Our Best Advice From 25 Years of Financial Coaching

Anyone who’s good at anything didn’t get there overnight. Success is never easy! It takes time and lots of practice. The same is true with good financial coaching. The best way to become an effective coach is to receive proper training and to practice, practice, practice. That said, a little expert advice doesn’t hurt either!

Fortunately, we’ve been helping people win with money for over two decades. It all started 25 years ago when Dave began coaching people one-on-one. Today, we have a dedicated team of financial coaches who use the same principles Dave’s taught all these years—and that he continues to teach each week on The Dave Ramsey Show.

Want to know what they’ve learned from their experiences coaching? You’re in luck! We asked Dave and two of our longtime financial coaches to share their advice.

Dave Ramsey - The value of a listening ear:

As you’re coaching people with budgets, you’re digging things out by the root. And when it comes to budgeting problems, they’re usually the symptom of something else going on. Now, there’s really only one good tool for digging into someone’s life and digging out the problems: learning to listen.

When you’re spending time with someone helping them with their budget, you’re a professional listener. That’s going to give you all the clues you need to be able to lead them, to serve them, and to help them change their direction. Listening is the key.

When you listen to someone, you assign dignity to the person talking. You give honor to them. And of course, it makes them think about what they’re saying and what’s really going on.

Lisa Barber - The key to a coach’s longevity:

In mentorship, coaches often ask me how to avoid burnout. Self-care is essential. It all starts with building healthy boundaries physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Physically: We all have tremendous responsibilities that are magnets for our time and resources. Overextending your time doesn’t serve anyone well. Decide how much time you can realistically commit to coaching each week and stick to that.

Mentally: Schedule time into your week to feed your mind! Read good books. Watch TED Talks or read blogs. Find workshops that expand your skill set. Learn about issues that concern your clients. Network with like-minded people. Iron sharpens iron, after all.

Emotionally: You can never invest yourself in someone’s situation more deeply than they invest in it themselves. You cannot carry their load. This is hard for caregivers to accept, but it can lead to an unhealthy co-dependent relationship. As a coach, you see the potential and the big picture, but your clients don’t. Be sure to establish good boundaries before your first coaching session.

Spiritually: The enemy will stop at nothing to keep you from coaching, so pray before each session! Ask for creativity, wisdom, and the fruit of the Spirit. And stay in the Word of God. You’ll need His sustenance. Assemble a prayer team, and remember 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV): “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Are you interested in becoming a financial coach? Join Dave Ramsey’s coaching team for a free informational webinar. Everyone who registers will be entered to win a free seat at a future Financial Coach Master Training experience. Even if you can’t attend live, register anyway and we will send you a recording!