First, we would have a discussion of how I can be of help to you. This can be a phone call to chat about what you want to achieve or what is bothering you. After this call I will be clear if I am the best person to work with you or is there someone else that may be more effective. It would be unethical and damaging to my reputation to take clients on without an excellent chance of success. This serves you also in that you are getting the best value out of the experience.

Topics are limitless but below are examples of some of what clients want addressed by a financial and career coach: • While I am earning a good salary I never have any money. I want to be more in control • I want to feel more comfortable with my financial decisions • I need to discuss putting a spending/savings plan together so I can afford to buy a house • I just need someone to talk to about money who will be impartial and non-judgmental • I cannot communicate with my spouse about money and want to improve it • I feel my habits around money are not serving me • I hate my job and am not doing the things I was meant to do • I feel my time is running out to do the things I have always dreamed of • I want to be able to talk to my financial advisor with more knowledge and confidence • I want to move jobs and need to plan a strategy on how to get the new one • I need help with my CV and don’t know if it is effective • I feel I should be further on in my career but there seems to be something stopping me. I need clarity

Each individual coaching client has a different financial and career background. After our initial complimentary phone conversation during which we explore your reasons for seeking coaching, we agree on a series of coaching sessions, typically 6, depending on support needed. The first session will be a face to face session lasting 2 hours. Before financial coaching sessions you may be asked for some basic information on your situation. Subsequent sessions will take a little over an hour each and can be weekly, monthly or spaced out as appropriate. Each session will have a topic or high-level goal. Our focus on that topic/goal will yield action plans for you to address before the next session. They will be your tasks and you will be accountable for these. Commitment to these action plans will motivate you and ensure momentum and clarity as you move towards your target goal. We will monitor and reflect on your progress towards this goal at each session. Clients may need support between sessions and I am available by phone to address any interim queries you may have. In general sessions are paid for at the session or shortly afterwards as agreed.

Financial coaching clients may seek a one off session to address certain topics that are weighing heavily on them. These could include major life events such as separation/divorce, moving to a new house, redundancy or just about anything that you need to discuss. Career coaching clients may seek a one off or a two-session package for CV and interview preparation. A CV preparation session will address how your CV reads and whether it communicates your desired message. Interview preparation takes the form of role play and is useful when seeking to become more confident in an interview setting. Other topics commonly addressed include networking strategies, presentation skills or communication skills.

Each session time and date will be agreed in advance and will take place at your place of work if appropriate, or a place suitable for a one to one coaching session. I would prefer not to see clients in public areas or in their home as this has too many distractions. There may be exceptions to this. I meet clients in consulting rooms on Baggot Street, Dublin 2 if this is more suitable to your situation. Remote sessions through Skype/Zoom may suit for sessions also.

Obviously I need to get an insight into your financial background; how much you earn,spend, owe and what patterns emerge. I try not to overburden you with the detail as I have found many just want to talk about their thought processes around money rather than pore over the figures for hours. When making a plan, it needs to be supported by the figures to make it real, quantifiable and most of all, motivating. It is about changing habits and behaviour more than anything else and while money is the subject, it is often about other things that have an impact.

Obviously I need to get an insight into your financial background; how much you earn,spend, owe and what patterns emerge. I try not to overburden you with the detail as I have found many just want to talk about their thought processes around money rather than pore over the figures for hours. When making a plan, it needs to be supported by the figures to make it real, quantifiable and most of all, motivating. It is about changing habits and behaviour more than anything else and while money is the subject, it is often about other things that have an impact.

How important is your goal to you? Are you sick of being in debt or in a state of confusion about your finances. This is a good question to ask yourself when looking at cost. What will it cost you not to get to your goal? If you achieve what you set out to do, will it be worth the money? Another one I ask is “are the long term savings worth the fees”. The trap people fall into is that they don’t aggressively go after their goal and half-hearted attempts to conquer the problem allows them slip into the old patterns of behaviour. That is where the problem lies in the first place. Commitment is so important and the fee locks in the commitment to action and results.