For this week’s edition of FinanciElle “$tatements”, I had the opportunity to interview Maggie Germano, Founder and CEO of Maggie Germano Financial Coaching.

Maggie Germano is a Certified Financial Education Instructor and financial coach for women. She’s on a mission to give women the support and tools they need to take control of their money and achieve their goals through one-on-one coaching, monthly Money Circle gatherings, writing, and speaking engagements.

Paolina: What is the most common finance issue you see with your clients and how do you try to make them feel at ease or start the work on that issue?

Maggie:

Feeling overwhelmed by their financial problems and not knowing where to start.

I give them a place to start. I have them fill out a spreadsheet that puts all of their numbers into one place and I have them identify where they want to be in 6 months and a year. Basically, I help them get grounded so that they can start identifying what needs to get done in order to move forward.

Paolina: What is one piece of advice you would give, related to your workshop topics?

• Getting your money right

Get clear on your numbers. You can’t know what needs to change if you don’t already know where your money is going.

• Values and Money

Get clear on your own personal values and see if your money habits are aligning with them. From there, reassess your habits in a way that makes you feel better about how you’re spending your money.

• Confidence and Money

Recognize that your past financial behavior does not define your future financial behavior. If you want to get better with your money, you’re capable of doing so.

• Making and Breaking the Budget

Revisit your budget constantly. Just because the budget you made last year worked then doesn’t mean it works now. Your life changes, so your budget should change with it. Don’t try to fit yourself into a budget that doesn’t work anymore.

Paolina: What has been your hardest experience dealing with your business and finance and what did you learn?

Maggie:

The hardest thing I’ve had to learn is how to be comfortable with uncertainty.

Being a business owner means that I don’t have consistent income coming in every month. I have to be more diligent and thoughtful when it comes to spending and planning ahead.

photo by: Jackie Tara Studios