About Dr. Soaries
Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr. is a globally respected architect of transformation at the intersection of faith, finance, media, and public leadership—building movements that redefine what freedom looks like in practice.
As founder of the DFREE® Financial Freedom Movement, he has catalyzed a worldwide shift in how individuals and institutions approach money—empowering thousands to eliminate debt, build generational wealth, and reclaim control over their financial futures. What began as a faith-rooted initiative has scaled into a global model for economic empowerment, reaching communities across the United States, the Caribbean, and the African continent.
Dr. Soaries is also the recipient of the Black Authors Matter TV Award for Best Non-Fiction Book for his impactful work Say Yes to No Debt, further cementing his reputation as one of the nation’s leading voices on financial freedom, discipline, and economic empowerment.
His influence extends deeply into Africa, where his work has supported community advancement, financial education, and capacity-building initiatives for nearly two decades—particularly impacting children and families. In recognition of this sustained commitment, he was enstooled in Ghana by His Majesty the Okyenhene as Nkosuohene—Chief of Development—a distinguished honor that affirms both his global reach and his enduring investment in human potential.
Through DBS Solutions LLC and Corporate Community Connections, Inc., he partners with organizations and leaders worldwide to design scalable, results-driven strategies that bridge purpose with economic progress—translating vision into measurable impact.
A dynamic communicator and minister, Dr. Soaries has inspired audiences from church congregations to corporate boardrooms across the globe. His leadership also spans the highest levels of public service, including serving as New Jersey’s Secretary of State and Chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, where he advanced integrity, inclusion, and innovation in democratic systems.
Expanding his influence into media and narrative ownership, Dr. Soaries is the visionary and host behind the internationally recognized, Telly Award-winning YouTube series Say Yes When Life Says No—filmed in a state-of-the-art, independently owned studio he built and funded. The platform elevates stories of resilience, reinvention, leadership, faith, and purpose—reinforcing his belief that controlling the narrative is essential to shaping outcomes and inspiring transformation.
At his core, Dr. Soaries is a builder—of systems, of leaders, and of possibility. His work is grounded in a singular conviction: that true freedom—financial, spiritual, and communal—is cultivated through faith, discipline, and responsibility.
He resides in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife, Donna, continuing to lead a global movement that challenges individuals and institutions alike to not only envision change—but to execute it.
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Never underestimate where God puts you and what God gives you.
Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.