What Does a Financial Coach Do?
“What the heck is a financial coach?!”
I asked myself this same question a couple of years ago, and now it’s my career!
Allow me to fill you in on the financial professional you never knew you needed.
Why People Start Looking for a Financial Coach
Most people do not wake up one day thinking, “I need a financial coach.” They usually reach a point where what they are doing with their money is no longer working.
That moment often looks like:
Credit card balances that never seem to go down
Feeling anxious every time you check your bank account
Making good money but still living paycheck to paycheck
Knowing you should be saving more, but not knowing how much or how to actually do it
Running a business but feeling stressed about spending too much, taxes, or paying yourself
One client described it this way:
“I was doing it all by myself and telling myself, ‘I got this.’ But eventually I realized there was no actual progress being made.”
What a Financial Coach Actually Does
Financial coaching focuses on the money decisions you’re making in your everyday life.
Like how you pay for rent, treat yourself to dinner out, and go on your dream vacation, all while still saving for a downpayment on a house.
A helpful way to think about it is this: a financial coach is like a personal trainer for your money.
If I wanted to lose weight, I know I should have more calories going out than in. But easier said than done (trying to get myself to eat less dessert is HARD!).
And similarly, most people know that to “get ahead” financially, they should have more money coming in than going out. But again, easier said than done.
Like a personal trainer, a financial coach gives you a custom plan tailored to your starting point, goals, preferences, and habits. They teach you, help you apply what you learned, and hold you accountable to the goals you set for yourself.
Let’s look at a few examples of what this actually looks like.
Creating clarity around where your money is going
Many clients come in feeling stressed about finances, but are unsure where to start. One of the first things we do is clearly understand income, expenses, and true spending patterns.
As one client shared:
“I thought I spent about $500 a month on food, but when we actually looked at it, I was spending double. Seeing it laid out like that opened my eyes.”
Don’t underestimate the power of awareness to help you start making progress towards your financial goals.
Building a system you can actually stick to
Financial coaching (at least my philosophy) is not about perfection or deprivation. It is about creating a realistic system that supports your goals while still allowing you to live your life.
I want to help you put something into place that will last you for the rest of your life, not something you give up in a few months because it’s too hard.
That includes:
Knowing exactly how much money you’ll have in your account between paychecks (no more overdrafting!)
Not tracking or categorizing every dollar (who has time for that?!)
Planning ahead for non-monthly expenses like travel, car repairs, and vet bills (wondering whether you should buy pet insurance?)
Making deliberate, intentional decisions about spending your money in a way that aligns with your values
Making debt payoff and saving feel sustainable
Many people feel torn between paying off debt and saving for the future. Financial coaching helps you balance both in a way that feels manageable.
One client described it like this:
“Instead of trying to climb out of a huge hole all at once, we took it one step at a time. Those small wins built momentum.”
Supporting both personal and business finances
In addition to helping individuals and couples, I love supporting small business owners with their business and personal finances!
For small business owners, this often includes:
Separating business and personal finances
Knowing how much to pay yourself
Paying yourself consistently
Proactively saving for taxes
One business owner shared:
“I was making all this money but didn’t know where it was going. Now I have money in checking, savings, and I actually feel calm looking at my accounts.”
Real Client Outcomes From Financial Coaching
Financial coaching is not about theory. It is about taking action that lasts and creates an impact.
One client paid off over $30,000 in credit card debt in five months and has stayed out of debt since. With clear goals and a system they trust, they were also able to take a bucket-list trip to New Zealand without putting any of it on a credit card!
Another client, a small business owner earning around $200,000 a year, went from living paycheck to paycheck to having money in savings and stability with their personal finances.
What a Financial Coach Does Not Do
Understanding what a financial coach does also means knowing what a financial coach does not do.
I do not sell financial products or earn commissions. The only money I make is what you pay me for my services.
I do not manage investments or provide investment advice. Coaching can support saving for retirement, but investment decisions belong with a financial advisor.
I do not create long-term retirement projections or run complex scenario models. If a financial advisor tells you how much you need to save to meet your retirement goals, financial coaching helps you figure out how to actually make that happen in your budget.
Learn more about the difference between a financial coach and a financial advisor.
Who Financial Coaching Is For
Financial coaching may be a good fit if:
You feel stressed or anxious about money, even if you earn a good income
You have money goals, but aren’t sure where to start
You want clarity and accountability
You want support without judgment
What you’re currently doing isn’t working, and you’re ready to make a change
As one client put it:
“There was no judgment. Just someone looking at what was on the table and helping me figure out what to do next.”
Similar to my philosophy about therapy, I think most people can benefit from financial coaching.
A Final Thought
Spending money to hire a financial coach when money already feels tight can feel counterintuitive. That hesitation makes complete sense (and way to go with thinking critically about how you want to spend your money!).
But if what you have been doing is not working, it might be time to try something different.
If you read this and thought, “I didn’t know this kind of help existed, and this is exactly what I need,” schedule your free call with me, and we can talk more about your money goals.
And if you read this and realized it is not the right fit, that’s great too!
Either way, you now have more clarity on the best next step for you, and that’s something to celebrate!
