About Me & Why I'm Fundraising

Hi, my name is Pepper Bethel—I’m a Navy Veteran, financial strategist, and proud small business advocate. I’ve spent more than 20 years helping entrepreneurs, families, and underserved communities build wealth, make smart financial decisions, and grow businesses that last.

Now, I’m stepping into my next mission: Ownership.

Currently, I’m raising funds to complete the acquisition of the TPI Group, a respected 30-year accounting / financial advisory firm based in Northern Virginia. With this acquisition, I’ll become one of the few Black women veteran owners of a financial services firm in the US.

But this isn’t just about me.

I grew up in Los Angeles, raised by a single mother on welfare. I knew early on that education and discipline were my way out of poverty. I joined the Navy at 18, rose through the ranks, and served proudly in Mississippi, Puerto Rico, and Japan. Since then, I’ve built my career around service—just in a different uniform.

This Fundraiser will help me:

*Finalize the purchase of the firm

*Retain and grow the existing staff

*Invest in technology and expand access to underserved communities

*Launch mentorship and financial literacy programs for women, veterans, and minority-owned businesses

Your donation will directly support generational impact—helping me preserve a trusted business and use it as a platform to create jobs, uplift others, and show what’s possible when service and ownership come together.

No contribution is too small. Every share, every dollar, and every word of encouragement brings me one step closer to making history.

Thank you for believing in this mission.