If you’re trying to do everything for your clients, you’re doing them a disservice. Yep, I said it. As financial coaches, we don’t know everything there is to know about finances, and that’s okay. We’re focused on our niche and expertise and while there’s nothing wrong with learning and growing with our clients, there comes a time when referring them to another professional is the best next step.

I used to think that referring clients to other professionals meant I wasn't good enough at my job. Turns out, it's actually one of the most valuable things I can do for them. When you position yourself as the quarterback of your client's financial journey, you become more essential to them, not less.

Most people have a financial advisor who doesn't talk to their CPA, who doesn't coordinate with their insurance agent. That leaves your clients trying to figure out how all these pieces fit together on their own.

And that's where you come in.

This week, I’m sharing exactly how I've learned to recognize when my clients need specialized help and the clear indicators that tell you when it's time to bring in other professionals. And you know what? Some referral relationships have become some of my best sources of new clients.

Here’s just one example: For 12 years, I handled student loan guidance myself. But when the rules started changing rapidly, I made the decision to partner with a specialist instead. I didn't feel bad about this decision. I felt proud that I cared more about what was best for my clients than my own ego.

Your scope of practice isn't a limitation. It's actually what makes you valuable. Listen in to hear specific language for these referral conversations and explain how to build relationships with other professionals so you have a solid network ready when your clients need help.

Links & Resources:

• Ultimate Growth Guide
• Join the Facebook group
• Episode 66
• Episode 53

Key Takeaways:

• You're not your client's only financial resource, you're their quarterback. Coordinate the game plan while bringing in specialists for specific plays.
• Refer too early rather than too late. If you're unsure whether a client needs specialized advice, lean toward making the referral.
• The strongest referral relationships develop through consistently positive experiences with mutual clients—so be patient and focus on quality over quantity.
• Frame referrals as expanding resources, not passing clients off. Say, “To help you reach your goals faster, I'd like to bring in a specialist” instead of simply “This is outside my expertise.”
• Your scope of practice isn't a limitation, it's what makes you valuable. When you try to be everything to everyone, you become less effective at what you're truly great at.
• Clients need your coaching support most when implementing advice from other professionals. Schedule specific sessions to help them translate technical recommendations into practical action steps.
• Build relationships with professionals who care about staying in their lane as much as you do. Look for people who won't tell you how to do your job while you respect theirs.

You want to grow your financial coaching business but you're not quite ready to make a big investment. Maybe you're just getting started, or you're building momentum but hesitant about spending thousands of dollars on training programs.

This week, we’re tackling one of the most common questions we get: how can you grow your financial coaching business using resources that are available right now, without waiting until you feel perfectly prepared or have the budget for a mastermind or program?

We’re firm believers in lifelong learning and know there is an incredible library of free and low-cost resources available online (this podcast included). But first, we need to address the mindset piece that's absolutely foundational to your growth. Many coaches get stuck thinking they need to know everything before they can help anyone, and that's simply not true. You likely know more than you realize about personal finance, and you've already overcome challenges that your future clients are still facing.

The reality is that growth as a coach happens through a combination of learning and doing, not just one or the other.

We explore the shift from consumption to implementation. The most successful coaches are the ones who take one idea, implement it fully, measure the results, and then move on to the next thing. They don't learn endlessly without taking action, and they don't wait until they feel completely ready.

Throughout the episode, we walk through specific free and low-cost resources that can help you grow right where you are. From podcasts and training materials to community groups and industry connections, there are tools available to support your journey at every stage.

We also cover how to combine these various resources into a personalized growth plan that actually works for your life and business. The key isn't which specific resources you choose, but your commitment to applying what you learn consistently over time.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear roadmap of next steps, regardless of where you are in your journey, plus practical examples of how other coaches have used these resources to solve specific challenges in their businesses.

Links & Resources:

• Ultimate Growth Guide
• Join the Facebook group
• Episode 85
• Episode 72
• Episode 88
• Episode 106
• Episode 105
• Episode 93
• Episode 66

Key Takeaways:

• Growth happens through learning and doing simultaneously, not waiting until you feel perfectly prepared.
• Ask yourself this: What you're really seeking is certainty, and you only get that by helping someone and seeing results.
• Move from consumption to implementation by taking one idea and fully implementing it before moving on.
• Focus here: Strengthen your weakest link instead of trying to learn everything at once.
• The real marketing secret: Your clients’ experience and results drive referrals better than any strategy.
• You can make incredible progress in six months through focus and consistency, even if you don't notice it weekly.

There's something happening in the financial coaching world that's got a lot of us feeling uneasy. Maybe you've heard the whispers, or maybe you've been losing sleep over it yourself.

AI is coming for our jobs, they say. Clients can just ask ChatGPT for financial advice now. Why would they need us?

I've been watching this conversation unfold in coaching groups and on Reddit, and I've got to tell you—the fear is real, but it's also missing the point entirely. Because here's what I've learned from working with coaches who are already experimenting with AI, and from my own experience using these tools: the question isn't whether AI will replace us. It's how we're going to use it to become even better at what we already do.

Think about the last time a client came to you. Did they need someone to crunch numbers? Or did they need someone who could see the hesitation in their voice when they talked about starting that business? Someone who noticed their body language shift when debt came up? Someone who understood that their financial decisions weren't really about money at all, but about the stories they've been telling themselves for years?

That's the thing about transformation. It's messy in a way that AI simply can't navigate. And transformation is what we're really in the business of, isn't it?

I've had clients try AI tools for financial guidance, only to come back because they missed something they couldn't quite name. They missed the relationship. They missed being truly seen and understood. And they missed having someone who cared about their success in a way that went beyond just giving them the right answer.

And while AI can't replace what we do, it can absolutely make us better at doing it. I've been experimenting with ways to use AI as my behind-the-scenes assistant, handling some administrative stuff that drains my energy so I can focus on the human work that only I can do. And the results have been pretty remarkable.

This week, I’m sharing more about this timely topic and why AI isn’t going to replace you. Instead, I want you to understand exactly what makes you irreplaceable so you can use technology to lean into those strengths even more.

Links & Resources:

• Ultimate Growth Guide
• Join the Facebook group

Key Takeaways:

• AI can analyze numbers, but it can't feel the pit in your stomach from buyer's remorse or recognize the fear behind someone's excitement about starting a business. THIS is what makes you irreplaceable.
• Use AI to handle the mechanical tasks so you can spend more time on the meaningful work that transforms lives.
• What is rare becomes priceless. As technology advances, human connection becomes increasingly valuable, not less.
• Your clients need more than information. They need someone who notices their body language when discussing money topics and hears the hesitation in their voice.
• Pick one repetitive task that doesn't require your unique expertise and experiment with AI handling it this week.
• Be upfront with clients about how you use AI in your business. This builds trust and shows them where technology ends and your human expertise begins.
• Double down on your humanity. The coaches thriving with AI aren't replacing their human touch. Rather, they're using technology to create more space for deeper, more personal client interactions.