Six Sessions of Personal Finance Coaching

"Change is hardest at the beginning, messiest in the middle, and best at the end."

-Robin Sharma

Maybe the signs are obvious. You run out of money before every next paycheck. You're late paying bills. Creditors are calling you.

Or maybe it's more subtle. It looks like you're doing pretty well and there's no emergency at the moment, but you have a nagging worry. Can I keep this lifestyle going? And will I have enough money to retire?

As a society, it's pretty normal to have money challenges. Three out of four American adults routinely feel anxious about finances. 60% don't have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency. Less than half of U.S. household have enough invested to retire comfortably.

So, let's make some changes. You deserve better.

If you have decided that you want to improve your finances, that's great. But as part of this awareness, you have to acknowledge that your previous money methods didn't work. That's where your personal finance coach enters the picture.

What do you get with six Maritous coaching sessions? Over the course of six to twelve months, here's a breakdown of how it will typically look:

Session 1. We will get all your numbers on the table: income, debt, savings, investments, real estate. We'll measure whether you have built any wealth. We'll explore how much margin you have between income and expenses. We'll discuss financial fears, frustrations, goals, and dreams. If you're married, we will unpack relational issues that are being driven by the current money situation. You will learn the basics of executing a Monthly Spending Plan. You will leave with an assignment to accomplish at least one financial challenge before the next session in approximately 30 days. You can email or text your coach with any questions that arise before then.

Session 2. We'll review your assignment from the previous session. We will review your effectiveness with the Monthly Spending Plan, and we will implement additional strategies for success in this area. For married couples, we will assess progress in communication and teamwork involving money. We'll discuss the concept of Governing Financial Principles to determine what your financial values are. We will determine the most important thing to do next, whether starting to build Sufficient Savings, focusing on elimination of debt, or increasing retirement investing. You will leave with an assignment to accomplish at least one financial challenge before the next session in approximately 30 days. You can email or text your coach with any questions that arise before then.

Session 3. We'll review your assignment from the previous session. We will review the Monthly Spending Plan and continue to fine tune it. For married couples, we will assess progress in communication and teamwork involving money. We'll cover Governing Financial Principles again to see what you've landed on; now that we know what matters most to you, we will laser-focus on that. You will leave with an assignment to accomplish at least one financial challenge before the next session in 30 to 60 days. You can email or text your coach with any questions that arise before then.

Session 4. We'll review your assignment from the previous session. By now you should be effective with the Monthly Spending Plan, and you should have made measurable financial progress. Married couples should have aligned on values, and greatly improved communication. Using your Governing Financial Principles, we'll continue a strategy of hyper-focus on short-term goals, and we'll look at moving to the next tier of Sufficient Savings. At this point we can also start to discuss a realistic plan for longer-term goals, such as buying the next vehicle, purchasing a home, or paying off a mortgage. We will also set a timetable to begin (or increase) retirement investing. You will leave with an assignment to accomplish at least one financial challenge before the next session in 30 to 60 days. You can email or text your coach with any questions that arise before then.

Session 5. We'll review your assignment from the previous session. If you've been following the program, you should be cooking at this point. We'll keep grinding on short-term goals, but now we can set some firm dates to accomplish long-term financial objectives. We'll determine whether you're ready to move to the next tier of Sufficient Savings. You will leave with an assignment to accomplish at least one financial challenge before the next session in 30 to 60 days. You can email or text your coach with any questions that arise before then.

Session 6. We'll review your assignment from the previous session. By this point you have learned how to execute a Monthly Spending Plan, and you've improved communication and cooperation with your spouse (if married). You have increased your savings and reduced your debt. You can see the light on short-term goals, and you have a plan to reach long-term goals. You will be investing regularly to ensure you retire with some degree of wealth. You will feel hopeful about the future, and you will be confident that you are now ready to do this on your own. Your coach will continue to be available to answer questions through email or text.