Why online community coaching?

• Our goal is to help people save money and get out of debt. We believe that paying for coaching services sometimes adds to debt. We want to offer something free for those in need or those who just have a quick question that in the past we were unable to address.
• Support via a community forum helps more than just one person at a time as questions and answers can be viewed by many at once.

Is there any other online resources offered by TFV?

• Yes, Kim Staudenraus also provides insight and information about all areas of life in her blog at KimStaudenraus.com

The below FAQ's are based on our full over the phone coaching program...this program has been put on hold until the start of 2009.

When Will You Return My Call?

• We offer a one-hour phone consultation for those who have just a few questions or are not sure if they need a full coaching package, the fee for this call is refunded if you decided to engage in a coaching package within 14-days of the call. (less PayPal fees)
• As much as we would like to return every phone inquiry we receive, it is just not humanly possible. We are offering free answers to your questions at LifeandFinances.com

What if I have a quick question about a financial issue and don't need a full coaching package?

• For those who have questions, we have sponsored online services where financial and life topics are discussed, these sites can be found at: LifeandFinances.com, a forum based community as well as Kim's blog at: KimStaudenraus.com

Only Phone Consultations and Coaching, Why?

• We found that offering office consultations and coaching was costly for our clients; from several hours of pay loss to take off work for the appointment, to paying for child care. Also, due to our overhead our fees were higher to meet our expenses.
• We also were receiving numerous requests for phone coaching as it was much more convenient to our clients to be in their own environment and yet receive the same honest, informational service they would in our office.
• We decided that since our goal is to help our clients, while at the same time offering this help as affordable as possible, it would be in our clients best interest to offer our services via phone and email. This allows our cost to be lower, and that savings is passed directly to you, our client.
• For you our client, it allows you to save on child care, loss time from work, and just one less trip to an office that takes time from your busy day.

Are there any requirements for Coaching packages?

• Yes, in order to engage in one of our coaching packages you must have access to and know basic usage of Microsoft Excel and have a working email account that you check regularly.
• We will also be sending some documents in a .PDF format so a .PDF reader is also required. Once can be found here: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
• Also a clear phone line and ability to have both spouses on the call at once in the case of married couples who are on the call together.

When Will My Call Be Scheduled?

Do you take our money and pay our bills for us?

• Short answer is NO - no one cares more about your money than YOU DO. Our goal is to teach you how to handle your money rather than become financially dependent on us to do it for you. Those who do take your money to pay your bills, such as debt elimination/reduction agencies may harm your credit rating by making "deals" for you.

If I engage with TFV, will it be reported to the credit agencies?

• No, we do not in any way communicate with the credit agencies. We teach you how to deal with your creditors. There are other agencies that step in and do all the negotiation for you and that may get reported to the credit bureau. In some cases, the negotiations may appear on your credit report as if you had declared a bankruptcy. We coach you how to deal with an unruly creditor, if you can negotiate with them on your own, this may help to preserve your credit rating.

Do you work with my creditors to make payment arrangements?

• Again, our focus is to teach you how to manage your money right down to how to deal directly with a creditor. If we step in and do the work for you, we would not be doing our job by preparing fully in how to deal with all aspects of your financial situation.

How can I afford to pay you when I can't pay my bills?

• If you are visiting us here, then we can assume that how you are currently handling your money is not working for you. We have found that many people find money to spend on something they want such as vacations, new electronics etc. Many of our clients have said that our fee more than pays for itself just in the savings that is found by developing a good cash flow plan. Bottom Line, how can you not afford to invest in yourself, invest in a change for the better in your life, your habits and even the lives of those you love. Start today, live in financial freedom in the near future.

Couldn't I just do this on my own and not hire a coach?

• Absolutely. We teach, coach and mentor using the same proven principles that can be found in popular books, and heard on syndicated TV & radio shows. Again, if you are visiting us here, then we can assume that how you are currently handling your money on our own, is not working for you. That is why we are here, to provide a layer of accountability which is missing in your plan right now. A coach encourages you to take action to get results. A coach can also inform you of different options based on your specific situation that you may have overlooked while being a mentor who provides advisory counsel where needed to help you avoid potential pitfalls.

Who decides how my/our money is spent?

• Short answer - YOU DO, or if you are married, both of you do. We are here to teach, coach and encourage. At the end of the day, you've got to manage your money, or the lack of money will always manage you.

Does this program allow us for any fun spending money or vacations?

• A lot depends on where you are starting. For example, if your home is in foreclosure and we have to choose between saving it or going on vacation, what do you think we will recommend? In time, yes, spending money and just having fun is a very important part of each unique plan we recommend. Keep in mind, the plans we recommend are based on your goals and circumstances and you will always have ultimate control over your money.

Will a I always agree with what a coach has to offer and am I required to follow the guidance?

• A coach is not infallible. There are times in coaching when a client may not see eye-to-eye with the responses or ideas offered. This does not point toward the response being inaccurate or stated with any malice, it simply indicates a difference of opinion. If this occurs, it presents an enormous opportunity to communicate the differences and opens up the prospect for new ideas, further discussion and new directions. Throughout the entire process, the client has full control and responsibility over their destiny, implementing a coaches ideas and/or recommendations or taking offered advice into consideration is at the sole discretion of each client.

Why is it important that both spouses participate in this program?

• Imagine this: You are running a three-legged race with your partner, working together, you are keeping up with the pack. All of a sudden your partner gives up and stops running. What chance do you think you have in winning? Now, same race but both of you work together in harmony with the same intensity to win, WOW! There's no limit to what you could do, nor how fast. Isn't it time to unite together and win this race?

I've been fighting a lot with my spouse about money. Will this program help my marriage?

• Absolutely. Many couples admit one of the most common areas of disagreements is Money, it is also one of the leading causes of divorce in the USA. If you could remove that blockage from your life and enter into unity in your marriage, how much more peace would that give you? It's important to communicate about this area with one another and with your children. We can offer a starting point for couples to come into agreement about their finances.

Do you ever turn down a potential client?

• Yes. Although we feel our services are for nearly everyone, we do occasionally turn down a client. Why? If that person/or couple is really not committed, motivated or open enough to make changes, or expect us to assume responsibility for their finances, then they are not ready for our services. Our goal is to teach, coach, mentor and encourage you on how to handle your money with proven money management principles as well as be accountability for your decisions.