This edition, we spoke with Abigail, a former wealth and investment manager, about what led her to financial coaching and her approach to empowering clients who are committed to improvement.

## Abigail, first please tell our readers a little about yourself and your professional background. Personally, I’ve lived in the South the majority of my life, so my clients may hear a Southern twang come through from time to time during our conversations. I like my winters mild, so I probably won’t be leaving either! Professionally, my background is in financial planning. I am a Certified Financial Planner and joined SmartPath after nearly a decade of experience in the wealth and investment management arena.
## What life experiences attracted you to financial coaching and planning? My upbringing was pretty unstable due to lack of financial resources and understanding of how money works. It felt like, with more education and awareness, a lot of the hardships and mistakes that my family endured could have been prevented. I decided to equip myself with knowledge, but I also felt the need to share with those who are willing to listen and change. That’s where coaching comes into play. I get to create more stable environments for people who are committed to making positive financial change in their lives.
## What are your favorite aspects of working with clients? I love the perseverance of our clients. Once someone has truly made up his/her mind to change, it’s amazing what can be accomplished. I’ve also found that folks just need someone there to listen and not judge. They need someone in their corner to encourage them forward. Getting to hear through the clients’ voices and actions that they are improving over time is incredibly rewarding.
## I understand that you volunteer with [Wellspring Living](https://wellspringliving.org/), which serves survivors and at risk individuals of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Will you tell us more about those efforts? I watched a movie a few years ago about the topic. I was appalled when I realized that this is still very much a problem today - especially in Atlanta’s backyard. I learned more about some of the local efforts to prevent future exploitation. Eventually, I mustered the courage to show up for these women as their financial literacy advocate. We work together to address the money messaging that guide our decisions, repair credit, create budgets – basically, whatever we need to do to prepare them for their new lives once they graduate from the program.
I was initially concerned I couldn’t emotionally handle the work, but after a year and a half, I can say this is some of the most rewarding work I’ve ever done. These women have overcome heart-wrenching odds, yet are kind and good anyway. I just had the pleasure of watching another resident of the program graduate last weekend!
## What is one thing you would suggest that everyone could do immediately to better their cash flow? Write it down! Put your bills, credit payments, rent, etc. in your phone calendar and set a reminder a couple of days in advance. Our lives get busy. Getting organized on what you owe and when is an easy way to prevent losing money through late fees, insufficient fund fees, or additional interest payments.

Interview with SmartPath Coach Abigail Soren

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