We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Latrisa Griffin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Latrisa below.

Latrisa, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I attended the University of Alabama from 2004-2009. As a freshman and sophomore in college, I had about $500 in overdraft fees. When I realized that, I began learn how to balance my check book and improve on my finances. I continued on this journey and eventually during my junior year (2007), I take an intro to accounting course. During one of the discussions on the time value of money, internally I became upset in class and made a statement, “One day I will help people with this”. I didn’t know that was the start of a beautiful journey. I changed my major to accounting and earned my bachelors in Business Administration. Later, I pursued and completed my masters in consumer finances with a focus on family financial planning.

Since completing my masters, I have sought to help people not feel the stress of not knowing what is going on with their money. When I was not managing my money well, my body would tense up. become very irritable, lack focus, sleep less, and communication is not healthy. I’ve learned through my personal experience that if my finances are clearer it not only helps my pockets, it helps my life! My approach to coaching clients is to create an environment where they do not feel threatened to tell the truth. Also, I am a Christian, I add my love for God to my finances and show you can trust God with your money. Each of my calls, individual or group start off with prayer so it God is in the front of the conversation and not me. I get excited to talk about my relationship with God and how He has helped me to grow in my finances. Yes, I do have the practical application. This is important. However, many of the reasons why we make the financial decisions are related to how we were raised, events, relationships, and the environment. Including God in the midst of the coaching is something that you don’t see everywhere and I am glad that I can do that with my business.

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

As I stated, I graduated from The University of Alabama. I am also volunteered teaching financial literacy throughout the state of Alabama as well as on a mission trip in Haiti. Before starting my business, I volunteered roughly 1200 hours. Since I have my masters, I have been able to teach an honors course at UA for 4 semesters. Recently, I am a certified presenter for “Money and me”.

The problems I solve for clients is helping them to learn why they make the decisions and help them to decide to make better decisions. If it was simple to just say “do this”, then we just need a recording to give to everyone at birth. It isn’t. Life can be very surprising. I enjoy helping people prepare for the surprising so.

Currently, I offer individual coaching as well as a monthly accountability group. The proudest moments for me is when my clients recognize their breakthrough or when they reach a goal they never thought was impossible. Their language changes and they think things are possible. But the greatest achievement is when they continue after me. My goal is always to build a foundation that last. I do not want this to be a temporary fix but a lifestyle change. As people follow me, they will learn that celebrating progress is acceptable, every little step matters, and trusting the process leads to results.

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

I had to learn that your savings are there to be used in case of an emergency. Sounds weird right. There were some maintenance things that were going on with my car. I was frustrated because the things were going on but upset I had to spend. I had to realize and now I help my clients realize that preparation is for those moments. I will be able to restore my savings. That experience has taught me how to help my clients learn how to adjust with having enough vs. figuring it out.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

The one thing I learned through the process is to be very specific. I am also a musician and served as minister of music. I would use that extra income out of my check to invest in my business. So starting my business was using my gift to fund another gift. I have learned that using an allocation percentage for extra income helps with funding your goals. If that isn’t available, I will cut back on personal expenses to invest in the business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pughfc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latrisa_griffin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PUGHFC
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe7RRuMiEt66XNd8hwQxS4Q

Image Credits
Group photo and photo with me holding the book: Micole James Headshots: Latonia Burgess