Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Grissom.
Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My husband and I found ourselves deeply in debt about 15 years ago. We had paid out-of-pocket for thousands of dollars of therapy for our special needs daughter. We were so stressed and didn’tdidn’t know if we would ever be able to get out of the mess we were in. We started using the Debt Snowball method and, within a few years, had paid off all of our debt except our mortgage and had savings in the bank. A few years ago, I started my Financial Coaching business because I am passionate about helping people take control of their money. Debt and poor money management can leave us feeling ashamed and isolated. We don’tdon’t talk about it, which makes the cycle repeat itself. I love to help people change their relationship with money and get on a path to reach their goals.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges faced along the way?
Building a business is always challenging! Working at my previous job while building up my business was extremely difficult. I did both for over a year. I then scaled back my full-time job and eventually resigned to dedicate my attention to my coaching business. Having my finances in order helped me do that more quickly. Running and building a business while managing my home and caring for my special needs daughter takes work! It is demanding but worth it. One obstacle I face is that many people that need my services need help to afford them. I want to offer scholarships to working single mothers trying to change their life trajectories by gaining control of their finances. I am always looking for scholarship sponsors who wish to make a difference in the lives of these single moms.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Great Plans Financial Coaching?
I often ask, “What exactly is a financial coach?” Well, it is different than a financial advisor. I do not help people with investments. Often, I am helping people get to a point where they have the margin in their budget to invest. I coach people of different backgrounds and income levels. I offer to coach young people of high school and college age to teach them to budget and plan for their finances for college. Most of my business is coaching professionals with incomes of $250,000+ but are deeply in debt and perhaps have yet to learn how to manage a budget. I help them learn how to manage their money, and we develop a plan to get them out of debt. We set goals and create a plan to accomplish those goals.
Some of my clients are employers who purchase coaching packages for their employees as a benefit. Employees learning to manage their money will be less stressed, more focused at work, and more likely to stay with your company. I also do Lunch & Learns for employees to teach topics such as Budgeting, Getting out of debt, and Financial Literacy.
My passion is to teach people that they do not have to always give their hard-earned money to others! Don’t let others get rich off of your paycheck! Learn to live with margin to save and invest. Keep your money working for you, not for others to profit from. I help people change their relationships and beliefs about money so they can change their life. Coaching services are provided virtually via Zoom. Lunch & Learns are made in person within St. Louis, St. Charles, and Metro East areas.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Building a business is a roller coaster ride! Learn resilience! If people reject your ideas, it is okay. Only some people will be your customer. Move on to the next person that is ready for your services.
Contact Info:
