Wacinque Amistad Kaizen BeMende

Wacinque AK BeMende, is a visionary in financial education and systems thinking. As a problem solver and catalyst for change, Wacinque has developed groundbreaking products and services such as GPIA-DIV and GPIA-DIV Saver, which incorporate an Asset Ownership Standard. These innovations aim to tackle the seemingly insurmountable challenge of multi-generational poverty.
Wacinque has dedicated his life to eradicating financial exclusion and eliminating the unbanked and underbanked population. His relentless commitment is driven by a passion for empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures. Through his novel model, he equips people with the necessary knowledge and tools to achieve economic independence.
Believing in limitless financial empowerment, Wacinque inspires and educates others to break free from the constraints of financial insecurity. His innovative approach and unwavering dedication make him a transformative figure in the quest for economic justice and financial inclusion.
It’s extraordinary when one takes the lessons from their experiences, particularly those characterized by hardship, and turns them into a mission to create lasting change. After all, such determination requires vision, empathy, and a willingness to tackle systemic issues. Wacinque Amistad Kaizen BeMende possesses these qualities. He has dedicated his life to addressing one persistent yet surprisingly overlooked challenge: the exclusion of millions from financial systems.
As the founder and Chief Abundance Consultant of KaizenRhino Solutions International (KSRI), BeMende aims to reduce the number of unbanked and underbanked individuals worldwide. This goal reflects his belief that no one must be left behind in achieving financial empowerment—a belief shaped by being raised in a family mired in generational poverty.
The visionary, growing up on government assistance, witnessed the crippling effects of financial instability. He recalls moments that solidified his resolve, such as overhearing adults discussing their financial struggles at church, which ignited his desire to escape poverty and help others do the same.
As if fate intended, BeMende’s teacher introduced him to the concept of compound interest. In high school, he delved into the stock market, learning to analyze market information from newspapers. Unknown to the then-young man, these early exposures would serve as the beginning of his journey in finance. Before establishing his presence in the field, however, he built a remarkable 40-year career in the military.
BeMende was enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1975. He served in various branches over the decades, including the Navy, Air Force, and the Coast Guard, retiring as a decorated service member in 2016. His military career took him around the world, exposing him to poverty on a global scale and deepening his understanding of economic disparity.
The passionate man, ever committed, ensured that he pursued an education in banking and finance while serving. He earned a degree in human services from Upper Iowa University and later taught personal finance as an adjunct instructor at Central Texas Community College. BeMende even volunteered extensively with programs focused on financial education, tax preparation, and debt management, serving unbanked and low-income families.
The seasoned professional’s hands-on work in communities and frustration with the slow progress of the traditional approach to poverty alleviation fueled his entrepreneurial spirit and motivation to pave a new, innovative path. All these circumstances led to BeMende developing one of his first initiatives: Establishing an Asset Ownership Standard, which addresses financial exclusion with the same urgency and precision as a scientific breakthrough.
The Kid’s Savings Program is another noteworthy project of his. It promoted financial literacy and encouraged early saving habits. Donating thousands of dollars to the Community Action of Laramie County in Cheyenne, Wyoming, BeMende kickstarted the Wacinque “Rhino” Fund Endowment. This program provided children with the means to open savings accounts, instilling financial responsibility at a young age.
Building on the successes of these initiatives and utilizing the insights he gained from years of community engagement, BeMende built KaizenRhino Solutions International L3C. The unique social enterprise integrates his earlier initiatives, including the Rhino Fund, into a broader framework that addresses financial exclusion and creates pathways to generational wealth. Here, he intends to create an Asset Ownership Standard (AOS). This framework, modeled after Bloomberg’s “wealth number,” aims to give everyone access to financial tools that enable compounding wealth regardless of their circumstances.
In addition to establishing an AOS, BeMende offers comprehensive products through KSRI. One is the Global Permanent Investment Account-Dividends® (GPIA-DIV), a financial tool that combines savings