Wise Monkey Financial Coaching

Finances on separation

The process of divorce or separation forces you to make big financial decisions at a time of intense emotional upheaval. There is an urgent need for clarity, understanding and clear planning to ensure those decisions are made well, as they could have a big impact on your future.

The financial side of divorce can be a daunting process, especially as many of us struggle to understand where our money goes at the best of times. There may be financial issues – such as pensions, investments, debts or a family business – that you have never really understood, and now decisions need to be made about how to share these. Even apparently straightforward questions, such as ‘how much do you need to live on?’ are complex when on the cusp of a big life change.

Financial coaching provides support and guidance in understanding money, and so can be particularly helpful for navigating the financial aspects of divorce and facilitating discussions between couples.

Are Black Friday sales getting you into the Red?

Are you getting pulled in by all this Black Friday hype?

Ant Bullock from Do Something Different - the company inspiring millions of people to do something different one Do at a time - interviewed me to ask why we're so likely to be pulled in by Back Friday and what we can do to resist. Here's an extract of our conversation:

Changing Financial Behaviour

I've been a great fan of Pete Matthew at Meaningful Money, who shares my passion in delivering financial education to the masses and helping people build a better financial future for themselves. I often suggest his podcasts or videos to clients to listen to, and would strongly recommend taking a look around his site and, if you're interested in learning how to invest, signing up for his free 10 day email course.

This week, I was delighted to be inverviewed by Pete for his latest Meaningful Money podcast, as part of his season covering the subject of behavioural finance. In this interview I talk about the power of coaching and how we also need to address our emotional relationship with money to create a secure path towards our goals. I also share some tips and insights.

You can listen to it by clicking on the audio link above (the interview starts about 6 minutes into the recording) or via the Changing financial behaviour page on the Meaningful Money website. If you scroll down the page on the Meaningful Money website, there's also a transcribed version of the podcast and a list of resources that I mention during the interview. Please do take a look at Pete's website, as there's tons of valuable resources on there.

Money Nuggets Interview with Financial Coach Simonne Gnessen

My interview with Money Nuggets sharing tips and advice, talking about financial therapy and our 'Do Money' online behaviour change programme...

"Simonne is a certified life coach, Master NLP practitioner and Registered Life Planner, who has a great deal of experience in helping her clients manage their finances.

She is also founder of Wise Monkey Financial Coaching and co-author of Sheconomics – a personal finance book which provides practical and actionable money tips for women to take charge of their finances. Using a non-traditional approach to financial planning, with a blend of skills and experience gained as an ex-independent financial adviser (IFA), Simonne has successfully motivated her clients to take control of their finances, take responsibility for their financial future and most importantly transform their relationship with money.

So what exactly does a financial coach do? And how can a financial coach help me overcome my money worries? Find out in our exclusive interview with Simonne..."

Change your money habits one Do at a time

I transitioned from being a traditional financial adviser to a financial coach partly as a result of asking myself this question: 'Why don’t we do what we know we need to do?'. I became interested in opening my doors to people who had challenges and blocks when it comes to money. My research since then has been focussed on ways I can provide, not only practical solutions, but also address the obstacles that get in the way of financial success.

That was why I became interested in the ‘Do Something Different (DSD)’ approach. Professor Karen Pine, with whom I co-wrote Sheconomics, is one of the founders.

DSD have created a range of innovative online behaviour change programmes, designed by Psychology Professors and delivered by text and email. Each cost only £14 for a 6 week programme. The principle behind it is that...

Are you thriving or simply surviving?

I was interviewed by a journalist recently who wanted to write an article about ‘financial therapy’ - a combination of financial advice and therapy for unhelpful money behaviours - that is currently popular in the US.

The article - Do you need financial therapy? – was published by The Guardian this week. While I don’t describe myself as a therapist, my work often involves helping clients address the emotions they experience surrounding the subject of money and helping shift unconscious patterns of behaviour around money.

As well as interviewing me about my work, we did some work on the journalist’s relationship with money so that she could experience what I do. She’d never before given much thought to her relationship with money.

What was revealing was that she can get herself out of trouble but can’t maintain that forward momentum once it no longer feels like a problem. We did an exercise where I got her to personify her relationship with money, and what came to her was ambivalence, disinterest and discomfort about engaging with money. We realised that her focus was on survival: getting through the month, paying off debts, but not on thriving.

Finances on separation

Are Black Friday sales getting you into the Red?

Changing Financial Behaviour

Money Nuggets Interview with Financial Coach Simonne Gnessen

Change your money habits one Do at a time

Are you thriving or simply surviving?

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