "an extra million dollars" is slim - I'd put a chunk of it into retirement, another chunk into an aggressive growth vehicle, fund the 529 pre-paid college plans for both my grandchildren and select a small group of families for whom I would commit to assisting owning their own homes. Diversification both of dollars and thinking are what will make the most out of this "extra" million and provide a sustainable wealth building model and mindset.

Who would you like to have dinner with and where?

More than having dinner or time with any famous person on the planet - I'd love just one more long, lingering dinner with Bill and Vicki Dickerson - my Mom and Dad. Their dinners were always generous - in food, conversation, laughter, civility, affection and inclusion. I remember fondly the first Thanksgiving I came home from freshman year in college. We were living in Great Falls, Montana and I was going to school about 90 miles away. I unexpectedly got a ride home with our football team and cheerleaders because the game was being played right there in town just a few miles from the Air Force base where we lived. The team bus pulled up into my family's driveway. "Surprise - I'm home - with a few friends," I'd declared. Mom and Dad didn't miss a beat. They invited everyone in for refreshments - and less than two hours later when the bus pulled away - our Thanksgiving dinner had been consumed! I woke up the next morning to the wonderful aroma of turkey roasting and sweet cinnamon and sugar smells. Mom and Dad had cooked another dinner for our family and the friends who'd originally been invited to share our Thanksgiving table. As was the tradition with our family - an extra place was always set - and remained empty - as my parents explained: "To make sure anyone who needs it and comes to our door knows we were expecting them."

Where would you love your next vacation to be?

The Algarve - in the extreme southern region of Portugal - said to be "the best golf destination in the world." Yes, I love the game and look forward to taking one small bag, my golf clubs and my husband Robert and play a round a day for about 10 days at the assorted courses that play from the mountains to the sea.

Favorite color and why?
Without question: orange. It's such an energetic color. It makes me feel enthusiastic and quite joyful. Orange also is associated with my favorite time of the year - Fall. The glorious fall foliage shows every shade of my favorite color - every year.

What were you wearing when you felt the most glamorous?
I was in New York City's Soho District. My husband and I wandered into one of the many wonderful stores in the area - attracted by an exquisite, full, hoop-skirted, black ball gown in the window. Knowing it was going to be far more expensive than I'd ever spend on such an item - we just wanted to confirm our suspicion about the price. We were right. It was out of my league but - what the heck - it didn't cost anything to try it on. WOW. It was insanely gorgeous, fit as if it had been made just for me, and people were now stopping at the window, looking into the show room and yelling: "Fabulous! Buy it!!" (No- I didn't.) It felt like one of those glamorous, red carpet moments at the Academy Awards that I'd covered as a reporter years ago.