We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Drew Keller a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Drew, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client?

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve given a client is this:
“If you want things to change, we’ve got to take away the easy way out.”

I was working with a couple earlier this year. Good income, solid jobs, the kind of people who, from the outside, look like they should be doing just fine. But they came in stressed, carrying a lot of credit card debt across multiple accounts, and feeling like they could never get ahead. At one point they said, “We make too much money to feel this broke,” and that pretty much summed it up.

As we walked through everything, it became clear this wasn’t about math. They knew what they “should” be doing. They had tried apps, listened to podcasts, even taken classes. The issue was that nothing had actually changed in their day-to-day behavior. The cards were still there, still active, still giving them a way to cover the gap whenever life got busy or stressful.

That’s when I gently pushed them and said, “If we’re serious about changing this, we’ve got to remove the option to fall back into it.” In practical terms, that meant cutting up the cards, closing the accounts, and building a real monthly plan together where every dollar had a job. It felt like a big step for them, honestly a little uncomfortable, but they were ready. They had hit that point where they were just done.

Over the next few months, things started to shift pretty quickly. They stopped adding new debt right away, got aligned on a plan, and began knocking out their balances one by one. But the bigger change wasn’t just the numbers. They told me later, “We finally feel like we can breathe again.” Their conversations got better, the tension dropped, and they started thinking about their future instead of just reacting to their bills.

That’s what I see over and over now. Most people don’t need more information. They need a clear plan, some accountability, and the courage to change the habits that are keeping them stuck. When their money starts lining up with what they actually value, everything else in life starts to feel more steady too.

If someone reading this feels that same tension, the first step is simple. Sit down, look at your numbers honestly, and make a plan for the next month. And if you need help, don’t wait. Having someone in your corner can make all the difference.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Drew Keller. I’m a financial coach, husband, and dad of four, and I run Keller Coaching Group alongside my wife. By day I work for Department of War building workforce analytics, but a big part of my life is helping families get their money in order so they can actually live the life they want.

I didn’t get into this because I love spreadsheets. I got into this because I’ve spent the last 15 years walking with people through real life. Marriages under stress. Families trying to figure out how to make it work. People making good money but still feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected. Money is usually where all of that shows up.

What I’ve learned is that most people don’t need more information. They need a plan they can actually follow, someone to walk with them, and the courage to change a few habits that are quietly holding them back.

Through Keller Coaching Group, we help people do just that. We sit down with couples and individuals, build a clear monthly plan, eliminate debt, and create structure so their money starts working for them instead of against them. That might look like paying off credit cards, getting organized with a real budget, or building toward bigger goals like a home, investing, or having margin in their life again.

But honestly, the numbers are only part of it.

What sets us apart is that we care just as much about the life behind the money. We want families that are unified, not fighting about finances. We want parents who aren’t constantly stressed. We want people who can say yes to opportunities, generosity, travel, and big life decisions because they’re not chained to debt or chaos.

I tell clients all the time, “We’re not just trying to fix your budget. We’re trying to build a life that’s actually worth living.”

For us, that includes faith. My wife and I are Christians, and while we meet people wherever they are, our foundation is that money is a tool, not the goal. When your money lines up with your values and your faith, everything else starts to feel more steady and purposeful.

We also try to make getting help simple. We offer free discovery calls so people can talk through what’s going on without pressure, and we’ve added shorter budget sessions for people who just need a quick reset and a clear plan. From there, we walk with clients month by month to help them stay consistent and actually follow through.

What I’m most proud of isn’t a number or a milestone. It’s when a couple says, “We’re finally on the same page,” or “We feel peace again,” or “We can breathe.” I’ve seen people pay off huge amounts of debt, rebuild after hard seasons, and completely change the direction of their family. That’s the win.

At the end of the day, I want people to know this: you don’t have to stay stuck. You can build a debt-free life. You can create margin. You can raise a strong family. You can live a life where you’re able to say yes to what matters most.

You just need a plan, some discipline, and the right people in your corner.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that people don’t just need a good plan, they need someone in their corner who stays with them as they work it out. A lot of financial advice is very transactional. You meet once, get a plan, and then you’re on your own. That’s usually where things fall apart. Life gets busy, motivation fades, and people drift right back into old habits.

We’ve built our coaching around staying connected and keeping the plan alive. Every client gets clear session notes after we meet, not just a recap but specific next steps so they know exactly what to do next. We keep things simple and focused so they can actually follow through. But the real difference is what happens between sessions. I check in with clients through texts or emails, especially in those moments where I know things can drift. Sometimes it’s encouragement, sometimes it’s a nudge, sometimes it’s just reminding them what they said they wanted a few weeks ago.

We also help couples build a rhythm at home. One of the most powerful tools we use is a monthly “money huddle,” where they sit down, review their spending, plan the next month, and stay aligned as a team. That one habit alone can change the tone of a marriage.

At the end of the day, loyalty isn’t something you manufacture. It comes from trust. And trust is built when people know you care, you’re consistent, and you show up when things get hard. I’ve had clients text me wins like paying off a credit card, sticking to a no-spend month, or finally having a peaceful conversation about money for the first time in years. That’s why people stay, and that’s why they tell their friends. They’re not just getting advice, they’re getting a relationship, a plan, and someone walking with them as they build a better life.

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 honestly been simple. Take care of people, get them real results, and stay in their corner long enough for it to matter.

I’ve never tried to build this on marketing tricks or volume. It’s been built on relationships. When someone sits down with me, I’m not just trying to give them a good plan, I’m trying to help them actually follow through on it. That means walking with them month to month, helping them stay consistent, and being there when things get hard, not just when they’re motivated.

What ends up happening is people start to experience real change. They pay off debt, they get on the same page as a couple, they finally feel some breathing room again. And those are the moments they start telling their friends and family, “You should talk to Drew.”

Most of my growth has come from that. Word of mouth from people who have actually lived it.

We also make it really easy for people to take a first step. We offer free discovery calls where someone can just talk through what’s going on and get some clarity without pressure. And recently we added a shorter budget session for people who don’t need long-term coaching yet but know they’re off track and want a quick reset. That’s opened the door for a lot of people who might not have reached out otherwise.

But if I had to boil it down, it’s this. People don’t refer you because you’re knowledgeable. They refer you because you helped them change their life. When someone feels more peace in their home, less stress in their marriage, and more clarity about their future, they don’t keep that to themselves.

That’s been the growth strategy from day one, and it’s still what works.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kellercoachinggroup.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachdrewkeller
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachdrewkeller
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachdrewkeller/