Financial Coaches Network - The Podcast: Build your Financial Coaching Business

This episode features AFCPE Executive Director Rachael DeLeon who shares what attendees can expect at the upcoming AFCPE Symposium, its purpose and why you should attend. The conversation highlights keynote speakers, breakout-session trends, enhancements for virtual attendees, and the community‑building experiences that make the symposium a signature event for financial counselors, coaches, and educators. Top takeaways: The AFCPE Symposium (http://AFCPE.org/symposium) brings together researchers, practitioners, educators, nonprofits, military‑focused professionals, and private practitioners for three days of cross‑disciplinary learning. The symposium allows people from different practice areas to learn from each other and bring new ideas to their counseling practice. The AFCPE is a national nonprofit that certifies, educates and supports financial coaches, counselors, and educators. Continuing Education (CE) opportunities: Pre-Approved for 15 CEUs for AFC® professionals and 14 for CFP® professionals. AFC’s can watch additional material and submit additional CEUs. AFC Candidates can submit experiential hours for attending and watching sessions This year’s theme, All In, emphasizes collaboration across roles, communities, and professional backgrounds. Keynotes include Dr. Kate Mielitz & Jamie Chandler (All in for Impact), Colin Ryan (TED‑style storytelling), Dr. Kristy Archuleta (burnout), and Steven Hughes (money narratives). Other sessions include AI in consumer financial guidance, money dysmorphia, and emerging student research. Virtual attendees receive livestreamed keynote and general sessions, interactive chats, watch party discussions and access to all recorded breakout sessions. The Knowledge Bowl returns with student teams competing onstage. How do you decide which sessions to attend? Make time to attend different types of presentations, especially those that may be different from your typical community. Attend at least one Research to Practice session. If deciding between multiple sessions to attend a live session, choose the one where you think you’ll have the most questions or may be able to apply to your practice. Live sessions do take questions from the virtual audience! Look at this as an opportunity to talk to people you don’t normally have a chance to interact with. Use your network to “divide and conquer” - take notes and share what you learned with each other Plan to attend a post-symposium “watch party” to continue learning by watching recorded videos followed by a group discussion - either through the AFCPE or with FCN Sign up for the 2026 AFCPE Symposium at https://www.afcpe.org/symposium (in person or virtual) In Person: Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Bethesda, MD (greater Washington D.C. area) Check out the schedule at: https://www.afcpe.org/symposium-schedule/ Tuesday, November 17 – Thursday, November 19, 2026 The early bird discount continues for virtual attendees through the start of the symposium! This episode offers a lively, inside look at why the AFCPE Symposium continues to be the place where financial professionals “find their people” and go All In—whether attending in person or virtually.

Josh and Amelie explore how financial coaches and small‑business owners can use AI as an idea‑generating tool to help with marketing materials without letting it replace human judgment. Top takeaways: Start with deep research about your audience. AI works best when fed detailed information about your niche, including their anxieties, hopes, and motivations. AI is best used as an idea generator, not a final creator. AI can help give ideas during your brainstorming phase when working on creating a new ad. One or more suggestions may spark ideas, though they will likely be different from the actual suggestions from AI. Use AI to build the different assets of the advertisement one part at a time, such as themes, headlines, taglines, imagery, body copy and call to action. AI generated imagery requires careful review to look for biases and odd patterns. Full ads created by AI tend to be oversaturated with communications. With multiple messages fighting for attention, key messaging gets lost or left out completely. The final polishing of an ad is faster and more effective when done by a human. Everyone who uses AI should fact check any information received from AI before publishing any content (see ‘Dead Internet Theory). To help keep alignment with your brand voice, a Brand Bible can help AI stay consistent with your brand voice, values, and style. Ownership of intellectual property related to AI generated content is not defined and will continually change depending on bodies of law and case law. AI‑generated content is likely not copyrightable. Content created by AI may pull from copyrighted sources. AI is best used to help provide inspiration for your marketing materials, writing the copy yourself. AI can help speed up brainstorming and production, but only when paired with strong marketing fundamentals, careful prompting, and thoughtful human refinement. Want help building or growing a successful financial coaching business? Start here: Love coaching but not running a business? Check out MoneyCoach Network: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/moneycoachnetwork Exploring financial coaching? Join our free community of 6,000+ coaches: https://www.facebook.com/groups/financialcoachescommunity Launching your business? Check out FCN Biz DIY, our step‑by‑step program: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/biz-diy Ready to learn more? Get our free 8‑part email series with 30+ tips: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/pre-launch-email-series

Josh and Amelie summarize the high level findings from the 2025 State of Financial Coaching Study. Plus, they announce the launch of the new Survey Data Hub, along with how to get free (limited time) access by completing the 2026 survey. Top takeaways: Niches work: Coaches with clearly defined niches consistently charge more across all pricing models, likely because they deliver specialized support. Success takes time: On average, it takes about 3.5 years to reach the growing phase and 5 years to reach the coasting phase of a coaching practice. Credentials may help drive growth: Two‑thirds of high revenue growth coaches hold credentials (most commonly the AFC® ), while two‑thirds of declining revenue coaches have no credentials. “Financial coach” title leads: Most practitioners identify as financial coaches, with financial counselor as the second‑most common self-assigned title. Access to survey insights is now easier: The new Survey Data Hub provides expanded data, available for purchase or free limited time access when completing the survey. The 2026 survey is live through December 1, 2026. With the 2026 survey now open, it’s the ideal time to share your experience and gain limited time access to the expanded Data Hub: https://form.jotform.com/261254448203149. Want help building or growing a successful financial coaching business? Start here: Exploring financial coaching? Join our free community of 6,000+ coaches: https://www.facebook.com/groups/financialcoachescommunity Love coaching but not running a business? Check out MoneyCoach Network: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/moneycoachnetwork Ready to learn more? Get our free 8‑part email series with 30+ tips: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/pre-launch-email-series Launching your business? Check out FCN Biz DIY, our step‑by‑step program: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/biz-diy

Josh and Emily continue their discussion of the Financial Counseling textbook by Durband, Law, and Mazzolini. This episode focuses on Chapter 5, exploring how self‑awareness shapes the effectiveness of financial counselors, emphasizing the need for professionals to understand their own traits, biases, past experiences, and emotional triggers. The hosts discuss how counselor self‑awareness influences client relationships, goal‑setting, and the ability to adapt plans, while highlighting tools like transference awareness, cognitive bias recognition, and reflective practice. Top takeaways: Self‑confidence can be both a strength and a blind spot, often reducing a counselor’s tendency to self‑question. Flexibility is essential—rigid, book‑based systems (e.g., Ramsey‑style plans) fail to meet clients where they are. Emotional bonds require vulnerability with boundaries, balancing empathy with professionalism. Mutual agreement on goals is critical to success; when counselors impose their own priorities or values, the goal will likely not be achieved. Understanding personality theory strengthens counselor self‑awareness, helping professionals recognize how their traits, past experiences, and default reactions shape client interactions. Transference and counter‑transference shape client interactions, especially around emotionally charged topics like debt. Cognitive biases distort judgment, making ongoing self‑reflection critical for accurate decision-making. Past experiences shouldn’t become default recommendations; what worked for the counselor may not fit the client’s situation. Self‑awareness practices matter: seek feedback, record and review sessions (with client permission), track session participation, work underneath or with other coaches, track recommendation success, and watch yourself for auto‑recommendations. Money history questions can deepen understanding of yourself. Self‑care supports counselor effectiveness, improving emotional presence and reducing reactivity. Chapter 5 of Financial Counseling reinforces that self‑awareness is not optional—it’s foundational. Counselors who understand their own biases, triggers, and histories are better equipped to build trust, personalize guidance, and support clients with clarity and compassion. Want help building or growing a successful financial coaching business? Start here: Exploring financial coaching? Join our free community of 6,000+ coaches: https://www.facebook.com/groups/financialcoachescommunity Ready to learn more? Get our free 8‑part email series with 30+ tips: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/pre-launch-email-series Launching your business? Check out FCN Biz DIY, our step‑by‑step program: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/biz-diy Love coaching but not running a business? Beta test MoneyCoach Network: https://form.jotform.com/231063470154043

In this episode, Joshua Escalante Troesh CFP® and Amelie Riendl AFC® break down the stages of evolving your workspace as a financial professional, from arranging your first home office to deciding when it’s time for an office outside the home. They explore privacy, professionalism, client expectations, city regulations, and how AI is reshaping in‑person trust. Top takeaways: Stage 1: A dedicated, private, lockable space is essential for confidentiality when meeting with clients. Stage 2: As more clients request in‑person meetings (especially in an era of AI uncertainty) having a professional, a client‑ready space within the home becomes increasingly important. Stage 3: Growth, hiring staff, city zoning rules, and client volume may require transitioning to an external office. Shared office spaces have changed; subleasing from professionals may be a better option. Not every client should be invited into a home office, identify your criteria such as an established relationship, signed agreement, advance payment, and engagement level. Business maturity drives the final step. When your workload, staff needs, or client flow exceed what a home setup can support, a standalone office becomes the natural next phase. This episode gives financial coaches a clear, practical framework for recognizing when it’s time to upgrade their workspace to support long‑term business growth. Want help building or growing a successful financial coaching business? Start here: Exploring financial coaching? Join our free community of 6,000+ coaches: https://www.facebook.com/groups/financialcoachescommunity Ready to learn more? Get our free 8‑part email series with 30+ tips: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/pre-launch-email-series Launching your business? Check out FCN Biz DIY, our step‑by‑step program: https://www.financialcoachesnetwork.com/biz-diy Love coaching but not running a business? Beta test MoneyCoach Network: https://form.jotform.com/231063470154043