Financial Expert Nate Geraci Shares Financial Literacy Insights with MMA Cadets, Faculty and Staff

Missouri Military Academy (MMA) welcomed leading financial expert Nate Geraci, president of NovaDius Wealth Management, to campus on November 5-6, 2025, to lead special sessions on financial literacy for both faculty and staff and for cadets. Scroll down to learn 10 tips that Geraci shared with cadets on how to maximize their wealth potential.

NovaDius Wealth Management President Nate Geraci shares insight into financial literacy with Missouri Military Academy cadets.

Geraci — son of MMA President BG Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret), and Kathy Geraci — shared real-world lessons on personal finance, saving, investing and building long-term financial wellness. His presentations underscored the vital role financial literacy plays in helping individuals make informed, confident decisions that shape their futures.

“Financial literacy is a cornerstone of lifelong success,” said Nate Geraci. “By understanding how to manage money wisely, from budgeting and saving to investing, young people can set themselves up for financial security, independence and opportunity.”

At MMA, the focus on financial literacy aligns with the Academy’s mission to develop the mind, body and character of every cadet through its signature 360° Education.

Nate Geraci shares advice on how to maximize personal and professional success through sound financial choices with MMA cadets.

“Financial education is critical to overall wellness,” said President BG Richard V. Geraci. “We want to help our cadets, faculty and staff to be well-prepared to make sound financial choices that support both personal and professional success. Nate’s expertise and ability to make complex topics accessible made a real impact.”

President Geraci presented Nate Geraci with a Bravo Zulu award during this visit, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to MMA by providing financial and economic education for the staff, faculty and cadets. The Bravo Zulu award symbolizes the achievement of excellence and is of the highest compliments paid in the U.S. Naval forces. The combination of the Bravo and Zulu nautical signal flags is a naval signal, typically conveyed by flag hoist or voice radio, meaning “Well Done” regarding actions, operations or performance. 

Academic Dean Ranae Clement (left) and President BG Richard V. Geraci (right) present a Bravo Zulu award to Nate Geraci.

Geraci is president of NovaDius Wealth Management, a registered investment advisor providing clients with comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management. He previously helped launch The ETF Store, an investment advisory firm specializing in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

He is the creator and host of the acclaimed weekly podcast ETF Prime, which Bloomberg has called one of the “most helpful plain-English resources for investors who want to demystify exchange-traded funds.” He also hosts Crypto Prime, featuring interviews with global experts on bitcoin, crypto, NFTs and the evolving web3 ecosystem. In addition, Geraci co-founded The ETF Institute, the first and only independent organization offering certification and education for ETF industry professionals and financial advisors.

A respected voice in the world of investing, Geraci is frequently quoted by CNBC, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and Barron’s, with regular appearances on CNBC and Bloomberg TV. He also serves as board chairman for the Kansas Council for Economic Education.

Geraci earned both his bachelor’s degree in business administration and MBA from the University of Kansas. He holds Series 7 and 65 Securities Licenses and a Life & Health Insurance License.

10 Tips for Maximizing Your Wealth Potential: Advice for Cadets from Nate Geraci

Contributed by MMA faculty member George Davison ’68, who attended the presentation

1. Have passion for what you do. Choose a career that gives you satisfaction. You only have one shot at life. Maximize your potential.
2. Outwork others. Successful people put in consistent effort and go beyond what’s expected.
3. Maintain a positive attitude. Avoid negativity — it holds you back and brings others down.
4. Think long-term. Make decisions today that position you for success in the future.
5. Take care of your body and mind. Health and mindset are essential to performing at your best.
6. Treat everyone with respect. Build strong relationships and surround yourself with good people.
7. Be a team player. Work well with others and contribute to shared goals.
8. Save early and consistently. To be successful, save as early as possible. Put away what you can afford.
9. Invest wisely and diversify. Use exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds to spread risk. Avoid chasing individual stocks.
10. Avoid credit card debt. High interest rates make it hard to recover financially.