Financial Coach // 5 Tips to consider before engaging one

Financial Coach // 5 Tips to consider before engaging one

By Rina Hicks

We all have deep desires, goals we aspire to reach, challenges we hope to overcome but most times we feel stuck. It is at this point that a coach comes in handy.

Coaching can help you navigate this process, to become unstuck, unlock your potential, and get you moving towards achieving your personal, and professional goals. Personally, I have benefited greatly from being coached.

Most coaches have niches that they focus on, one of them being the area of finance. Financial coaches can assist you examine where you are now, and take you through a thought-provoking process to guide you towards the attainment of your financial goals.

The following are some things you must think through as you consider coaching:

1. 1. What are my goals?
   2. What do I want to achieve through this engagement? 
   3. Why do I want/need the coach?
   4. How experienced would I like my coach to be?

Furthermore, here are some 5 tips to consider, as you select a finance coach to walk with you, and give you the tools to thrive long after your coaching relationship. 

Are you ready to do the work?

Any process that requires introspection, and self analysis is hard to do. Therefore, from the onset you must decide exactly what you would like out of the coaching relationship.

Then once you have engaged the coach, ensure that you execute on your commitments, otherwise it will be a waste of your time, and hard earned money. 

Must they be Certified?

It is important that you select a coach who has a thorough understanding of the coaching process. They must be competent in regards to the standards in the profession of coaching. Coaching is not a natural gift, it has to be learned. Ensure they are well trained.

Can we have an Interview?

Organize a pre-coaching session with them to seek understanding, and whether you can trust them. In this session, you can also assess if they are good listeners. Determine whether they are observant and bring out some insights about you. 

At the end of the day, they need to help broaden your perspective, and challenge your thinking. Finally, seek to see if you have chemistry, because it is important to strike a cord with someone who will be walking you through a life aspect.

Do Your Values Align?

Knowledge and experience in the financial services sector is very helpful but also remember that you need a coach who shares the values you uphold. The idea is for them to know enough in the area you are looking to achieve and grow in to be able to bring out the best in you.

How do they get paid?

My personal view is that you need to get finance coaches who receive payment from fees that you pay them, and not from commissions they earn from you signing up for certain services. Good coaches may recommend a product or service provider but they should not push you. 

I would recommend that as you continue to consider a financial coach, that you read Don’t Hire a Financial Coach! (*Until You Read This Book) by Todd Tresidder. I wish you all the best in your journey to understanding, and achieving your finances.

______________________________________________________________________________

About the Author: Rina Hicks is an author of the book Money-Wise: Create, Grow & Preserve Wealth (2016). She is a Certified Professional Coach, and a member of the ICF. She is a Corporate Finance Analyst, and a Director at Faida Investment Bank.

Rina is the founder of Money-Wise®, a platform that is involved in content creation, investment coaching, and training. She is also a content creator via the YouTube Channel Money-Wise With Rina Hicks that has over 400 Videos, 14,500 subscribers, and 748,296 total views.