Category Archives: Meet Our Money Coaches

Coach Spotlight: Sabine Lay, Certified Money Coach

Sabine Lay, certified Money Coach

Sabine Lay, certified Money Coach

In the five years that Sabine Lay has been a Money Coach the question she has most frequently been asked is: How do other people manage their finances? Or even, “Am I the worst case you’ve seen?” She says the comparison question arises in one form or another from practically every client.

Give your money purpose

What Sabine tells them is that comparison has no benefits. What she shows them is that being clear on their own financial values and creating goals that give their money purpose, generates the kind of confidence that makes comparison questions unnecessary. Sabine helps her clients develop benchmarks and barometers of “success” of their own making.

Money Coaching was the missing piece in financial service

Sabine grew up in Germany and spent five years living in England before moving to Canada 17 years ago. She was working for an international bank when she found herself becoming dissatisfied with the limitations on how she could help her clients.

“I was frustrated by seeing so many people with good income in debt and struggling to make ends meet. I knew I could help them, but it wasn’t within the mandate of my position to offer that kind of help.”

When she read about Money Coaches Canada in an article in the Globe and Mail newspaper she knew it was the sort of work she wanted to do and from the beginning she knew she would specialize in debt and cash flow management. Sabine also helps her clients ensure they have a solid financial foundation as they prepare for retirement.

Building trust and finding clarity

“My first sessions with an individual or a couple are discussions. Before I can help I need to know what is important to them, and they need to get to know me before they can put their trust in me. The surprise that happens in Money Coaching is the person or couple learns a lot about themselves. Relationships with money are influenced by upbringing and by the culture we live in, but it’s important to look at those influences and question whether they help or hinder our financial well-being.”

Sabine Lay TweetClients who work with Sabine can expect her to be supportive and positive but honest. She doesn’t sugar coat her advice, but clients often remark on her warmth and sincerity. The greatest benefit of working with Sabine is the level of clarity she brings to the situation. Clients will have: clarity on their current situation (where their money is coming and going), clarity on their financial goals and clarity on the steps needed to achieve those goals.

“My greatest pleasure as a Money Coach is when I see the pieces of the new plan falling into place and the person or couple is happier and taking control because they have a plan geared to their life.”

Fresh insight and real change

Sabine works with individuals and couples and says that coaching offers different benefits for each.

“I help all my clients define what’s important to them and show them how to make financial decisions based on those values, but for single clients I can also serve as an accountability partner if that is what they need. For couples it is vital to their success that they have the same goals and the same dedication to the process. I can remain neutral and help couples create goals they are both excited about, if both partners are willing and committed.”

Sabine says that someone looking for real change in their financial life will benefit from the fresh insight and expertise of a Money Coach.  Although she prefers to think of the road to financial well-being as having challenges not problems, she believes this quote from Albert Einstein makes an excellent point about the value of a different perspective:

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

A new way of thinking about your money is just a click away. Contact Sabine for a free consultation

Money Coach Spotlight: Melanie Buffel

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” –Albert Einstein
Melanie Buffel Money Coach in Vancouver BC

Melanie Buffel, BA Psych, MBA Candidate

Melanie Buffel changes the way her clients think about money.

“When I begin working with clients,” she says, “whether they are individuals, couples or entrepreneurs, they usually present me with foggy numbers: unclear expenses, numbers that are rounded up or imprecise. Then at one point on the journey they begin updating their spreadsheets, rebalancing their plan and speaking with a level of confidence that tells me they’ve had a paradigm shift. It’s wonderful to see them believe in their capacity to make sound financial decisions.”

Understanding what’s important to her clients is the foundation of Melanie’s approach. She recognizes that every person, couple or business owner has different needs and goals, and on an even deeper level; everyone has an emotional relationship with money that has been shaped by their childhood and life experiences.

Conflicting money personalities can cause tension within a relationship, says Melanie. “I help people clarify their priorities, and as an objective third party I can ask the hard questions without judgement.”

Melanie’s objective perspective can also help couples who enable each other with magical thinking solutions to their challenges. Judging or enabling is just two sides of the same coin; nothing changes.

Clients working with Melanie can expect change. “It’s so important that we clear the fog and determine priorities and goals, but that is just the beginning. The end game is integrating workable solutions into the reality of their lives.” Continue reading

Meet our Money Coach: Leslie Gardner

Leslie GardnerMoney Coach Leslie Gardner believes that one of the biggest mistakes people make with their money is not giving it enough time; being financially reactive instead of proactive. She says, when you slow down and pay attention to where you’re spending your money, it can be a real eye opener.

“I coached a young woman who was frustrated that her friends were able to take trips and she couldn’t afford to go with them,” says Leslie. “After we went through her bank statements and tracked her spending we saw that she was spending money at Starbucks and other fast food restaurants frequently. It added up to about $2500 a year. There’s your trip, I told her. It was a real eye opener for her and she changed her habits immediately, because now she really understood the value of those small purchases.” Continue reading

Meet our Money Coach: Tom Feigs

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Tom Feigs, CFP®, CET

Financial planner and money coach Tom Feigs was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, but his favourite piece of advice for Canadians concerned that they aren’t prepared for retirement, comes from the East, not the West. It’s a Chinese Proverb: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

And now is when Tom can help. Tom’s ideal clients are in their 40’s or 50’s and are really motivated to create a retirement plan that they can be excited about.

“One of my favourite moments as a coach, is helping people realize their dreams faster than they anticipated,” he says. “It’s great to be able to tell someone who hopes to retire within five years that in fact they can retire now.”

“There is no single road to personal or financial fulfillment,” says Tom, “and the journey is as important as the destination.”

Tom’s own journey began in the Energy Industry after he earned a diploma in Engineering Science Technology. But outside of work he was studying investing, and reading books on finance. Then, seven years ago, inspired by watching his children follow their unique paths; his daughter is an actor and artist, and his son is a correctional officer, Tom decided to follow a new path of his own.

He started by committing nine months to completing the Certified Financial Planning Curriculum, because it was very important to him to have the CFP® designation and the standard of excellence it represents.

Tom had only one dilemma; he wanted to be a planner, coach and educator, not a salesperson.

“I believe there is an inherent conflict for planners who also sell products” he says. “I want clients to know that my advice has only their needs at its core.”

A solution appeared in the June 2010 edition of Forum Magazine, a trade publication for financial advisors. The cover featured an image of Sheila Walkington, co-founder of Money Coaches Canada and the Women’s Financial Learning Centre. Tom found Sheila’s goal of creating a network of money coaches across Canada appealing and was soon on board.

“I like to get to know my clients, and get them excited about their possibilities,” Tom says. “Once we crystallize their retirement goals we can plant the seeds to achieve them.”

Contact Tom today for a free consultation.

 

 

Meet our Money Coach: Christine White

Christine knows that many families look similar on the surface, but it's what makes them unique that matters when creating a financial plan.

Christine knows that many families look similar on the surface, but it’s what makes them unique that matters when creating a financial plan.

Six years ago Money Coach Christine White was working as a chemical engineer for Dupont, in Mailtand, Ontario, about an hour south of Ottawa. She had a young son, a second son on the way, two teenaged step-daughters and a husband who also had a busy career.

“I was then, who my ideal client is today” says Christine. “I know what it’s like to have so many competing demands on your income that you’re uncertain whether or not you are making the best decisions. It doesn’t matter if you are single, married, have kids or no kids, there is that time in life when the financial demands of establishing yourself seem at odds with the demands of planning for your future.” Continue reading

Meet our Money Coach: Annie Kvick

“My family and I get out and enjoy life. I want that freedom for all my clients.”

For many Canadians, taking charge of their finances feels like being asked to scale a mountain. They may feel overwhelmed, intimidated, or afraid of making a misstep that sends them tumbling financially backwards.

Money Coach Annie Kvick, knows what it feels like to face a big challenge. At 25 years-old, and newly married, Annie and her husband left family, friends and careers in Sweden to begin a life in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The young couple realized that money management would be vital to establishing themselves in their new country, and Annie committed herself to the task. Continue reading