At a time when more than 60% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck, a lack of knowledge on financial resources and strategy continues to prevent many families and individuals from identifying ways to break free from financial hardship.

Enter the new TV program Opportunity Knock$, featuring six families who face credit dependency, medical debts, all kinds of abusive loans, including student loans.

On the road that leads them to regain control of their finances, the families will be accompanied by three advisers who will provide useful advice, tools and community resources, which viewers can also apply in their daily lives. These experts are Jean Chatzky, TODAY’s financial editor for 25 years and AARP Financial Ambassador; Louis Barajas, co-founder/CEO of Business Management LAB and International Private Wealth Advisors, a member of CNBC's Financial Advisory Council and the first Latino to serve as a Director on the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards; and Patrice Washington, 'America’s Money Maven' and host of the Redefining Wealth podcast.

The series is hosted by community development finance expert Ronaldo Hardy, co-owner/Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at CU Strategic Planning.

These coaches will work with the families to understand their unique financial goals and challenges, advise them on best practices, overcome mental and emotional hurdles associated with debt and use the newly created The Opportunity Finder to connect them with nonprofits, financial coaches, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), not-for-profit credit unions and nonprofit organizations that offer a host of other resources including free citizenship legal services, rental assistance, reducing interest rates, predatory loan elimination, mentorship to start a business, home ownership classes, and much more. 

Education is the key

One of the participants featured in the show is Patricia Reyes, who was going through a difficult financial situation due to abusive credit practices, health problems and a property tax increases.

Guided by Louis Barajas, Patricia believes that the help of a financial coach is vital to learn how to manage income and expenses in a family.

A good coach helps to lift off the shame and embarrassment, they help you SEE yourself in a non-judgmental way. Once this is accomplished, a strategic plan can be put in practice and a vision for financial freedom becomes clear. The results are phenomenal, from vulnerability to empowerment, Patricia told AL DÍA

Watch it on PBS

Opportunity Knock$ premiered Thursday, Oct. 27 on the PBS Passport streaming service, which can be accessed with a membership to any local PBS station. Beginning Winter 2022, Opportunity Knock$ will begin airing on individual PBS stations across the U.S. 

The show is distributed to PBS stations nationally by American Public Television (APT) and presenting station WXXI Public Media.

The show is part of the Opportunity Initiative funded by the nonprofit, National Council For Financial Opportunities. Additional funding is provided by Balance and Callahan and Associates.

The series' executive producers are Showrunner/Director Brian Spoor, Creator Jamie Strayer and Jenn George Hunter.