Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Meunier.
Hi Jessica, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I became a money coach because as a teenager I was left feeling vulnerable and afraid when my mother burned through her money and was close to being homeless. I decided I never wanted to rely on anyone else to provide for me or my lifestyle. Now I work every day to make sure everyone can walk through life with the confidence to do just that.
My mother was a well-educated, computer programmer at a time when there weren’t many women in those positions She hustled as a single mom in the Bay Area to give us a middle-class lifestyle. On the outside we were regular kids: playing soccer, going to church, had a cute dog, and annual vacations.
On the inside, she was struggling with addiction that eventually took over our lives and plunged us into financial ruin. She drained her savings and retirement account and had nothing to show after a 30-year career. Our childhood home went into foreclosure, and I was at a complete loss about what the right steps were. By attaining power of attorney, and using her pension, I was able to get her into a home for the rest of her life. I was about to head to college, a very pivotal time in many ways, but the one that would shape the rest of my life was this: I had no idea how to be financially stable and I would need to learn very fast to survive.
Now, I dedicate my life to making sure no one feels that way. I focus on women, people of color, students, and young families to fill the gaps in the traditional financial advising industry. I believe every person should be able to attain financial freedom, no matter their background or circumstances.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Leaving a stable, 9-5 job in order to build my own business from scratch while raising a family has definitely had its ups and downs. On the one hand, I am so grateful to be able to help people daily, in a concrete and meaningful way. I also get so much joy from knowing I’m using my skills and the work I love to help people reduce stress and increase confidence.
I had always known I would do something new or work for myself. This was the right time in a lot of ways with Covid upending my family schedule and giving me time to reassess what I want out of my career. But it’s definitely a shift – I don’t have PTO or vacation days like I had my whole career, I also spend a lot of time without any co-workers which can get lonely. As an entrepreneur, I’ve had to evaluate some boundaries I want to put up with my own business since there’s always more work to be done and no one else to help you do it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Empowered Personal Finance?
I offer a new approach to personal financial advice. I’m not a traditional financial adviser. My financial coaching extends beyond investments; I’ll get to know you as a person and make recommendations based on your whole financial picture. The pillars of my coaching are: reframing your money mindset, being your accountability partner and investigating paths forward until we find the right one for you.
Empowered Personal Finance is right for you if:
You want to manage your finances, but don’t know where to start
The amount of information online and in social media is overwhelming, and you want guidance that is tailored to your life and circumstances
You want a trusted guide to update your financial plan when you have a life, career or tax event
You’re in a partnership or marriage and would like to get on the same page about finances
I work with you 1:1, on your timetable to be the accountability partner you need to achieve your goals. I offer a free discovery call and then we move forward with an intake session and 1:1 coaching sessions. My clients continue with me quarterly or a few times a year based on their needs and life events.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think networking and mentoring are huge pieces of any successful career. The more you put yourself out there, the more people you will meet, events you will go to, and information you will receive. However, networking and mentorship need to be done with some boundaries to make them meaningful and sustainable. Dreams are goals without definition. In order to be successful at networking, start with a defined goal such as: I will cold email 3 people per month, or I will have coffee with someone in this space every other week.
As far as keeping up mentoring relationships, a few things that have worked well are: always make it convenient for them, put reminders to stay in touch, and provide them something useful. This means, meet them for coffee or lunch near their office or on their schedule and keep it short but meaningful. It’s on you to keep up the relationship, so set a reminder to check in with the person every few months. Bring thoughtful questions and keep a regular cadence. Lastly, send them articles they might find interesting or bring comments about their latest project. Don’t just check the box on mentoring, it can be very transformative if done intentionally. I have found that many of my mentoring relationships have lasted many years, across many. jobs and are a very important addition to my support system.
Pricing:
- Free 20 min discovery call for all new clients
- Intake session: 60 – 75 min – $250
- 45 min goal focused sessions: $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.empoweredpersonalfinance.com/
- Instagram: @empoweredpersonalfinance
Image Credits
Danielle Polini Photography
Kathleen Sheffer Photography
