Financial Wellness at Work
Financial Finesse Financial Coaches work with people from all walks of life and have literally seen it all! They’ve supported employees and participants (and their families) through debt, cash flow, and credit challenges, buying homes, growing their families, marriages and divorces, retirement planning, and more. Through guest interviews, your host Liz Davidson, founder and CEO of Financial Finesse, will share life-changing stories of financial transformations experienced by everyday people who gave financial coaching a try. Financial stress doesn’t exist in a silo – it influences everything, including mental and physical health, relationships, and productivity. We’ll dig into it all.
Financial Wellness at Work
Beyond the Budget: How Coaching Helped Me Maximize My Money
You don’t need to love numbers to get good with money — just the right support and some clear guidance. In today’s episode, Financial Finesse coach Julie Everett is joined by Briana Oliver, a technical recruiter at a Fortune 500 company, who opens up about her five-year journey from financial uncertainty to clarity and confidence. Briana reflects on how growing up with a save-every-penny mindset left her unsure of what to do once she had “extra” income, and how financial coaching helped her shift from survival mode to a more intentional, empowered approach. She shares how overwhelming it felt to navigate terms like 401(k) and Roth IRA, especially in a tech culture steeped in financial jargon. Together, she and Julie break down the emotional side of money decisions, the power of simplifying complex goals, and the importance of finding a financial coach who truly gets you. Tune in to hear Briana’s honest, relatable story and discover why small, supported steps can lead to lasting change!
Key points from this episode:
- How Briana’s money script was shaped by a scarcity mindset and a strong habit of saving.
- The culture shock of entering the tech world and feeling overwhelmed by financial jargon.
- Why paying off student loans gave her structure, but left her wondering what came next.
- How Briana’s first coaching session with Julie felt radically human and approachable.
- The value of breaking down complex goals, like consolidating 401(k)s, into simple steps.
- Why emotional clarity matters just as much as financial strategy when making big decisions.
- Lessons from skipping a rushed home purchase and finding the right place on her own terms.
- How Briana learned to enjoy life today while still planning wisely for tomorrow.
- The importance of filtering advice, even from well-meaning, financially savvy colleagues.
- Characteristics to look for in a financial coach and how to make sure you’ve found the right fit.
- How Briana used her experience to help her cousin take a confident financial step.
- Parting advice from Briana on how to find a financial coach and transform your money journey.
Quotes:
“I knew it was important to save, but I didn't really know what I should be doing outside of ‘put your money away’ and, like, ‘don't spend more than you make’, and just ‘save, save, save.’” — Briana Oliver [2:42]
“That's what I appreciated about you, and about Financial Finesse, was that there was this very grounded approach, and you spoke to me in language I could understand. It was such a refreshing, inviting experience.” — Briana Oliver [4:21]
“One small step at a time can really compound into big changes in the end.” — Briana Oliver [10:56]
“My finances need to fit my life, and I need to make my money work for me; it doesn't have to be overly complicated.” — Briana Oliver [15:55]
“Keep going until you find someone that clicks, that respects you, that's certified, and that can break your big goals down into small chunks. It doesn't hurt to try it.” — Briana Oliver [31:24]
Links mentioned in today’s episode:
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