Tag Archives: money coaching

End Financial Avoidance and Reclaim Your Power Today

By Sheila Walkington, co-founder and CFO Money Coaches Canada and the Women’s Financial Learning Centre

Action Changes Things edited blue

 

Most people procrastinate from time to time, it’s human nature to put off tasks we believe to be unpleasant or time consuming. But the habitual putting off of our responsibilities, especially our financial responsibilities, transforms procrastination into avoidance. Avoidance —Stage 2 of the 7 Stages of Financial Well-BeingTM —is one of the most potentially damaging stages on the path to financial fulfillment.

Are you in Avoidance?

It’s essential to understand that financial well-being comes with a deeper understanding of where you stand with money, emotionally and financially, developing concise and attainable goals, getting organized and implementing a manageable plan to move forward. The 7 Stages of Financial Well-BeingTM is a framework that will help you better understand where you are, and what actions to take, as you move towards Financial Fulfillment. Continue reading

CPP Expansion: A Rare Opportunity to Fine Tune Your Retirement Plan

By Sandra Mann, MBA Financial Services, CPA, CGA, FPSC Level 1™

I’m sure you’ve heard by now that the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is set for expansion beginning in 2019, but you may be wondering how the changes will impact how you manage your money today as well as how it will affect your retirement.

 Hand Inserting Coin In Pink Piggybank

The changing face of work in Canada

When CPP was introduced in 1965, it was meant to be supplemental retirement income to bolster workplace pensions and personal retirement savings and investments. That intention hasn’t changed. What has changed is the Canadian “workscape.”

Working 30 years for the same company is not likely (or even desirable) for many people at the start of their careers. Climbing one corporate ladder is less common than seeking new opportunities at different companies. (I myself left a traditional financial services position for the fresh challenge offered by Money Coaches Canada and the Women’s Financial Learning Centre). Many Canadians change careers completely, some go back to school or start their own businesses. There is no defined path. Even those who decide to build a dedicated career with one employer are not immune to lay-offs and decreasing pensions. Continue reading

How to Take Charge and Say Goodbye to Financial Chaos

By Sheila Walkington, co-founder and CFO Money Coaches Canada and the Women’s Financial Learning Centre

Names and identifying details have been changed for privacy. Story used with permission.

Do you remember the children’s game Chutes and Ladders? Players are moving forward and climbing the ladders when suddenly a roll of the die lands them on a chute that sends them tumbling backwards. When we meet clients in Stage 1 of the 7 Stages of Financial Well-BeingTM – Chaos, it is almost always because a major life event (illness, death of a spouse, job loss, transition to self-employment or divorce), has sent them sliding down a chute into Chaos.

7 Stages of Financial Well-Being ChaosThe base of the 7 Stages of Financial Well-BeingTM pyramid represents those furthest removed from feeling in control and empowered financially. For many, Chaos represents their starting point on their journey to Financial Fulfillment.

It’s essential to understand that financial well-being comes with a deeper understanding of where you stand with money, emotionally and financially, developing concise and attainable goals, getting organized and implementing a manageable plan to move forward. The 7 Stages of Financial Well-BeingTM is a framework that will help you better understand where you are, and what actions to take, as you move towards Financial Fulfillment. Continue reading

Why the short answer may not be right answer

By Alison Stafford, CFP®

Money questions often appear straight forward, for example: should I pay down my mortgage or contribute to an RSP? But rarely, if ever, is one decision about money not impacted or influenced by your complete financial situation. And it goes far beyond the numbers, some of the biggest factors to consider don’t involve numbers at all; they are your goals for next week, next month, next year, five years and on into retirement.

iStock_000044553590_MediumPart of my role as a Money Coach is to help people create a plan that encompasses their entire life. Their needs for retirement don’t stand in isolation from their dream to send their kids to university, or even to send them to summer hockey camp; it all has to be managed from the same income.

Returning to the “straight forward” question; should I pay down my mortgage or contribute to an RSP?, I would want to know a lot more about your current situation: What’s your mortgage rate? Are there penalties to prepay? How would you invest your RSP? What is your risk tolerance? What fees are you paying? Are there other goals you should be addressing first? Such as; paying down credit card debt or saving for your children’s RESPs? Are you considering home renovations? Are you thinking of selling soon? When is your mortgage due? Even very personal circumstances, such as; are you considering a divorce? may have an impact on determining the right answer for you.

Continue reading

Success Story: Robin and James – from knowledge to action

Note: The couple’s names have been changed for privacy.

Debt ball and chain openedRobin and James were young professionals in their 30’s when they contacted Money Coach Kathryn Mandelcorn. They were frustrated because they made a combined income over $150,000 but they had $45,000 in consumer debt and felt they weren’t adequately saving for their future. They didn’t see how they could pay off the debt and invest for retirement, without sacrificing their dream to buy a home and invest in further education. They felt like travel and other leisure activities were completely off the table if they were to have any hope of turning things around.

“When I met Robin ad James, I could see they were a very savvy couple,” says Kathryn. “They knew a lot about investing, they had a good idea of what they should be doing, but they were going in circles financially. They were paying down debt then going right back in. There was a big disconnect between knowledge and implementation.” Continue reading

Aligning your Money with your Goals

UNSTUCK - How to Get Out of Your Money Rut and Start Living the Life You Want

UNSTUCK – How to Get out of Your Money Rut and Start Living the Life you Want
by Karin Mizgala and Sheila Walkington

(Excerpt from: Chapter 6 – Getting What you Really Want)

Anna and Joel dreamt of owning their own home. They were paying a fortune to live in a small basement apartment. They had debt, and they were in the habit of getting out of town on the weekends to enjoy a better quality of life. Because she couldn’t believe they would ever buy a home, Anna would buy $100 Home Lottery tickets in the hopes of getting lucky.

They wanted a house, but they didn’t let themselves want it enough to make it a priority. Instead they squandered money and perpetuated a spending pattern that made home ownership seem impossible. Continue reading

Money Coaching – “I know you’re on my side!”

A few years back, Sheila Walkington of Money Matters was dubbed by CBC as Canada’s first Money Coach, but quite honestly most of us in the financial planning biz thought she was crazy.  Who would pay someone to help them get out of debt and deal with difficulties in living within their means?  But we were so wrong – Sheila now has a thriving practice and can’t keep up with the demand.  She’s so busy in fact that she’s started an associate program and is looking for like-minded advisors across Canada who also want to help people take charge of their money – and their lives.

When asked about what a Money Coach actually does, Sheila Walkington laughs and says, “Basically, I help individuals and couples get a grip on their money.” She then goes on to explain that she grew increasingly uncomfortable with earning commissions while also dispensing financial advice.  “I saw a big gap in financial planning.  People were seldom getting the objective financial advice they truly needed. The focus was always on investing, but people often needed help getting out of debt, managing their cash flow, and focusing on what they really wanted out of life. That’s where I can help best.”

According to Sheila, being a Money Coach often entails dealing with some core financial issues. Most Canadians are certainly spending more than they are taking in. Credit cards and overdrafts are often maxed out. Debt loads are at an all time high. There are strains in relationships as new couples merge their financial affairs or start raising a family. Other common challenges include career transitions or job losses, buying a house, divorce or retirement. Very few Canadians have even a basic financial plan to help guide them through these hurdles.

There are also emotional issues around money matters including guilt, anxiety and even shame. But, as Sheila reassures us, this doesn’t have to be the case.  For one thing we’re definitely not alone in experiencing confusion and stress around money.  Its just one of the downsides of the voracious consumer culture we live in. And, judging by the volatile economic news from the world, even large corporations, financial institutions and entire governments are feeling the heat. In her experience, as both a Money Coach and financial educator, Sheila has found that most people just need some good independent advice and a simple working plan to regain control of their financial lives.

When people come to her for advice, Sheila charges them a fee to set up a system for managing their money. She then helps them stick with it.  “I first get them to take a close look at where they are at right now, Sheila emphasizes. “Then I get them to look at where they want to go. Once they get clear on their dreams and goals then they get very motivated and determined to reach them. It then becomes much easier to focus on getting rid of debt, setting up a workable savings plan, planning for a family, buying a new home and preparing for medical or other emergencies and retirement.” And, she adds, “When you know where you want to go, it becomes much easier to say no to those things that are keeping you from your dream.”

Sheila has helped a lot of people over the years and has earned the respect of her clients and her colleagues both past and present – myself included. I recently asked her about a highlight of her career as a Money Coach and Sheila replied with the story of a recent client who paid her the highest compliment by simply saying: “I know you’re on my side.” – Karin Mizgala

Originally posted to Financial Post Magazine Daily on May 18th, 2010