Money Made Human Podcast

If you've been feeling overwhelmed in your financial coaching business lately, you're probably spending all your time serving clients, creating content, and answering emails. While these tasks matter, they're only part of the story. This week, we talk about why setting aside time to work ON your business (not just IN it) makes everything else feel easier. Despite the perception that you “don’t have time” to do anything other than take client calls.

Think of your business like a garden: you can spend all day watering plants and pulling weeds, but without a good design and irrigation system, you'll always be playing catch-up. On this week’s episode, we share practical ways to create space for strategic work, even if you only have five hours a week for your business right now. Plus, we talk about why having the right support network changes everything, both for building your business and helping your clients succeed.

You'll hear about specific times when doing less actually leads to better results, and why trying to be “kind of okay” at a dozen different things might be holding you back. Whether you're just starting out or feeling stuck in your current business, this episode will help you see where small changes in how you spend your time can make a real difference.

Want to start working on your business instead of just in it? Listen to learn how shifting just 20% of your work time to strategic planning could change everything about how your business feels and grows.

Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group

Key Takeaways:

• Block off 20% of your work time for strategic planning because one hour of intentional business work creates more impact than five hours of reactive tasks.
• Schedule your most challenging business decisions when your energy peaks. A clear mind at 7 a.m. beats a tired brain at 8 p.m. every time.
• Your business systems should feel automatic but not robotic. Build processes that make your work smoother while keeping the human connection clients crave.
• Get really good at 2-3 things instead of being okay at a dozen things. Excellence in a few areas brings better results than mediocrity in many.
• Treat your business metrics like you treat a budget. The numbers tell you whether your time and energy investments are paying off.
• Use a dedicated notebook for your strategic work. When you look back, you'll see how yesterday's planning became today's foundation.
• Your client journey needs the right balance. Create systems flexible enough to personalize but structured enough to scale.
  
  

Social media can feel overwhelming, frustrating, inspiring, and like a time-suck…all at the same time. As business owners, we need to come to terms with it and find out how it fits into our own lives and businesses. Instead of letting it rule us.

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing more about the often-misunderstood world of social media from my own perspective. You’ll hear some real-life hits (and misses!) about how social media has impacted the way I do business.

This episode is not just stories; it’s a journey to uncovering the true impact of social media in our field. I explore how easy it is to make snap judgments based on someone's online profile and question how this influences our perception of success, both of others and ourselves.

Discover how setting boundaries with social media can lead to more meaningful interactions and why it's okay to chart your own path, even if it strays from conventional social media strategies.

Tune in for an episode filled with honest reflections, practical insights, and a fresh perspective on leveraging social media for your financial coaching business. Whether you're a social media enthusiast or skeptic, there’s something in this episode for everyone looking to navigate these digital waters with confidence and authenticity.

Links & Resources:

• Join the mailing list!
• Join the Facebook group

Key Takeaways:

• Having a huge following doesn't guarantee clients - focus on real conversations that convert instead of chasing vanity metrics
• Your energy is the fuel to your business - choose marketing methods that energize you rather than drain you
• Social media is just one conversation tool - you can grow a thriving business through networking, speaking, referrals and other channels that feel natural to you
• Curb appeal isn't everything - someone's polished social presence might mask an empty house, so validate their substance through real conversations and client testimonials
• Create content in your natural style - forcing yourself to write in a way that doesn't match your voice will burn you out, while embracing your authentic format energizes your work
• Social media works for you, not the other way around - set boundaries by treating it like email with designated check-in times rather than letting notifications control your day
• Judge yourself by client results, not follower count - your expertise and impact aren't measured by social metrics but by the transformations you create for real clients
  
  

Does this sound like you? You're working every weekend, answering emails at midnight, and “catch-up” is your new normal. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. More importantly, this can actually be a good sign. It means your business is growing.

But if you feel like starting your business was tough, I’m here to tell you that hiring your first support person is actually more difficult. You'll probably feel like you're letting go of something you've built and nurtured for so long (because you have). And you might wonder if anyone else could possibly love your business as much as you do.

When most coaches reach the 8-12 month mark in their business, they hit a ceiling. You're doing $10/hour tasks instead of $200/hour coaching work. Your inbox is overflowing. Those Post-it notes with tasks are multiplying. But staying in this place will absolutely lead to burnout and eventually cap your income.

This week, we dig into exactly how to make the transition from solopreneur to growing a team, including some lessons I learned first-hand.

Want to know the exact steps to document your tasks, create training materials, and set up your systems before bringing someone on? Listen in to learn the framework we've used to help dozens of coaches make this transition successfully.

Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group
• Loom
• Otter
• ChatGPT

Key Takeaways:

• "The trap of excellence" sneaks up on you. Being good at something doesn't mean you should be the one doing it.
• Your zone of genius is where energy, value, and unique expertise intersect—anything outside of that is costing your business growth.
• That $10/hour task is actually costing you $200/hour. Every minute spent on admin is time not spent on high-value coaching.
• Don't ask "Can I afford help?" but "How can I make help possible?" Shifting from limitation to possibility changes everything.
• Document before you delegate—two weeks of tracking your tasks saves two months of messy training later.
• Your SOP creation formula: Record yourself doing it → Transcribe it → Let AI structure it → Review for accuracy.
• A "Never Would I" list is just as important as a "How To" list. Set boundaries before you need them, not after you learn them the hard way.
  
  

After a client says "yes" to working with you, those first few days are huge. They might be excited about finally taking action with their money, but they're probably also nervous, wondering if they made the right choice. In this episode, we're talking about how to make your new clients feel completely confident in their decision to work with you.

We've noticed that there's actually more uncertainty right after someone pays you than at any other time in the coaching relationship. Even though they've already committed, they might be thinking "Will this actually work for me?" or "Did I just waste my money?" Your onboarding process needs to address these worries before they even come up.

Here's the thing about financial coaching: we're dealing with really personal stuff. Money touches every part of our clients' lives, which is why those first interactions matter so much. So this week, we’ll talk about specific ways to welcome your new clients, from sending a personal video message to giving them a quick win right away. We also share real examples of systems you can use to make sure nothing falls through the cracks while still keeping things personal and genuine.

Want to know exactly what needs to happen between "yes" and that first session? Listen in to learn our tried-and-true timeline that keeps your clients feeling supported and builds their confidence from day one.

Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group
• Bonjoro

Key Takeaways:

• The moment after payment is when clients are most uncertain. Reassure them immediately with a welcome message or personal video that shows you're excited to work with them.
• Your systems make personal touches possible. Set up templates and reminders so you can consistently show up for each client without keeping everything in your head.
• Quick wins build confidence. Give clients something valuable they can do right away, like a simple money tracking template, so they feel momentum before the first session.
• Clear communication prevents doubt. Tell clients exactly when and how they'll hear from you next, with specific ways they can reach out if needed.
• Time gaps kill momentum. Schedule the first session within a week of payment to keep their motivation high and self-doubt at bay.
• Success stories set expectations. Share examples of what other clients have achieved so new clients can envision their own path forward.
• Trust needs nurturing, even after payment. Each interaction between signup and first session should reinforce their decision to work with you.

Trust matters more than ever in financial coaching. People have become more and more skeptical about coaching in general and they’re incredibly discerning when it comes to how they find solutions to their challenges. And they’re looking to people they trust for the answers.

So how do you build trust with potential clients if you can’t even get them on a call? Partnerships.

Whether you're just starting out or growing your coaching practice, one of the best ways to grow your audience and potential client base is by leaning on your relationships with others who already know, like, and trust you. And this week on the podcast, you'll learn three proven ways to build meaningful relationships that bring in clients who are ready to do the work.

You'll hear practical examples of how to create partnerships with other professionals (like real estate agents and CPAs), build a referral network that works both ways, and use speaking opportunities to show people what it's like to work with you—without the pressure of a hard sell.

We also talk about why these particular strategies keep working even as marketing trends come and go, and how you can start using them in ways that feel natural for you. Best of all, these approaches help you meet people exactly when they need you most, through someone they already trust.

Plus, I share a free client journey roadmap to help you put these trust-building ideas into action. If you're ready to grow your coaching business by focusing on real relationships instead of fancy marketing tactics, this episode is for you.


Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group
• Client Creator Challenge
• Client Journey

Key Takeaways:

• Trust isn't built through fancy marketing. It comes from showing up consistently where your ideal clients already are.
• Your first speaking opportunity doesn't need to be perfect. Start with one simple talk that solves one specific problem well.
• Stop trying to serve everyone. The clearer you are about who you help, the easier it is for partners to send you the right clients.
• The strongest referral relationships go both ways. Look for opportunities to send referrals just as often as you receive them.
• People need to see how you teach before they trust you with their money. Create simple resources they can try on their own first.
• Your expertise might feel basic to you. If your teaching points feel too simple, you're probably right on track for your audience.
• Strong client relationships start before the sale. Make it easy for people to get a small win before asking them to commit.

Most coaches have been taught that when marketing isn't working, they need a new tactic, funnel, or strategy. Marketing expert Nora Sudduth sees it differently. After 25 years of helping businesses generate over $500 million in sales, Nora has noticed a significant shift in how consumers respond to marketing messages.

This week on the podcast, Nora shares why adding more content or trying new tactics often makes things worse in today's noisy marketplace. Instead of feeding into the noise, she reveals how coaches can instead create authentic conversations that truly resonate with the people they’re trying to connect with. She shares practical ways to shift from templated marketing that feels pushy to natural conversations that build trust.

The conversation takes an honest look at fear-based marketing, with Nora explaining why exploiting pain points often backfires. She offers a refreshing perspective on leading with empathy while still acknowledging clients' real challenges.

Drawing from her experience crafting thousands of marketing campaigns, Nora also walks through her three-part framework for having genuine customer conversations that convert. She explains why many coaches struggle with sales conversations and shows how to make invitations feel natural rather than forced.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your coaching practice, this episode offers a practical roadmap for connecting with clients in a way that feels authentic to you and resonates deeply with them.

Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group
• Client Creator Challenge
• Unlocking Your Unique Value Proposition
• Visit Nora’s website
• Join Nora’s 5-Minute Mentor
• Join Nora’s Finisprint
• Follow Nora on Instagram
• Connect with Nora on Facebook

Key Takeaways:

• How to spot value fatigue: Lower engagement, fewer email opens, prospects needing more reassurance to buy
• What clients need before they buy: Their perceived needs (in their words), necessary beliefs to invest, underlying fears holding them back
• Natural sales conversations: When marketing addresses beliefs and fears early, sales become a natural invitation, not a hard pivot
• Why most marketing fails: Telling people what to feel pushes them away. Let them experience your value instead
• The trust sequence: Meet clients at their starting point, show (don't tell) your expertise, then invite
• Empathy without fear: Acknowledge challenges while focusing on possibilities, not shame

About Nora Sudduth

Marketing advisor and Hello Audio co-founder Nora Sudduth has spent 25 years helping businesses generate over $500M in sales. She specializes in crafting brand messaging and customer conversations that connect and convert, having consulted on thousands of marketing campaigns. Through her courses, coaching, and certification programs, she helps businesses create authentic client interactions that drive sustainable growth.

When Jessica Medina took her husband on a 3-month RV trip to follow the Atlanta Falcons for his 50th birthday, she didn't put her financial coaching business on pause—she designed it to thrive during their adventure. As a former big law attorney who now helps other attorneys create financial freedom, Jessica opens up about how she's structured her entire business year around the life she wants to live.

In this episode, Jessica shares her journey from graduating law school as a single mom of twins with $200,000 in student loan debt to building a successful coaching practice. She explains how she structures her business into focused seasons—dedicated times for bringing on new clients and periods reserved for serving her existing clients.

You'll hear how Jessica moved from practicing law for 15 years to building a thriving financial coaching business, why she chooses to work exclusively with attorneys, and how she's expanded her impact through speaking at law firms and bar associations. She also shares honest insights about what it really takes to grow a coaching business, including why some of her best ideas took two years to fully develop.

For coaches wondering how to balance impact with lifestyle, this conversation shows how being intentional with your business design can create space for both client success and personal priorities. Jessica's story is a perfect example of building a business that truly works for your life.

Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group
• Learn more about Jessica Medina

Key Takeaways:

• Design your business schedule around your life—Jessica fills her client roster in specific seasons so she can take off other times of the year.
• Going deep in a niche works—her focus on attorneys led to a 10x revenue increase in one year.
• Past financial struggles can become strengths—her $200,000 student loan experience helps her better serve clients with similar challenges.
• Six months is the minimum time needed for meaningful financial coaching—rushing transformation doesn't serve clients well.
• Speaking can be an effective way to scale impact without creating courses or group programs.
• Good ideas take time to execute—her speaking business took two years from concept to successful implementation.
• Additional offers should solve specific problems—her student loan program meets a distinct need separate from her core coaching.

Have you been thinking about raising your prices but feel a little queasy about having that conversation with your clients? You're not alone. In today's episode, we’re talking about real-life conversations about raising rates without cringing or worrying that every client is going to pack their bags. Or at least not worrying as much as you may have before this episode.

You’ll learn how to have these conversations with confidence (without that awkward shoulder shrug or apologetic tone we sometimes default to). Whether you're wondering if you should grandfather in your long-time clients (like my wonderful client who stayed at $75 per session for over a decade), or you're trying to figure out the right timing for your increase, we cover it all.

You'll also learn a simple formula to calculate your new rates that takes into account the hours you actually want to work (because burnout isn't part of your business plan). Plus, you’ll hear specific examples of how to communicate your price increase in a way that focuses on the benefits to your clients.

And if you're worried about what might happen - like losing all your clients overnight - we talk about that too. There's a simple exercise that helps put those fears in perspective and builds your confidence for these important conversations.
Join us for an honest discussion about growing your coaching business in a way that serves both you and your clients better. Because at the end of the day, that's what raising your prices should be about.


Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group
• Episode 12: How to Niche Down
• Toolkits
• Client Creator Challenge

Key Takeaways:

• You don't have to cringe when talking about money with your clients. A simple formula helps you know exactly what to charge for your expertise.
• Long-time clients might deserve special consideration. I kept one client at $75 per session for over a decade, and I'll tell you why that was the right choice for my business.
• Price increases can actually make your clients happy. One coach doubled her rates, and her clients celebrated because they saw the value she was providing.
• Your confidence comes from being prepared. Creating a "wins document" helps you remember all the ways you've helped your clients succeed.
• Client conversations don't have to be awkward. I'll share the exact words to use whether your client says yes right away or needs time to think.
• Timing matters more than you might think. Learn why 90 days' notice helps your clients plan and keeps the relationship strong.
• The details matter when raising your rates. From updating your systems to tracking grandfathered rates, I'll show you how to handle the nuts and bolts without any hiccups.

Remember when making $2,000 a month as a financial coach felt almost impossible? I sat at my kitchen table dreaming about it, having no idea how I'd make it happen. That was my first BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal), and it made my palms sweat just thinking about it.

Today, my BHAGs are much bigger—and yes, they still make my palms sweat. Because here's the thing about setting goals for your coaching business: if they don't make you a little nervous, they're probably not big enough.

This week, I'm sharing the exact process I use to set goals that actually mean something—not just arbitrary revenue goals that other people talk about or goals that I think I “should” care about. We'll talk about those sneaky stories holding you back (like my old belief that making too much money would make me less relatable to clients), and I'll show you how I plan my entire year around what matters most.

Plus, I'm giving you real homework at the end of this episode. Yep, homework. Because we're not just here to talk about goals, we're here to make them happen.
Ready to set goals that excite you and scare you at the same time? Let's make those palms sweat a little.

Note: If you're in the Financial Coach Academy®, this pairs perfectly with exercises 1.21 and 1.22 in Module 1. And if goal-setting for a whole year feels overwhelming? We'll talk about how to start with just 90 days instead.

Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group
• Client Creator Challenge
  
  

Key Takeaways:

• Your big goals should make your palms sweat. If they don't make you nervous, dream bigger.
• Planning is a skill you build. Start with 90-day goals if annual planning feels overwhelming.
• There's a story behind every limitation you accept in your business. Find it, flip it, and watch things change.
• Use "Good, Better, Best" goals instead of single targets. It keeps you moving forward even in tough weeks.
• Give your business priorities the same respect you give client appointments—show up prepared and on time.
• Personal commitments go on the calendar first, then business plans. Your business should add to your life, not drain it.
• Pick just 2-3 numbers to track, mixing things you can control with actual results.
  
  

Remember sitting at your kitchen table, imagining what it would be like to help people with their money while earning $2,000 a month? That's exactly where I started. I had no idea what was possible back then—no roadmap, no other coaches to look up to, and plenty of people telling me it couldn't be done.

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my 16-year journey of building a financial coaching business. I share the milestones that meant the most to me (like hitting our first million-dollar year—on my birthday no less!), and the surprising turns my financial coaching business has taken along the way.

We'll explore what success as a financial coach can actually look like, from working at home in your PJs to traveling the world hosting client retreats (I recently went to Ireland for a week with nine other financial coaches!). I'll walk you through the practical decisions you'll face when building your business, like whether to:

• Work virtually or in-person
• Focus on private coaching or group programs
• Build a boutique practice or reach the masses
• Create a seasonal schedule or work year-round
• Hire employees or stay solo

Most importantly, I'm addressing those doubt-planting myths that might be holding you back, like "people won't pay for help with budgeting" (spoiler alert: they absolutely will).

If you're dreaming of building a coaching business that doesn't just pay the bills but actually enhances your life—creatively, emotionally, and financially—this episode is your permission slip to think bigger. Because I've learned that this work isn't just about exchanging time for money - it's about creating something that works for your life while helping others achieve their dreams.

Ready to expand your vision of what's possible?

Links & Resources:

• Join the Facebook group

Key Takeaways:

• Your coaching business doesn't have to look like anyone else's. You get to choose how and where you work.
• Starting small is normal and good. That clarity and focus can help build the foundation for bigger things.
• Your business model can (and will!) shift as you grow. I tried everything from one-on-one coaching to group programs to corporate wellness—and used those experiences to figure out what worked best.
• Support can come in many forms, from a 4-hour-per-week assistant to employees and contractors who help run different parts of the business.
• Ignore the naysayers who say "people won't pay for budgeting help." People who are stressed about money will absolutely pay for someone to show them the way and hold their hand through the process.
• Your business can fit your life, not the other way around. Whether that means taking summers off, working part-time, or building a year-round practice—you get to decide what works for you.
• Success isn't just about money—it's about building something that adds to your life in meaningful ways while helping others do the same.