Wilbroda: I wish I had mentors to guide me on investments when money was flowing
By Steve Ireri, August 22, 2025Veteran actress and radio presenter Wilbroda has reflected on her journey in the entertainment industry, admitting that her biggest regret is not having a financial advisor or mentor during the years when she was earning large sums of money at a young age.
Speaking during an interview with Alex Mwakideu on Friday, August 22, 2025, Wilbroda, born Jacquey Nyaminde, said her career rose quickly, and she began making significant amounts of money in her early years.
She described the period as exciting but acknowledged that much of that money slipped through her hands because she lacked proper financial guidance.
“From when I started my career, I kept rising, and I began making huge amounts of money when I was still very young. It was very exciting. But now, when I look at the money I had then, which is not so easy to come by today with how the industry has slowed down and with the state of the economy, I feel I wish I had a financial advisor,” she said.
She noted that looking back now, especially with the slowdown in advertising and the tough state of the economy, she wishes she had been more financially disciplined.
She revealed that during those days, she had no idea that financial advisors or mentors existed who could have directed her towards meaningful investments. She reflected on how a professional voice telling her how to allocate her earnings could have changed the trajectory of her financial story.
“Or maybe I wish I knew there was something like a financial advisor or a mentor who could tell me, ‘Jackie, let us invest this money here, let us save this amount,’ and I would listen,” she added.
New artistes
The actress then compared her experience with that of the younger generation of artistes, saying they have embraced financial literacy in ways her peers did not.
She recalled a conversation with singer Charisma, also known as Fidel Eli Shammah Omusula, during one of their trips abroad, which opened her eyes to how the new crop of artistes manage their money.
“Some time back, I was with Charisma, and I asked him what he usually does with all the money he earns because he makes good money. I have travelled with him to about two or three countries, and whenever we go, he talks about wanting to buy expensive things,” she said.
According to Wilbroda, Charisma explained that he works with a team of financial advisors who strictly control his income.
For example, if he earns half a million shillings from a show, his advisors only release a fixed monthly allowance for his living expenses, while the rest is invested.
She said this discipline ensures that even if he misuses his monthly allocation, he has no access to additional funds until the following month, which forces him to plan and live within his means.
“That is when he opened up to me that he has a finance team and advisors who only give him what he needs for that month. For example, if he makes five hundred thousand shillings per show and he needs one hundred thousand shillings for his monthly expenses, they release only that. The rest they invest for him. So I asked him what happens if he misuses that one hundred thousand and needs more money in the middle of the month. He told me the advisors are very strict, and they tell him to wait until the following month when they can disburse another one hundred thousand. It is up to him to know how to manage with what he has been given,” she added.
Wilbroda observed that this model has made artistes of the new generation more financially conscious.
They research, plan their futures, and seek ways to avoid the pitfalls that befell older entertainers who spent recklessly and ended up broke.
She admitted that in 2022 and 2023, she was not thinking about long-term investments such as land, while younger artistes today prioritise such assets early in their careers.
“That is when I realised these new artistes of this generation are in a whole new world. They do research, they plan, and they know the things they want to do in life. For us, back then, we never knew about such things. In 2022 and 2023, for example, I was not even thinking about buying land. But these new artistes already have that in mind.”
The actress then added that the difference between her generation and the new crop of entertainers is striking, with the latter being more deliberate about securing their future.
She said this shift is a lesson that financial discipline and mentorship are vital in the unpredictable world of show business.
“They have also seen what happened to artistes before them who spent money recklessly, burned through their wealth, and ended up begging for help. They do not want to end up there, so they have learnt and are avoiding those mistakes.”