We were lucky to catch up with Bridget Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bridget, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents did a lot of things right, They were the children of immigrants and deeply believed that through hard work you could have a better life. They wanted my sister and I to feel that we could achieve anything we put our minds to and that we should not feel restricted because we were girls. I watched them stretch for financial goals like a house in a good neighborhood and it definitely affected they way I thought about money and debt.

When I was growing up, people used layaway more than credit cards when they needed to make a major purchase. You reserved the item you wanted to buy (such as a couch) and paid for it in small weekly or monthly installments. When you paid it off, you got the couch. This was generally interest free, but it did mean that you were waiting for that new piece of furniture. My dad was the layaway king; he planned ahead for next year’s winter coats and Christmas presents. It instilled the idea in me and my sister that you didn’t buy something until you had the money for it. “Buy now, pay later” would only get you into trouble.

Even though my parents really didn’t talk much about money, their actions spoke volumes. I saw how they would wait to buy one item of quality rather than many cheap things. They used their limited resources on goods and experiences that they valued, and making conscious choices with money has been important lesson for me throughout my life.

Bridget, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Smart Sister Finance provides customized personal finance coaching for women and their partners. My services are unique because they are tailored to exactly what the client wants to work on… you don’t have to buy a package or go through steps that you don’t need. I have a wide range of work experiences and educational certifications which I use to help clients with topics like tax advantaged accounts, investing, retirement planning and business startups.

Unlike most coaches, I charge by the hour. It’s important to me that you engage with your finances and I want to remove every barrier to starting and growing your money confidence. Start with one session – it’s okay! We carry a lot of emotion around money from our families and I understand it can be difficult to face your financial situation. There is no shame in where you are and I know that we can find a way forward, step by step.

I encourage everyone to think of money as a tool to buy life choices. For me personally, I had a goal to stop working full-time as soon as possible. As my income grew throughout my career, I prioritized saving and investing to achieve my goal (ahead of schedule!). Once I did that, I was able to start my coaching business, helping others organize their finances to achieve what they want from life.

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

Smart Sister Finance publishes a quarterly email newsletter and hosts free Investing Meetups for clients who have attended group classes or completed investing training. I also encourage a year-end financial checkup for all clients to have a structured review of their accounts and a time to recommit to their long-term goals.

One of the reasons I charge by the hour is that I want to be an ongoing resource from my clients. I have lots of clients who I worked with 2, 3, or 4 years ago that will reach out for a session because they are entering a new life stage… In the past, we may have done some sessions to complete 401k rollovers and start a brokerage account. They are now reaching out because they are engaged, or planning to buy a home or make a big work move. It is extremely rewarding for me to hear from former clients – it’s one of the best parts of being a coach!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

My business is 90% referral. When people want to engage with a financial professional, they ask their friends and family for a reference. Many of my clients have referred their friends and relatives to Smart Sister Finance, and I am very grateful for that vote of confidence.

I also offer company workshops, and have had a number of former clients recommend me to their employer to deliver financial literacy programming. Those events sometimes yield new clients although, for me, what is most important is that those attending get to hear clear financial information and have the ability to ask their money questions in a safe space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smartsisterfinance.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartsisterfinance/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgetjonessmartsister/

Image Credits

Lis Christy Photography