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

Alright, Famatta thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a customer success story with us?

One of my first clients was a young couple who had just purchased their first home. Like many people, they were excited about their new house but hadn’t yet developed a clear strategy for managing their finances. They weren’t budgeting or tracking their spending at all, which led to some surprises when I did a spending assessment for them. During our first session together, we uncovered that they were actually spending, on average, $800 more each month than they were bringing in. It was clear they were living above their means, but they hadn’t fully realized how significant the gap was until we took a closer look.

What really stood out during my assessment was the amount of debt they had—over $113,000. Their debt included student loans, car loans, and credit card balances, not even counting their mortgage. It was a daunting situation, and understandably, they were feeling overwhelmed by it all.

To help them take control of their financial future, I enrolled them in my Wealth Wise coaching program, which is a comprehensive approach that covers everything from budgeting and saving, to investing and retirement planning. We started by identifying the areas where they could cut back or eliminate unnecessary expenses. We also discussed the importance of long-term financial goals, like saving for retirement, which they hadn’t previously thought about in any real detail.

One of the most impactful aspect of my coaching program was the paycheck schedule I created for them. This structure helped them set up their bank accounts in a way that allowed them to automate certain payments, manage their cash flow more effectively, and stick to their budget without the constant need to micromanage every transaction. By organizing their finances this way, they were able to make significant progress in paying down their debt without having to obsess over every detail of their expenses.

The results were incredibly rewarding. Just nine months after completing my program, the couple had successfully implemented a semi-automatic budget that allowed them to pay off two of their four credit cards. Most impressively, the wife’s credit score shot up to a score of over 700 for the first time in years! This was such a meaningful milestone, not just because of the credit score increase, but because it represented their ability to take control of their financial lives and make lasting, positive changes.

It was a huge win for them—and for me as a coach—because it showed them how, with the right knowledge and tools, anyone can turn their financial situation around, even if they’re starting from a place of large debt and uncertainty.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My journey into personal finance and money coaching is a story of learning, growth, and transformation. Like many people, I wasn’t taught about finances growing up. It wasn’t until I started law school that I realized just how little I knew about managing money. When I received my first student loan payout of $8,000, I didn’t know how to budget, invest, or even cover basic living expenses. Within three months, that $8,000 was gone, and I had to borrow another $4,300 just to pay for rent, textbooks, and other necessities. That was when I hit what I call “broke bottom.” It was a wake-up call that propelled me to dive into learning everything I could about personal finance.

I became determined not just to make money but to understand how to build lasting wealth. Over the next two years, while working as a federal attorney and living on an $80,000 salary in Northern Virginia (a notoriously expensive area to live), I took deliberate steps to transform my financial future; I invested over $36,000 into various portfolios and retirement accounts, set aside an additional $16,000 in interest-earning savings accounts, and successfully automated my budget to avoid the pitfall of credit card debt. I was living on a budget and making conscious choices to grow my wealth, all while still enjoying the vibrant lifestyle the DMV offers. I even went on international vacations during the holidays in both years. And, as of this October, my assets have exceeded $100,000.

Through this experience, I realized just how powerful it can be to take control of your finances. That’s what inspired me to start Live Wealth, my financial coaching program where I teach women how to create extraordinary financial lives for themselves and their families.

My work is centered around helping clients balance the immediate pleasures of life with the long-term investment in themselves to grow lasting wealth. I believe that financial freedom isn’t just about numbers—it’s about mindset and taking actionable steps to align your financial choices with your goals.

What sets me apart is my holistic approach to wealth-building. I don’t just focus on cutting back or tracking every penny (although that’s important, too). I help my clients develop a strategy that incorporates both their immediate financial needs and their long-term goals—empowering them to enjoy life now, while also setting themselves up for financial security in the future.

I’m incredibly proud of the transformations I’ve seen in my clients—women and couples that have gone from living paycheck-to-paycheck to feeling confident about their financial futures. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is watching them implement the tools and strategies I’ve shared and seeing their lives change, not just financially, but in their overall sense of empowerment.

What I want potential clients to know is that financial freedom is possible for anyone, no matter where you’re starting from. My mission is to help you create the life you deserve by providing the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts that will make wealth-building feel achievable. My goal isn’t just to help you manage your money; it’s to help you create the kind of life you’ve always dreamed of—one where financial freedom gives you the ability to live with confidence, passion, and purpose.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was the habit of spending money on things that would only provide temporary happiness. In my early 20s, I had a classic “YOLO” mentality (for those who don’t know, it means You Only Live Once), which made me eager to enjoy the freedom of spending money however I pleased. I was constantly influenced by social media—Instagram and reality TV in particular—which constantly showcased things that promised to “upgrade” my life and bring more happiness. And the more I saw, the more I felt like I had to have.

I developed a particular obsession with handbags and shoes. I was always scouring DSW for the latest styles, and I just had to have a pricey new handbag every birthday. But after having my first job in the summer after my junior year of college, I realized something troubling: I had earned a decent amount of money, but by the end of the summer, I didn’t have much to show for it. And yet, when I looked around my apartment, I noticed that I had accumulated a lot of items I barely used—I hadn’t even worn some of my shoes in months, and they were literally collecting dust! It became painfully clear where all my money had gone, and I wasn’t proud of it.

That wake-up call almost immediately shifted my focus. From that point on, I committed to saving a portion of every dollar I earned and restricted my spending when it came to the things I only wanted. It was a game changer for my financial mindset and helped me start building a healthier relationship with money.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I’m still in the early stages of building my own social media presence, but through my journey so far, I’ve learned a couple of key things about growing an audience:

First, engage with other brands or creators in your niche—especially those who are at the level you aspire to be. For me, that means following other women in the money coaching space, as well as people of color who are doing amazing things in the financial education world. I find their posts inspiring, and it’s motivating when they engage with me, too—whether that’s responding to a comment or sharing some advice. It reminds me that success is possible and keeps me going.

Second, consistency is key. I’ve seen the most growth and received the most discovery calls during the months when I was posting regularly on my Instagram and Facebook pages. And don’t be afraid to talk about your personal experience! People are out there looking for content and people just like them, you just have to be willing to share. The more you show up, the more likely people are to find you and connect with your message.

So, if you’re just starting, my advice is to stay consistent with your content and engage with others who inspire you. Building your audience takes time, but it’s totally worth it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.exuberancedefined.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exuberancedefined/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExuberanceDefined/