30 | The Difference Between Financial Coaching and Financial Planning

Many of my clients believe they need a financial planner because they feel overwhelmed by their finances or they’ve heard that you “should” have an advisor to help you make “good” financial decisions. When is the right time to seek out a financial planner? What services does a financial planner provide that a financial coach does not? In today’s episode, I’m talking to my friend Ellen, a financial planner, about who you need on your numbers team. In this candid conversation, we discuss the difference between how she supports her clients as a financial planner and how I support my clients as a financial coach. We’re also debunking common financial misconceptions and talking through some of the greatest lessons we’ve personally learned on our money journeys. Understanding the difference between a coach and a planner will help you make an informed decision on whether you’re looking for support to learn how to better manage your finances day to day or support in preparing for retirement. In this episode, you’ll learn… The difference between a financial coach and financial planner [04:28] My personal experience with choosing  a financial planner  [10:57] What questions to ask of a financial planner  before working with them [14:44] How to know when you need a financial planner [15:21] [19:11] The difference between fixed expenses and variable expenses and how to consider them with budgeting and savings [15:52] What it really means to max out your 401k [20:53] The importance of giving yourself grace and being curious in your financial planning journey [27:43] What to focus on annually when it comes to your long-term financial plans [40:19] Understanding how much money you truly need to live when you retire and how to plan for that [44:57] Ellen’s advice for what she would do differently [50:04] Tune in to this episode to learn the difference between financial coaching and financial planning, and how both can benefit you. Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://wealthovernow.com/the-difference-between-financial-coaching-and-financial-planning