We've introduced the idea of “niching” your audience - your clients - so that you can better communicate with them and serve them. But for some, just the thought of niching down to a “singular” ideal client is terrifying. Maybe you’re worried about limiting your prospects or potential. Or maybe you are afraid of saying “no” to someone who doesn’t match with the niche that you’ve chosen. Or maybe you just want to help everyone. There are a whole host of reasons that may decide to make an appearan...
Nov 28, 2024•28 min
Ever sat on your couch on a Saturday night, watching a movie with your family, when suddenly you get a notification that someone just booked a session with you? But instead of scrambling to send emails and set up reminders, you can keep watching that movie, knowing everything is happening automatically—from payment processing to welcome emails to calendar updates. That's the power of having the right systems in place. In this week’s episode, I share some hard-learned lessons about choosing and s...
Nov 21, 2024•29 min•Ep. 88
Five guitar solos blasting at once. That's how business owners with ADHD might describe their daily mental experience. While everyone faces challenges in running their own business, ADHD adds an extra layer of complexity. Instead of “only” staying organized or managing their time, they have the added layer of wrestling with a brain that sees every shiny object, generates endless ideas, and sometimes makes even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. The real struggle? Many business owners don't ev...
Nov 14, 2024•41 min•Ep. 87
You know that feeling when you want to help people with their money, but you're stuck thinking you need another certification first? Or wondering if you really know enough? I spent years believing I needed more credentials before I could make a real difference in people's financial lives. Here's what I learned: The most powerful thing you have isn't a fancy degree or certification—it's your desire to help people see what's possible with their money. I started at my kitchen table, talking with fa...
Nov 07, 2024•22 min•Ep. 86
Even people making $250,000 a year can live paycheck to paycheck. As a financial coach, I've learned that money struggles don't discriminate—and that's exactly what we're talking about in this week’s podcast episode. I'm pulling back the curtain on my 16-year journey from helping coworkers at my kitchen table to building a full-time coaching business. If you've ever wondered what financial coaches actually do (and don't do), this episode is for you. Here's something that might surprise you: fina...
Oct 31, 2024•16 min•Ep. 85
Remember when I said that I was naive when I started my financial coaching career? My naivety was far more than just thinking that things would just simply “work” because I wanted them to - I dug in and learned how to run a business, how to package (and SELL!) financial coaching, how to deliver incredible, eye-popping results for my clients (while still having fun with them). I’ve created more than 100 concepts around money – concepts that were brand new - they didn’t exist before me. If you’d t...
Oct 24, 2024•23 min
Imagine turning your biggest financial mistake into a thriving business that helps others. That's exactly what Haley and Justin Brown-Woods did. After blowing through a $600,000 lawsuit payout and racking up over $220,000 in debt, this millennial couple decided to rewrite their financial story. Now, they're changing lives as financial coaches, helping clients tackle millions in debt. In this episode, Haley and Justin open up about their journey from drowning in debt to building a successful coac...
Oct 17, 2024•37 min•Ep. 84
Emily Maclin's journey as a financial coach is a story of growth, courage, and finding her unique path. After 22 years in corporate finance, Emily shifted gears to help women master their money and create a financial legacy. Emily’s story is part of our Success Stories series and it’s one that stands out to illustrate that it’s okay to shift careers, no matter how much success you’ve had where you are. You’ll love hearing about Emily's evolution from relying on fancy spreadsheets to focusing on ...
Oct 10, 2024•30 min•Ep. 83
"I remember looking at my fiancé and saying, if we can't pay for this wedding where our friends are baking the cake and bartending, how the heck are we going to afford a life together?" For Nicole Stanley, a panic attack over wedding finances became the spark that ignited her journey to financial freedom - and eventually, to becoming a successful financial coach. In this episode, Nicole pulls back the curtain on her transformation from a financially anxious newlywed to the owner of Arise Financi...
Oct 03, 2024•39 min•Ep. 82
Wondering what it's like to build a thriving financial coaching business as a couple? In this episode, we sit down with James and Amberlee Rich, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo who have turned their passion for helping others into a successful coaching practice. From their early days as a teacher (Amberlee) and campus pastor (James) to launching their own business, the Riches share their journey of transformation—for themselves and their coaching clients. They share how they've crafted a unique a...
Sep 26, 2024•43 min•Ep. 81
In today’s episode of the Financial Coach Academy Podcast, we’re going to answer another burning question: is financial coaching different from financial advising? The short answer is YES. While both financial coaches and financial advisors are needed in the world, financial advisors are future-focused. A financial advisor will run a variety of scenarios and your likelihood of financial success based on your investment strategies, rate of return, risk tolerance, asset allocation, and portfolio. ...
Sep 19, 2024•22 min
You've got great money tips to share, but are you forgetting one crucial detail in your marketing? We’re talking about the fact that you're actually a financial coach. This might sound obvious, but we see it all the time—coaches sharing awesome money advice without ever mentioning they work with clients. If that's you, you're not alone. And it could be costing you business. In this episode, we're talking about how to make it crystal clear that you're a coach who helps real people with their mone...
Sep 12, 2024•28 min•Ep. 80
Investing conversations can be a minefield for financial coaches. Where's the line between education and advice? How much is too much to share? What responsibility do you have for offering advice (or leaving it alone altogether)? This week, we’re tackling the hot topic of how financial coaches can talk about investing with clients—without crossing into advisor territory. We look at why these conversations matter and how you, as the financial coach, can actually complement the work of financial a...
Sep 05, 2024•38 min•Ep. 79
Social media is a great way to connect with new prospective clients, but it can feel impersonal and salesy too. We’ve all been the target of unsolicited DMs from people who want to sell us something. Let’s not be those people in our own businesses. This week, we're talking about how to initiate conversations with new people in a way that feels authentic and real, and then move those social media chats into real-world connections. Because if we stay in the DMs or try to convert new clients there,...
Aug 29, 2024•33 min•Ep. 78
Ever feel like you're hitting a wall when it comes to pricing conversations with potential clients? We've all been there: you have a great call with a potential client, but then they hit you with the "I just don't have it in my budget right now" reasoning for not moving forward. It's easy to start doubting yourself or your pricing, but here's the thing: it's usually not about the price at all. This week on the podcast, we're breaking down six practical steps to navigate these tricky conversation...
Aug 22, 2024•24 min•Ep. 77
When you decided to become a financial coach, you were probably just like me - thinking you’d sit down with a client, explain the ins and outs of money - and they’d immediately “get it.” In one session, they’d see the vision, change their habits, and I’d be there to support them as they had an incredible transformation. But, as I’m sure you’ve discovered, actually coaching someone through a real financial transformation is nothing like what I’d imagined - instead of teaching (which is essentiall...
Aug 15, 2024•25 min
This week’s episode is part of a series on your unique value proposition. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to go back and listen to episode 75 first to get the full context of this topic. In this week’s episode, we're talking about the beliefs your clients need to have to invest in you. It's not just about what they believe about themselves and their own finances or ability to make a quality decision. You also need to know what they think about your coaching and any misconceptions we need...
Aug 08, 2024•16 min•Ep. 76
Are you struggling to stand out in the crowded world of financial coaching? I've been there. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on how I completely transformed my business by rediscovering my unique voice. For months, I felt disconnected from my own brand. My website didn't feel like me, and my messaging was all over the place. Sound familiar? I bet it does. That's why I'm sharing the exact process I used to cut through the noise and reconnect with what makes me, well, me. I'll walk y...
Aug 01, 2024•33 min•Ep. 75
As coaches, we often struggle with where to start when helping a new client. Should we focus on budgeting, debt reduction, or long-term planning? The answer isn't always clear, and a one-size-fits-all approach rarely (if ever!) works. This week, I'm sharing a simple tool that's been a game-changer in my coaching practice. It's called the Financial Wheel of Life, and it's about to make your job a whole lot easier. Imagine being able to see exactly where your clients are struggling and where they'...
Jul 25, 2024•19 min•Ep. 74
Ever feel like you need to know everything about money to help your clients? Well, this episode might just change your mind. We're diving into the fundamentals of gaining financial knowledge and how to use it effectively for yourself and your clients. You know those moments when you're not sure what to tackle first with a client? Or when you worry about missing something important? We've all been there. But there's no magic formula that works for everyone. Real people have real, messy lives, and...
Jul 18, 2024•32 min•Ep. 73
Raise your hand if you’ve ever ended a conversation with a potential client knowing that you’d probably never hear from them again. It’s happened to most of us in the world of coaching — and today, I’m going to help you understand the psychology behind sales so that you can help your future clients make an informed decision (even if they need to think about it!) without feeling like you’re pushy, forward, slimy, or sleazy (or a used car salesperson). You likely decided to become a financial coac...
Jul 11, 2024•34 min
If you've been feeling like you need to learn more before you can help others, this episode is for you. We're going to challenge that idea and explore why you might already know more than you think. Remember when you first started caring about your own money? What did you learn then so you could do better? Now fast forward to when you decided to become a coach. Did your idea of what you needed to know suddenly expand? Here's a secret: You probably know way more about personal finance than I did ...
Jul 04, 2024•23 min•Ep. 72
It's time to learn the tools that will help you get to know your clients better so you can support them in new ways. In this final episode of the Coaching Models Series, we're looking into the world of self-assessment tools and how they can help you gain valuable insights about yourself and your clients. Join me as I dive into popular tools like Human Design, Myers Briggs, DISC, Strengths Finder, Kolbe, the Four Tendencies, and Enneagram. We'll discuss how these tools can shed light on personali...
Jun 27, 2024•23 min•Ep. 71
Being a good financial coach means you’re constantly learning and growing with your clients. You have the tools in your toolbox to offer clients what they need, when they need it. This week is part two of our series on proven coaching techniques that can help you guide meaningful client conversations and grow your business. We cover a range of coaching models, including OSKAR and OSCAR, which are solution-focused approaches; ACHIEVE, a 7-step process for creative problem-solving; and FUEL, desig...
Jun 20, 2024•19 min•Ep. 70
Are you ready to take your financial coaching skills to the next level? In this video, I'm diving deep into what it truly means to be a student of your craft and sharing my secret sauce for continuously growing as a coach. I'll reveal my powerful framework for developing your abilities in three key areas: financial strategies, coaching methods, and business acumen. Plus, I'm giving you a special gift - a comprehensive cheat sheet packed with proven coaching techniques and concepts that you can s...
Jun 13, 2024•27 min•Ep. 69
Coaching is a $2.85 BILLION dollar industry, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. In fact, between 2015 and 2019, the number of professional coaches increased by 33% - and the industry is continuing to grow, which means that understanding how to “be a coach” isn’t enough - you need to be a great coach, so today, I’m going to help you understand the differences between “good” and “great” coaching. And, not surprisingly, that starts with owning what you do not know. Having a healthy level of cu...
Jun 06, 2024•36 min
One of the biggest mistakes financial coaches make when they’re first starting out isn’t what you might think. We all spend a lot of time in trial and error, and for good reason. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t. But it’s important to be strategic about how you look at your results and how you decide on what to try next…and when. This week on the podcast, we're looking at the difference between erratic trial and error and strategic trial and error. Erratic trial and error is when ...
May 30, 2024•21 min•Ep. 68
If you've ever struggled with the "ick" factor when it comes to selling your services, this episode is for you. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate sales conversations, especially when you're just starting out. That's why I'm excited to share some insights that have completely transformed the way I approach sales in my own coaching business. In this episode, we'll dive into the 5 key ingredients you need to infuse into your sales conversations to make them feel good AND effect...
May 23, 2024•18 min•Ep. 67
You didn’t go into business to be a marketing pro, right? But here’s the thing: Marketing is the lifeblood of any successful financial coaching business. Without effective marketing strategies, even the most talented coaches struggle to attract clients and make a meaningful impact. The good news is that boosting your marketing efforts doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming task. With the right hacks and a willingness to start, you can optimize your approach and see real results. In this v...
May 16, 2024•48 min•Ep. 66
Financial coaching for married couples is a different skill set from working with individuals. For one thing, there are two people with two different mindsets and values around money at play. This week, I sat down with David Peterson, the founder of Married Money Financial Counseling, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of working with married couples on their finances. If you've ever felt stuck trying to help couples get on the same page about money, this episode is for you! Davi...
May 09, 2024•54 min•Ep. 65
