That creates a little bit of a situation for me. How can I really know if that’s what I want to do with the rest of my life if I’ve never actually gave it a try? What if I test it out and find that its not for me? What if I’m no good at it?
Or more realistically – what if I find out all this (what I think is) great advice I have to offer is really nothing more than superficial tips that barely scratch the surface? Perhaps I’ll find that I need to dig deeper into certain topics to really be effective.
Taking a step back from all of this, I ask myself: Why wait?
It’s time to put my money where my mouth is and find out what I need to know. And luckily that means I’ve got a very sweet deal for you:
Let Me Be Your Money Coach!
Starting today, I’m willing to start on this adventure and take on ONE client completely for free. This is not a joke. All you have to do to qualify is leave a comment below and explain to me why it should be you. If you’re the one selected, then I’ll send you private email and we’ll get started.
You can be a My Money Design reader, a friend/relative of a reader, a non-reader – it really doesn’t matter. This offer is open to practically anyone who wants help with managing their finances.
The ideal candidate would be someone who ACTUALLY needs help with money. If you’re already maxing out your 401k and IRA and have practically no debt, then you’re not really going to make a great first candidate. And quite frankly – you probably don’t need my help. The type of person or couple I’m looking for is someone who needs guidance on how to save for retirement or struggling to get out of the paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle.
What You’ll Get From This Deal:
To start off we’ll have a phone or email conversation about what it is you want to accomplish. I’ve got some check-points that I’ll want to hit on. But realistically I’m more interested to hear what your struggles are and to see if there is anything I can do to help you.
At a schedule that works for both of us, we’ll check in with each other and see how the changes we make are taking shape. Are they working? Not working? Do we need revisions? These are all the kinds of things I want to discuss.
I will need the candidate to be very transparent with me about their finances. I don’t need your social security or anything shady like that. But I will need you to be honest with me about your savings and spending habits. Otherwise it will be impossible to make a budget or figure out how much money you can be saving if you don’t let me see the complete picture.
Keep in mind this will be an evolving process as it progresses. I’ll be learning just as much about how to actually be a money coach as you are about how to manage your finances. So we’ll really be helping each other.
Full Disclosure:
As I’ve already stated – I’ve never done this before!
I’m not really a true money coach. I’m in no way a financial adviser. I have no certifications or credentials. I’m just a regular guy who runs a money blog and is looking to gain some experience at this profession.
I’m pretty sure legally I can’t give any specific advice about which stocks to invest in or things like that. I’m also certain that because I’m not a tax professional I can’t really comment on specific tax related items. But I can make well known generalities about stocks and taxes that you could easily verify on the Internet. For example: It’s common knowledge that capital gains and dividends are taxed at lower rates than ordinary earned income.
One Catch – You’ll Be Published On My Money Design:
Here’s the one catch to this whole thing and an absolute MUST to qualify: You have to be willing to allow me to discuss the whole thing on my blog here.
Don’t worry! No names or identities will be revealed. Everything will remain completely anonymous. The only thing people will ever see are snapshots of your financial situation. That’s it. They could be anybody’s financial situation.
One big benefit that the candidate may not even realize is that by publishing this information on my blog you’ll actually be opening yourself up to advice from not just me but the whole personal finance community. That could turn out to be more beneficial for you in the long run since my readers might have advice and suggestions for you beyond what I would think to offer.
Again, if you’re interested in taking me up on my offer and feel you could work within the requirements I’ve laid out here, then please feel free to respond below and let’s get started!
To anyone who is a money coach already – what kinds of questions do you think I should start off my asking? I’ve got quite a few in mind but would like to hear what you think?
Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I need a money coach because I’ve been working for two years and still have no savings in my bank account. I admit that I am not frugal and whenever I have my salary, it is like “I am one day millionaire”. I have no control over my money. I just want someone who can teach me how to manage money and plan for a better future like having retirement saving etc. Hope I am the lucky one.
Sweet giveaway! I’m sure you’ll find plenty of people to take you up on it!!!
Yes Holly, looking for the right people and articles on the net that can take me up on it. 🙂
Thanks Holly. I’m looking forward to seeing what exactly I can do for someone else one-on-one.
I believe having you as my financial advisor would prove to be a mutually beneficial relationship. My money situation is a good mix – I know the basics (I try to budget my money, contribute to a 401k, save money every month) but more in depth financial decisions confuse me (tradition IRA or roth IRA? Investing? Taxes?). I’m also at an interesting point in my life – I am just about to buy my first home with my boyfriend, I recently got a promotion/raise at work, we’re both considering graduate school, and we’re looking to generally create a long-term plan for financial success.
I think that would be a great fit for your skills and motivations. Someone is going to be lucky to get a free money coach. Sometimes all it takes is a nudge in the right direction and someone to check in with periodically. Best of luck!
Thanks Kim. I hope I can be that unbiased voice of authority that pushes this person (or couple) in the right direction.
Pretty awesome thing you’re doing here. I’m definitely interested in seeing how it pans out for your lucky client 🙂
Thanks Ben. I’ll be interested to see how it all works out too! 🙂
I would love something like this! Right now with a variable income and crazy either busy or dry months, it’s hard to know what I should put where. What I need to focus on most. Anyway if you chose me I’d love to be your Guinea pig…er I mean first client. 🙂
Love it man – Perfect day for it too, as we now know 🙂
(Ahem it’s Free Money Day y’all!)
What an interesting giveaway. I might be interested, but you’ll have to email me at my own email (not the one listed on this comment): shoeaholicnomore{at}gmail{dot}com
Who’s the luckiest person?
I have selected the winner and they have been notified. As promised, the person selected will remain anonymous so that they don’t feel embarrassed or insecure about any of the future posts where we discuss different aspects of their financial situation.