A bit about me

My story

As a young professional, I looked like I had it all—a good job, a nice apartment, and a decent car. However, I was in total denial about my money. I didn’t look at my bank statements. I put things on my credit cards without thought. I had no idea how much debt I had.

That self-imposed blissful ignorance lasted for many years. Until, one day, I was standing in my kitchen with my fridge door open and discovered I did not have enough food to get through the end of the month. My credit cards were maxed out and my bank account was nearly empty. I had enough to buy groceries or gas for work, but not both. This was my rock bottom, and it was scary.

My solution was to go to a food donation line at a local church. (It's ironic because I used to volunteer at food donation centers.) I then used the little money I had to buy gas. I kept my guilt and shame to myself and told no one what I was going through. (Hindsight being 20/20, I do not recommend going through something like this alone.)

I knew I needed to put my ‘big girl pants’ on, learn about money, and dig myself out of my financial hole. I would like to say I read one book, and everything was hunky-dory from that point forward. But it wasn't. It was two steps forward and one step back for me. Doing it all on my own meant it took a long time to pull myself out.

Once I found financial peace, I realized I could help others. Combined with my 20 years in education, 10 years as an educational coach, and all the knowledge I learned about personal finance, I had a skill set many people needed. I knew I could fast-track others through the process and help them feel like they were not alone (as I had). 

This is why I founded Lively Financial Coaching, where I help young professionals and small business owners who don't know where their money is going to find a way to save for their dreams, stress less, and still have fun with their money. 

My certifications

I believe in growth and life-long learning. To this end, in 2023 I completed Financial Coach Academy, the industry’s leading financial coach training program. The Academy is like an MBA for financial coaches. My desire to continue to grow led me next to Coach Connections, LLC, a financial coach mastermind membership. As a member, I have access to the industry's best practices, stay abreast of new resources, and have access to a diverse group of coaches in case your situation requires specialized assistance.