We recently connected with Matt Schroeder and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Money can be one of the biggest sources of stress and anxiety, and I’ve experienced firsthand how overwhelming life can feel when those emotions take over. During college, I faced severe anxiety that threatened everything—my education, my relationship with my now-wife, and even my ability to get out of bed some days.

Counseling and therapy helped me overcome those challenges, completely changing not only my life but its entire trajectory. That transformation is why I’m so passionate about financial coaching today. My mission is to do for my clients what coaching did for me: provide guidance, support, and tools to change the trajectory of their financial lives.

Helping people reduce financial stress and build confidence with their money isn’t just a job for me—it’s what motivates me daily and is why I love doing what I do,

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Numbers always made sense to me, which is why I started college as an accounting major. But during my first internship, I realized accounting wasn’t for me—I love people too much. I’ve always been passionate about money and helping others, but I struggled to find something that combined the two.

After college, life moved quickly. I got married, bought our first home, and started thinking seriously about the future. I wanted a career that aligned with my skills and passions. That’s when I stumbled across a podcast about financial coaching. At first, I wasn’t really interested, assuming it was just another form of financial advising, which didn’t excite me. But as I researched, I realized financial coaching was different. It focuses on the day-to-day aspects of money, helping people create lasting habits and achieve their goals. This is what I was looking for. Within seven months, I completed a training program and launched my own financial coaching business.

As a financial coach, I meet clients where they are—in a judgment-free, guilt-free space. Together, we talk about their dreams and goals for their money and create a customized roadmap to achieve them. Whether it’s building a budget, paying off debt, or saving for a big goal, I provide practical tools and encouragement to help them succeed. Financial freedom looks different for everyone. For one client, it might mean guilt-free Starbucks twice a week; for another, it might mean owning a vacation home. I help my clients define their version of financial freedom and work toward it.

I’m especially proud of the trust and connection I build with my clients. Money is a sensitive topic, and many people avoid it out of fear or shame. As someone who has benefited from mental health services, I understand how hard it can be to open up. My goal is to create a space where clients feel safe, heard, and supported—because real progress happens when people feel empowered to be vulnerable.

My work is about more than numbers. It’s about helping people change their relationship with money and their outlook on life. That’s what drives me every day, and it’s why I’m so passionate about what I do.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first completed my financial coaching training, I thought the hard part was over. I assumed my role would be straightforward—identify the problems in a client’s finances and tell them how to fix them. But I quickly realized I was approaching it all wrong.

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was thinking that I should dictate what people do with their money. While there’s an important educational aspect to financial coaching, my job isn’t to make decisions for my clients—it’s to guide and empower them. Every client has unique goals, dreams, and circumstances. My role is to present them with options tailored to their specific situation and help them make informed choices that align with what they truly value.

This shift in perspective was transformative. By stepping back and focusing on collaboration rather than direction, I’ve seen my clients grow in confidence and ownership of their financial decisions. The lesson I learned is that lasting change happens when clients take the lead—and my job is to walk alongside them, not in front of them.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been having meaningful conversations. While emails and texts are helpful, real-time conversations—whether by phone, Zoom, or in person—are invaluable. It allows me to be more personable, and with a topic centered around money, that’s important. These interactions allow me to build trust with potential clients and referral partners. Financial coaching is still a new concept to many, so personal conversations help me explain its value and address questions directly. Building these relationships has been the foundation of my business growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ramseycoach.com/schroederfinancialcoach
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattschroeder14/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553010933166
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-schroeder-3609a013a/