Jorrell Bland

Born into Grit, Raised with Love

I was born in Harlem to a no-nonsense NYPD officer and an MTA bus driver turned pastor. My mom earned her badge while pregnant with me and my dad, one of 21 kids from Bed-Stuy, taught me the value of faith, hard work, and integrity. Growing up in Mount Vernon after leaving the Polo Grounds, we weren’t rich, but we were overflowing with love.

My parents ran a tight ship. Despite the rough neighborhood outside our walls, inside was a haven of values, and expectation. Growing up as a young Black man in Harlem, people in my community were often told we wouldn’t live to see 25. I still carry that statistic not as a burden, but as fuel to keep rising, and to keep choosing JOY.

A Dream Deferred, A Calling Discovered

As a kid, my dream was to play professional sports. I didn’t want to just play I wanted a Hall of Fame career and a business empire like Magic Johnson. I walked on to the Division I football team at West Virginia University (WVU) and gave it everything I had. But sometimes life redirects us.

When it became clear I wasn’t going pro, I pivoted. The same drive that fueled my athletic journey shifted toward a different arena: financial planning. It was there I realized I could still be a coach just in a different way. I help those I have the privilege to serve turn their hard work and discipline into a life rooted in clarity, confidence, and JOY.

First to Graduate, Never the Last to Try

I became the first in my family to graduate from college, earning my B.S. in Finance from WVU. That moment wasn’t just mine, it belonged to my parents, my coaches, my neighborhood, and the kid I used to be, who dared to dream bigger than his circumstances.

At Mitlin, I create a safe space for families to talk about money without fear or shame. I know firsthand how taboo financial conversations can be, especially in underserved communities. My role isn’t to lecture, it’s to listen, to educate, and to support the families we serve as they define what joy looks like for them.

Championing a New Generation

I have been honored to receive the African American Diversity Scholarship from the American College of Financial Services, and the 2020 Business & Finance Award from Long Island Business News.
In 2024, I was named a finalist for the NextGen Advisor of the Year by Investments, a recognition that felt like both a milestone and a mission statement.

I have served on the advisory board of FPA Next Generation Planner, where I helped shape content for future advisors. It’s part of my way of holding the door open for others coming up the same stairs I climbed.

Rooted in Purpose, Fueled by Joy

Whether I’m leading a meeting with a family we serve or catching up over brunch with friends, I focus on living with intention and gratitude. I spend time with family, hit the gym regularly, attempt to play golf, I enJOY a great movie (sometimes solo) and yes, I’m learning to fly a plane.

At Mitlin Financial, I guide the families we serve toward a life that feels meaningful and JOYful. I help you connect your financial decisions to the things that bring you JOY and support your version of an ideal tomorrow. For me, building wealth is about building a life you love.

“What did you do today that brought you joy?®” is more than just a line on my shirt it’s a daily invitation for the families we serve to pause, reflect, and celebrate the moments that truly matter.

Because JOY isn’t a destination, it should be part of the journey, and it deserves to be part of every conversation we have.