what is financial counseling?
Financial counseling is working with an accredited professional to understand your money, make a plan, and feel more confident about your financial decisions. It combines practical financial guidance with support for the habits and emotions that shape how you use money.
managing & paying down debt
Understand why you make the money choices you do. Money habits aren’t random. They grow from experience, emotion, values, and identity. Once you understand the “why,” changing behavior becomes realistic and sustainable. I combine psychological insight with practical debt-paydown plans. That means not just a budget or spreadsheet, but a plan that fits who you are and what matters to you.
negotiating and career conversations
Financial counselors can be a powerful ally in career conversations to help you clarify goals and values: counselors help you name what matters (security, flexibility, impact, retirement timelines) so you can evaluate job offers, promotions, or pivots against what you actually want. I can also help translate compensation packages: They decode base pay, bonuses, RSUs/stock options, seed/series vesting schedules, sign-on bonuses, etc.
Investment fundamentals
I’ll teach you how different asset classes (stocks, bonds, cash, and real estate) work, how to evaluate risk versus return, and the role of diversification and asset allocation in pursuing financial goals. You’ll also learn basic concepts like compound interest, time horizon, investment fees, and how to create and monitor a simple, disciplined investment plan.
retirement planning
We’ll evaluate whether a Traditional or Roth IRA better fits your current tax situation and retirement goals, then help you open a new account or adjust your existing IRA contributions and allocations so your savings strategy matches your timeline and tax preferences. We’ll also create a clear plan for when you can officially retire: projecting your retirement income needs, estimating Social Security and pension benefits, and modeling withdrawal strategies and tax impacts under both Roth and Traditional scenarios. Together we’ll build a step-by-step timeline that covers contribution increases, required minimum distributions, contingency funds, and what to do if retirement timing changes.
planning for large expenses
Planning for big life expenses—raising a family, supporting aging parents, college, a wedding, a dream vacation, or buying a home—shouldn’t feel like guessing. School didn’t teach this because the class never existed, not because you missed something. Here’s the crash course you should’ve gotten day one: simple, no-gatekeeping money rules to spend, save, and invest with confidence. We’ll use goal-based buckets: separate accounts for short-term (vacation, wedding), medium-term (down payment, family planning), and long-term (college, retirement).
taxes, insurance, and estate planning
Taxes, insurance, and estate planning work together to protect your finances and reduce stress. Pay attention to taxes, take advantage of credits, deductions, and tax-advantaged accounts to keep more of your income. Protect what matters: adequate insurance (health, life, disability, homeowners) and an estate plan make big expenses manageable and ensure your wishes are followed. An estate plan (will, durable power of attorney, advance directive, and beneficiary designations) keeps assets clear and heirs cared for, while the right insurance cushions against medical bills, lost income, and property loss.
