Inspiration for this book:

For several years, I had the honor of organizing a children’s entrepreneurial fair in our neighborhood. The event taught kids how to earn money and introduced them to the world of business. When I first became involved, I hoped to inspire young minds, including my son, to embrace early financial education and entrepreneurship. I didn’t anticipate how deeply inspired I would be in return. Seeing the young participants’ enthusiasm, creativity, and intelligence was truly remarkable. It reconfirmed in my mind that children will rise to the occasion if given the chance.

Fueled by their energy and effort (and a few inquiries from parents), I began to wonder: What if? What if I wrote a book that made finance approachable and fun for kids? What if I combined my thirty years in the industry with a decade of parenting to create something that sparks curiosity, builds confidence, and offers lessons that last well beyond childhood? That’s how this book—and the whole idea behind it—came to life.

A Lesson in Fear, Failure, and Persistence:

This book isn’t just about finance—it’s also about RESILIENCE—not fearing failure, but learning from it. I often second-guessed myself during this process and had to pivot several times. That's why I chose to incorporate this theme into the book. If I’m honest, I think I was telling myself to keep going. I didn’t do it alone, though. There were times when I wanted to quit. I distinctly remember, on several occasions, turning to my son and saying. “What am I doing? I think I should throw this in the trash.” But he wouldn’t let me. His unwavering belief in this book—and in me—kept me going. I am grateful for his persistence.

As I neared the end of writing this book, I was sitting on the couch rewriting yet again when my son turned to me and said, “Mom, I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as you have on this...” He had watched me day after day, writing, rewriting, and learning everything from storytelling and illustration to self-publishing and website design to launch this book. This journey taught me more than I ever imagined. But most of all, I realized that it allowed me to show my son—through action—that when you set your mind to something, put in the effort, and see it through, you can accomplish incredible things.

I hope this book inspires your child to think big, take risks, and embrace the lessons that come with every challenge. – ENJOY!

Ashley Ragsdale Stockton, originally from Southern Virginia, has over 30 years of experience in finance, marketing and investments. She began her journey at the University of Virginia, where she earned a degree from the McIntire School of Commerce, with a concentration in Finance and Marketing. Her career took flight in New York City with roles in Equity Research at J.P. Morgan and Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch. In 2004, she relocated to Atlanta and led the Southeast Institutional Equity Sales desk for J.P. Morgan for close to two decades. Currently, she is Head of Investor Relations for Guardian Pharmacy Services.

An advocate for financial literacy and youth education, Ashley serves on the board of the Georgia Securities Association, raising funds to support statewide financial education programs for children. She also chairs her neighborhood’s annual Children’s Entrepreneurial Fair, helping young minds turn ideas into action.

In 2025, Ashley launched Ride Rabbit Ride to fill the gap in children's financial literacy and inspire young minds to explore entrepreneurship and business. Through storytelling, she aims to make financial concepts fun, accessible, and empowering for the next generation.

Ashley lives in Atlanta with her husband, their 11-year-old son, and their English Retriever. She enjoys tennis, mahjong, culinary adventures, traveling, and—most of all—spending time with family and friends.