Inspiring Conversations with Anja Robbins of Real Freedom Financial Coaching

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anja Robbins.

Hi Anja, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t start my career in finance, but my own journey with money is what ultimately led me here.
I was born in Germany and raised in Canada. After graduating with an engineering degree, I came to California in 1993 with two suitcases and a lot of hope for what life could look like. I settled in Long Beach in 1995, where I met my husband, and in 2000 we bought our home in Artcraft Manor. From the outside, it looked like we were living the American dream.
Behind the scenes, things weren’t working. There were cracks in our finances, in our communication, and in our belief that things would ever change.
By 2012, we were down to one income and carrying a significant amount of debt. That became our wake-up call. We got serious, created a budget that we still use to this day, and committed to doing the work. It took nearly a decade of consistency, discipline, and a lot of sweat equity to become debt-free.
The numbers were only part of the story. What really changed was how we started communicating, how we made decisions together, and how we began to feel about our future.
That experience led me to become a financial coach, although the path to where I am today wasn’t a straight line.
I began leading Financial Peace University classes and later completed my Financial Coach Master Training through Ramsey Solutions in Tennessee. Through that experience, I built connections with coaches across the country that I still learn from and lean on today, and I became a Ramsey Preferred Coach. I felt prepared and excited to help people connect their goals with their bank accounts and create real change in their lives.
What I wasn’t prepared for was building a business.

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?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
Like many first-time entrepreneurs, I quickly realized that being good at what you do and knowing how to build a business are two very different things. I had the training, the passion, and the desire to help people, but I didn’t yet know how to grow something from the ground up.
There were moments of doubt, a lot of trial and error, and times where progress felt slower than I expected. I had to learn how to put myself out there, how to talk about my work with confidence, and how to trust that the right clients would find me.
Over time, I began to find my footing. I leaned into my strengths, stayed committed to learning, and focused on serving the people in front of me well. I invested in my own growth, including working with a coach for the past two years, and I’ve continued to pursue additional certifications and training. What started as uncertainty slowly turned into confidence, not because everything became easy, but because I kept showing up and growing through the process.
At the same time, the work itself can be heavy. I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside clients through some of life’s hardest moments. I’ve supported individuals and couples through seasons of starting out or starting over, while also navigating mental health challenges, the loss of a loved one, affairs, devastating medical diagnoses, bankruptcy, and divorce. In many of these situations, the financial decisions don’t stop, even when life feels overwhelming.
Those experiences have shaped how I show up. They’ve deepened my belief that financial coaching is not only about money, but about creating a space where people feel seen, supported, and able to move forward.
What has carried me through is a commitment to keep learning, to stay connected to other coaches, and to continue doing my own work. Over time, what once felt uncertain has become more steady, not because the challenges disappeared, but because I’ve grown through them.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m a financial coach and the founder of Real Freedom Financial Coaching, where I help individuals and couples transform the way they think, feel, and act with money.
My work focuses on the space between knowing and doing. Many of my clients are smart, capable professionals or couples who are earning good money, yet still feel stuck, stressed, or unsure if they’re making the right decisions. I help them slow down, build awareness around their spending, and align their money with what matters most to them.
I specialize in working with people who want more than a budget. They want clarity, confidence, and a plan they can actually follow. Together, we create a system that supports their goals, whether that’s getting out of debt, building savings, improving communication with a partner, or simply feeling more in control of their financial life.
What sets my approach apart is that I don’t start with numbers. I start with the person sitting in front of me. I create a safe, judgment-free space where clients can be honest about where they are and what they want. From there, we build a plan that fits their life, not someone else’s formula.
I’m especially proud of the environment I’ve created through my brand. My clients often share that they feel heard, supported, and less alone in something that can feel very isolating. That trust allows us to do deeper work that leads to lasting change.
Coaching is primarily offered virtually, with in-person sessions available by appointment. For small local businesses, workplace wellness workshops offer an added employee benefit, helping reduce financial stress, increase satisfaction, and support retention. Business coaching is also available for those looking to strengthen their financial foundation.
For those who are ready to take the next step, support is available to help turn awareness into action.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The quality that has been most important to my success is the ability to create a space where people feel safe, heard, and not judged, while also guiding them forward. Money can carry a lot of emotion, shame, and stress, and many of my clients have never had the opportunity to talk about it openly. When people feel safe, they open up, and that’s where meaningful progress begins.
I help my clients move forward with clarity and intention, grounded in the fact that I’ve been in their position myself. I never ask someone to consider a step I haven’t taken or wouldn’t be willing to take. That balance of empathy and guidance allows for both honesty and momentum, which is what leads to lasting results and real confidence in their decisions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.realfreedomfinancial.com
• Instagram: @realfreedomfinancialcoaching
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-robbins-98627a234

Image Credits
headshot by Martin Outzen