Are you tired of feeling like you're just barely getting by financially?

Do you wish you had a clear plan for how to save and spend your money but just don't know where to start?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, then financial coaching may be exactly what you need.

But what is financial coaching, and why do you need it? Let's break it down.

What Is Financial Coaching?

Financial coaching is a type of support aimed at helping individuals and families improve their financial well-being and reach their financial goals.

It’s a process that involves working together with a financial coach to identify your money challenges and opportunities, create a plan to address them, and take steps to implement that plan.

How Is Financial Coaching Different from Financial Planning and Financial Advisors?

Financial coaching and financial planning are two related but distinct services aimed at helping people improve their financial life.

While they share some similarities, there are also some important differences between them.

Financial planners and financial advisors typically focus on creating long-term financial plans, retirement planning, and making investment recommendations.

Financial coaches focus on helping their clients develop the skills and knowledge they need to take control of their money now.

Topics usually covered in financial coaching include:

• budgeting

• setting goals

• debt repayment

• credit card management

• money mindset

• how to utilize savings strategies like emergency funds and sinking funds

• understanding and tracking your net worth

• building wealth

• improving your credit score

• and more

Financial coaches work with clients on a wide range of financial issues and often also help them manage their relationship with money, as well as navigate major life transitions, such as getting married, having a baby, or starting a new job.

Most coaching services don't offer financial advice as much as guidance to help you make informed decisions for yourself.

For comprehensive financial management, developing relationships with both a financial coach and a financial planner will help you to grow and improve your financial situation. 

What are some benefits of financial coaching?

If you’re looking to improve your finances and reach your financial goals, financial coaching is a great way to do both.

Here are a few key benefits of financial coaching:

Get an objective perspective & understand your current financial situation

We all have blind spots when it comes to our spending.

An effective coach will provide you with an objective perspective on your financial situation.

They’ll help you assess your current financial status, identify areas where you may be able to save or invest more, and set realistic and achievable goals.

Receive customized support

Financial coaching is a highly personalized process.

A financial coach will work with you to understand your specific financial goals and challenges and will work with you to develop a plan that is tailored to your needs and circumstances.

Whether you're dealing with credit card debt, student loans, an unexpected series of expenses, or maybe even a huge windfall, a financial coach can help you navigate and plan around your unique scenario.

Improve your financial literacy and skills

Working with a personal finance coach can help you develop the financial skills and knowledge you need to take control of your finances.

This can include learning about budgeting, saving, and investing, as well as understanding how to manage debt and build wealth over time. (Note that only Certified Financial Advisors and Certified Financial Planners are legally able to give you investment advice, but a coach may provide education on more general aspects of investing.)

Get accountability and motivation

Teaming up with a financial coach can help you stay motivated and on track with your financial goals.

Your coach will offer accountability and support while you work together to help you regularly track your progress and stay focused on your plan.

Create confidence and peace of mind

One extra benefit to working with a financial coach is that they’ll help you feel more confident and in control of your money.

By working with a coach to create a plan and take steps to implement it, you can feel more secure and at ease about your spending decisions and your financial future.

How Financial Coaching Can Help You Reach Your Goals

One of the main benefits of financial coaching is that it can help you reach your financial goals.

A financial coach can work with you to identify your short-term and long-term financial goals and create a plan to achieve them.

This can include setting specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, as well as creating a budget that aligns with those goals.

For example, if your goal is to pay off your credit card debt, a financial coach can help you understand your options for debt repayment and work with you to develop a realistic and achievable strategy.

This may involve creating a spending plan that helps you allocate more of your income to debt repayment, negotiating with creditors to get lower interest rates, or consolidating your debt to make it easier to manage.

Similarly, if your goal is to save more for the future, a financial coach can help you identify opportunities to reduce your expenses, increase your income, and save more money.

Financial coaching can also be helpful when trying to navigate major life transitions, such as getting married, having a baby, or starting a new job.

A financial coach can help you understand the financial implications of these changes and create a plan to ensure that you are prepared for them.

Why You Need A Financial Coach

There are plenty of reasons why you may need financial coaching.

Maybe you've been struggling to make ends meet and feel like you're in a never-ending cycle of debt.

Maybe you're not sure where to start when it comes to saving for the future.

Or maybe you just don't understand all the different options and risks that are out there when it comes to investments.

Here are some situations when a financial coach might be needed:

Help Understanding Your Financial Situation

If you don't understand your current financial situation or how it affects your ability to reach your goals, a financial coach can help.

Maybe your goals are too lofty and taking too long to achieve. Or maybe you’re making impulsive spending decisions that undermine your efforts.

A financial coach can help you see the big picture and create an achievable actionable plan that will get you closer to your financial goals much faster than if you do it on your own.

Help Establishing Good Financial Habits

It's important to establish good money habits.

This means learning how to save money, live within your means, and manage your finances in a way that works best for YOU.

A lot of people make the mistake of trying to live up to other people’s expectations and values instead of defining their own.

A financial coach can help you uncover your priorities and teach you the skills to develop good spending habits and establish healthy boundaries so that you don't end up overspending or living beyond your means.

Help Expanding Your Financial Education

Financial education goes beyond learning money management skills.

Continuing to educate yourself on financial topics can be daunting, but a financial coach can help expand your financial knowledge on a range of topics, including tracking your net worth, learning different budgeting methods, adapting to unexpected expenses and life changes, and more.

In short, having a financial coach can help simplify your money situation, leaving you with more clarity and confidence around your finances.

Finding The Right Money Coach For You

Once you’ve decided to seek out a financial coach, it’s important to find the right financial coach for you.

Here are a few tips for finding the right financial coach:

Determine your needs

Before you start looking for a financial coach, it's important to understand what you hope to achieve through coaching.

Do you need help creating a budget, paying off debt, saving for the future, building a business, or something else?

Understanding your specific needs can help you find a coach who is well-suited to meet them.

Consider the coach's style

Financial coaching is a highly personalized process, and it's important to find a coach whose style and approach align with your needs and preferences.

Do you prefer one-on-one coaching, or would you be comfortable working with a coach as part of a group?

Do you want a coach who is more directive or someone who takes a more collaborative approach?

Also, check out your prospective coach’s social media to get a feel for their personality.

Choosing your financial coach is like choosing your primary care doctor.

Because money is a super personal topic, you want to make sure to choose a coach you can be completely comfortable and honest with.

Check out reviews and testimonials

Look for financial coaches who have good reviews and testimonials from past coaching clients.

This can be a good indication of the coach's effectiveness and the satisfaction of their clients.

Consider the cost

Financial coaching can vary in cost, depending on the coach and the services they offer.

Make sure you understand the cost of coaching and whether it is within your budget.

Many coaches offer smaller packages or group discounts, while others may charge extra for more complex needs like business budgeting.

What’s the Difference Between a Financial Coach, a Money Coach, and a Budget Coach?

Financial coaching is an unregulated industry, so there’s no real standard when it comes to titles.

In general, a financial coach, a money coach, and a budget coach are all supporting you along your day-to-day financial journey.

I’ve called myself all three titles before, but have settled on Money & Budget Coach simply because it’s more descriptive of the services I offer.

What is a Certified YNAB Coach?

YNAB, or "You Need a Budget," is a budgeting software program that helps individuals and families create and manage their budgets.

A Certified YNAB Coach is a professional who has received training and certification from YNAB to provide coaching and support to users of the software.

YNAB coaches are trained to help users of the software develop budgeting skills and habits, understand how to use the software to manage their money, and achieve their financial goals.

They may work with coaching clients one-on-one, in a group setting, or online and offer various services, such as personal budgeting and future planning, debt repayment support, and business budgeting guidance.

If you are a user of YNAB and are looking for additional support and guidance to help you manage your finances and achieve your financial goals, working with a Certified YNAB Coach may be a good option.

Take Control Of Your Finances Today With A Financial Coaching Service

Financial coaching can be a valuable resource for anyone looking to take control of their finances and build a secure financial future.

By working with a qualified and experienced financial coach, you can develop the skills and knowledge you need to create a budget, pay off debt, and save for the future.

You can also get the support and accountability you need to stay motivated and on track with your financial goals.

If you're ready to take control of your finances, consider working with a financial coach.

Determine your financial goals and needs, find a coach who is well-suited to meet them, and be prepared to commit to the process.

With the right financial coach and a little bit of effort, you can take control of your finances and build the secure financial future you deserve.