"Financial Coach" is a relatively new term that has gained some popularity over the last 30 years. A Financial Coach is someone who helps you identify areas of your everyday finances where you could make changes (some small and some big) that will dramatically improve your current situation and your future. Have you ever felt like you only had one option? Or that you had to choose between a horrible option and a slightly less horrible one? As a financial coach, I help my clients see their situation from a different perspective. You’re so close to the problem that you might not be able to see all of your available options. Options equal freedom.

No. A financial coach helps you with your day-to-day financial picture. We help you establish and stick to a budget, prioritize and pay off debt, establish an emergency fund, save for kids’ college, understand the importance of saving for retirement, etc. I will not try to sell you insurance or stocks. I’m not allowed to; it’s against the law because I don’t have those types of licenses. When you’re ready to invest or need specific tax advice, I can help you find a professional who specializes in that area.

While there are different types of financial advisors, they help with big-picture things like investment management, tax planning, and estate planning.

Both are important people to have in your corner, but we are not the same.

1. You’re sick and tired of worrying about money
2. You find yourself constantly googling ways to solve your money problems
3. You’re exhausted from playing the shell game with your credit cards
4. You want to break the generational “family curse” of being broke
5. You dream of a better life for your family
6. You’re just starting out in life and want to learn how to handle money the right way
7. You handle money pretty well but just want to fine-tune a few areas of your financial plan
8. You’re ready to make changes but either don't know how or don’t want to do it alone
9. You know what you need to do, but realize you can do it so much quicker with the guidance and accountability that a coach can offer

Yes, I can help you. I’ve been there, and I know how it feels. I know things seem dark right now, but I’m here to show you that there is hope for your situation. I can lay out your options and help you see a different perspective on the situation than you probably can right now because you’re scared. When we’re scared, we tend to panic, and we don’t always make the best decisions, so it helps to have an outside perspective. Dramatic change won’t happen overnight, but I can help you take some actionable steps that can provide some immediate relief from your situation. Once the immediate “fire” is put out, we will work to straighten out your situation, and you will notice more and more peace. Before you know it, you will have control over your money, perhaps for the first time in your life, and you can finally begin to focus on the future.

I completed the Financial Coach Master Training program from Ramsey Solutions. This training is designed to help coaches get to the very heart of financial problems and show them how to address the real problem, not just the obvious symptoms. So, whether you need help with things like budgeting, paying down debt, handling pesky collectors, saving for a rainy day, setting big goals, or building wealth, I have the knowledge and tools to guide you to make the smartest choices to reach your financial dreams.

Before completing this training, I used the same process to overcome my own financial issues. My husband and I were deep in debt and were living paycheck to paycheck, despite our decent income. We learned tools and strategies on how to better manage our money and used them to quickly pay off $120,000 in consumer debt. This freed up $3,000 of our income that we had been spending on minimum payments. I know what it’s like to lie awake at night worrying about my finances. I know what it’s like to feel out of control with your money, not knowing where it all went, and having to hand over a small fortune to creditors every paycheck. I’ve been there; I know how you feel, and I can help you see that it does not have to be this way forever. Together, we can make a plan, and you have the power to change your future.

When you take your car to the shop, the mechanic can’t provide a quote until he sees your car and diagnoses the issues, the same is true for financial coaching. My fee varies depending on your situation and how often we need to meet to address your primary concerns. My initial consultation is always free. During our free consultation I will learn more about your situation, your concerns, and financial goals. At the end of our talk, we will discuss ways that I can help you and my fee for the next step. This is always a pressure-free talk. My goal is to see if you would benefit from coaching and to see if we are a good fit, and if so, to extend an invitation into a coaching relationship. What I will emphasize is that after a few months of working with me, the positive shift in your finances and stress level will more than justify my rate.