How is a financial coach different from a financial planner?

As a financial coach, I help you make the most of how you manage your day-to-day finances. This includes things like creating and maintaining a monthly money plan, establishing healthy spending habits, paying off debt, and building up savings. I also help you develop money mindsets that promote a healthy relationship with your money, so you can enjoy using your money to help create the life you envision for yourself.

A financial planner, on the other hand, helps with things like risk management (i.e. insurance needs), tax planning, estate planning, and detailed retirement planning. He or she might also manage your investment assets.

Who is financial coaching for?

Financial coaching is for people of all income levels who want to take better control of their money so that it’s actually doing all the things they need and want it to.

It’s for people who want to pay off debt, build up savings, or be able to invest. Whether you struggle with your finances or are doing pretty well but want to do even better, financial coaching will help you to make more consistent and significant progress towards your financial goals.

Do I have to follow a certain way of doing things with my money?

Nope! I’m a firm believer that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to money. Everyone has different circumstances, priorities, and goals.

As your financial coach, I don’t pressure you to do anything with your money. I learn what’s important to you. I help you understand all of your options and weigh the pros and cons of different choices. I even make expert recommendations. But ultimately, you decide what you’re most comfortable with and what you believe will add the most value to your life. And thanks to financial coaching, you’ll be well-informed and able to make those decisions confidently.

What can I expect from a coaching session?

Coaching sessions look different, depending on the topic or objective we’re focusing on. But generally speaking, I begin sessions by checking in with you about how money management has been going. You have the opportunity to share wins as well as concerns and to ask any questions you may have.

Together, we then discuss the main focus for that session. I present you with options, resources, and tools to help you make a decision. We may also spend time mapping out or adjusting a plan (for example, to pay off debt, build an emergency fund, prepare to buy a house, etc.).

I often bring things to your attention that you may not have even known to consider.

And I always leave room to discuss potential setbacks you feel you might face, so we can proactively determine how to address them and ensure they don’t hinder your progress.

What kind of financial goals can I achieve with your coaching?

So many! Here are just some of the things my clients have accomplished:

• creating and maintaining a monthly money plan that actually works for them

• being able to enjoy guilt-free spending because we fit it into their money plan

• negotiating down their student loan balances

• paying off tens of thousands of dollars of credit card debt

• saving thousands of dollars in interest payments (by paying down debt strategically)

• building up savings for emergency funds, vacations, house down payments, etc.

• finding room in their budget to start or increase contributions to their retirement funds and/or children’s investment accounts

How long will it take me to see results?

It all depends on where you’re starting and what your goals are. But typically, my clients start to see almost immediate results around feeling more aware and in control of their money. And most of my clients are pleasantly surprised to have made more progress within 3 months than they thought they’d make in a year (or more) when it comes to things like paying down debt and saving.

What sets you apart as a coach? Why should I work with you?

Here’s the thing: I absolutely LOVE helping my clients do bigger things with their money than they imagined! (I’ve even had a client tell me, “You get so excited for me, you would think it was happening to you.”) You can trust that I’ll be genuinely invested in your success, every step of the way.

I also believe in acknowledging all of your wins, big and small. I think it’s human nature for us to sometimes focus so much on our shortcomings that we don’t even realize our growth. I see it happen a lot with my clients. So I’m big on celebrating not just the achievement of a goal, but all the progress my clients make along the way. And that really helps them stay motivated and even surpass their own expectations!

Lastly, working with me is judgment-free! I don’t ever look down on or shame my clients for their decisions, past or present. For many people, money is already a sensitive subject as it is. My clients know they’re safe to share things with me without embarrassment or fear of condemnation. And when they’re open and honest, that’s when I’m best able to support them in their financial journey!

How do I get started?

Start by signing up for a free 30-minute strategy session. I’ll hear you out as you help me understand your current financial situation and where it is you’d like to be. Then, I’ll give you personalized feedback and help you determine the best next steps to take.