Question 1

What is financial coaching?

Accepted Answer

Financial coaching is helping clients obtain the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that will aid them in attaining their life and financial goals. If a physical fitness coach teaches you stretches and exercises that help you increase your physical fitness, a financial coach teaches you skills and habits that help you increase your financial fitness (also known as financial literacy).

One common way to describe financial coaching is to contrast it with financial planning. Financial advisors generally assist clients in managing their existing wealth. Financial coaches help clients create new, positive habits that assist clients in building wealth, often for the first time. Financial advisors might manage clients' investments and often sell insurance or other financial products. Financial coaches do not manage clients' money nor sell anything other than their coaching services. Financial advisors who do not receive commissions or kickbacks are commonly described as being "fee-only"- they're compensated only through fees paid directly by the clients. FinanciFI provides fee-only coaching, which allows us to provide clients information and recommendations that are not influenced by commissions or other compensation.

Question 2

Does financial coaching mean you'll create a budget that's too hard for me to stick to?

Accepted Answer

NO! Financial coaching will help you decide what's most important to you, and we'll help you align your spending with your values. Most clients share that implementing their carefully crafted budget (or spending plan, as we prefer to call it) isn't hard at all, because the things that are most important to them are included and accounted for. My job isn't to tell you "no;" instead, I'll help you discover your "yes"es that you'll naturally want to prioritize.

Question 3

What makes FinanciFI Coaching different from other financial coaching businesses?

Accepted Answer

Financial coaching is currently unregulated, which means anyone can call themselves a financial coach without any certifications or experience. However, I take great pride in always improving my body of knowledge and skill sets. I have two masters degrees- one in education and one in business. I'm an Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®), which means I've completed a financial education course, passed a rigorous industry exam, I adhere to a standard of ethics, and I have (many!) more than 1,000 hours experience assisting clients with their money. I've also earned the Military Qualified Financial Planner® (MQFP®) certification, which proves expertise in a wide variety of financial topics that are specific to military families and veterans, such as TRICARE, LESs, the SBP, SGLI, PCS entitlements, and sooo many more acronyms!

Additionally, I'm a parent, a veteran, and a military spouse myself, so I get you! I know your time is limited and valuable, so I plan my courses and individual sessions so as to create the most impact in the least amount of time.

Question 4

I want to get started! What's my first step?

Accepted Answer

Excellent news! I start all clients with a free 30-minute Q&A/consultation call. This call gives me a chance to get to know you, your financial situation, and your goals. It also gives you the opportunity to get to know me a bit. If we both determine we're a good fit to work together, then we'll schedule your ClariFI Strategy Session.

Question 5

Will financial coaching mean a lot of work for me to do?

Accepted Answer

Yes... and no. Implementing any major change always requires some level of effort, but I help you every step of the way. My clients find that the heavy lifting they accomplish during the Discovery Session and three-month program is more than worth it in the long-term. Getting your financial house in order requires work upfront, but it saves time, money, and stress in the long run.

Question 6

We have a lot of debt. Can financial coaching help us?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! In fact, helping clients implement a debt pay down plan is one of the most rewarding parts of my job! Clients generally feel a sense of relief after our very first session together- just having a plan and a coach in your corner lifts a huge weight from your shoulders.

Question 7

I have irregular income, so I've never been able to create a monthly budget. Can you help me?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! In fact, for families with variable income, it's even more important to have a deep understanding of your cash flow. There are a variety of strategies for managing irregular cash flow, and I'll work together to find the method that works best for you and your family.

Question 8

I'm married (or in a committed relationship) and I want to do financial coaching but my spouse/partner does not. Can you help me?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but know that you'd have more progress with a supportive and engaged partner. However, you can only control your own actions. If you want financial coaching and your partner doesn't, you're still likely to gain clarity around your own relationship with money and make some progress toward your financial goals. Sometimes, a reluctant partner will see your progress over time and become willing to participate later on. In other instances, the partner remains "money avoidant" and never joins coaching, but you'll learn tools to approach money conversations with your partner in a more productive way. Either outcome is a win!

Frequently asked questions