Frequently Asked Questions

What is Financial Coaching?

A financial coach is a personal finance expert or educator in areas like getting out of debt, budgeting, increasing your income, credit, saving for retirement, saving for college, avoiding bankruptcy, and smart money management. Some may specialize in one or two areas, like here I focus mostly on getting out of debt and budgeting.

Do I have to be located near you for coaching?

Nope! I work virtually through Zoom meetings, which enables us to have a meeting while you’re in the comfort of your own home. I do not have an at-home office, but if you live in the Ventura, CA area and would like to meet face-to-face, we can arrange an in-person meeting!

What does a typical session look like?

Before the session: Typically I schedule appointments at least one week in advance. Once you schedule and pay for your appointment, I will email you an information packet that needs to be completed at least 48 hours prior to our appointment time – this packet includes a TON of information regarding your current financial situation, so it’s important this is filled out before your session so we can get straight to business! Once I receive the packet back through my email, I will review all your information and gathering my recommendations for you!

During the session: We already have the numbers submitted, so we can get straight to it! Come to the session with your top three goals and we will start creating a plan to help you meet your goals. Things we will look at specifically: your income vs. expenses, organizing your bills, establishing what to include within a budget and how to create a budget, establishing sinking funds you may need, creating a debt payoff plan, or establishing a savings plan if you have no debt. We will focus on your goals the whole way, and we will prioritize what’s most important for you.

After the session: Because talking about money can be overwhelming, I send you a follow-up email with everything we discussed in case you missed something. I will be available to you for any follow-up questions you have via email or text. You will have homework assignments to complete, like filling in the specifics of your budget. After the first session, we can schedule your a follow up session! Typically this is done between 2-4 weeks after your first session so there is time to implement the changes we had made.

Why can’t I just use the free resources out on the web?

You are more than welcome to look at those free resources, as well as buying any books specific to your needs! But if you’re here looking for a coach, chances are you’ve already tried that and need more professional, one-on-one guidance. Maybe you need someone to walk you through the steps and lay out the plan for you because you just don’t know where to start! Maybe you need a cheerleader and accountability partner! Maybe you need someone to let you know that it IS possible and that you CAN do it. There are so many resources out there, but sometimes a real person rooting for you is what you need for true success.

What makes you qualified to be a financial coach?

They say that when you’ve been through a mess, it qualifies you to be a messenger. And I have been through a MESS. I have been working my own financial plan for 18 months now, and I have the drive and personal experience to help get you on your way to success as well.

More importantly, I am a graduate of Financial Peace University, and I am also part of the Dave Ramsey Solutions Master Coaching Team, after successfully completing the Financial Coach Master Training in 2020.