About Private Consulting
I envision a world where 1) money doesn't stress people out, 2) people are able to have productive conversations about money, and 3) people use their money as a tool to support their important values.
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People come to Meaningful Money when they have something between them and where they want to be and haven't been able to get by it on their own. I facilitate financial health and happiness by helping you identify and change your financial beliefs and behaviors that may be negatively impacting your life. I help you design a life that you will be happy to look back upon with the fewest regrets possible.
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Working one-on-one provides accountability and support to help you identify and get past roadblocks. Private consulting is like having a professional listener in your corner to help you articulate what's on your mind and what do you want your life to look like.
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Financial therapy adds a therapeutic relationship to personal finance. Money is stressful and touches every area of our lives. Therefore, it's helpful to explore the emotional and behavioral side of money, so that you can make smart decisions with your money and about your life.
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You may be thinking something negative, like, "I don't need therapy," and if that's you, then you can think of it as financial consulting, financial coaching, or financial behavior advice. What we call it isn't important. What's important is that we consider how beneficial it is to consider the interior side of money (our relationship with money), which acts as a foundation, before we consider the exterior side of money (what tactics we use). All the exterior financial knowledge in the world won't help you if you're unwilling or unable to implement it. Private consulting helps you find your motivation.​
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If you are still hung up on the term "financial therapy," know that we won't use a "medical model" like traditional psychotherapists. There's nothing wrong with you that needs fixing. Meaningful Money offers advice that helps you level up and thrive. You already know what to do; let's help you get to a place where you can do it!
My Specializations
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Money Scripts
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Mindset
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Values Alignment
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Communication
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Meaning/Purpose
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Intentional Living
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Mindfulness
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Happiness
My Philosophy
I believe that you are the expert in yourself and have a natural instinct to grow and better yourself.
Much of our negative emotion is driven by our faulty automatic thoughts. You can discover and challenge your automatic thoughts.
Money is not a goal. Money is a tool that you can use to design a life you will be happy to look back on with few regrets.
Happiness is a skill that can be learned. You ought to design your life around the pursuit of happiness rather than the pursuit of money or success.
Goals are unnecessary and limiting. You can get the same benefits from goal-setting without the downside through purpose and systems.
There is a lot going well for you; you just have to notice it. Gratitude is the practice of paying attention to what is going well.
Mindfulness is a skill that can be developed and helps you live an intentional life.
Life is short. You were given one life and owe it to yourself to make the most of it.
Process
This may be a good fit if...
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You know what you're supposed to do, but there seems to be something in your way.
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You feel negative emotions, like shame, stress, guilt, or anxiety when money matters come up.
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You struggle to talk about money and find yourself fighting about it with your partner.
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You mindlessly spend money without a plan and feel bad about it.
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You're so anxious about money that you avoid thinking about it, talking about it, or doing anything about it.
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You have a good income but you aren't saving as much as you think you should be.
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You have saved enough money, but don't like spending it.
This is NOT a good fit if...
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You won't be able to meet regularly.
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You already have a plan in place and are sticking with your plan.
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You make mindful financial decisions and understand money's role in your life.
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You suffer from severe anxiety or depressions (I do not offer psychotherapy services).
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You need help with investing (I am not a registered investment advisor).
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You want help with what to do with your money without addressing the emotional and behavioral side of money (there are less expensive ways to get this help).
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You are not yet willing to invest in yourself (time, energy, and money).
"Derek is an excellent listener with remarkable retention and inference skills that demonstrate his desire to truly understand what I am trying to say. He does not attempt to influence my feelings or values and instead teaches me how to recognize the validity of them and interpret them instead.
Working with Derek has transformed the way I perceive my past, the way I live today and the way anticipate my future."
- Desirée A. (Manitoba)
"We are so glad to have met and work with Derek. By patiently helping us see how our life experiences shaped the way we think about money, we began to see and understand each other's different money priorities, which brought us closer together. Derek helped us define what we wanted to do with our money and showed us ways to not let finances get in the way of enjoying life.
Working with Derek has been one of the best investments we've ever made."
- Steven & Lisa L. (Texas)
"Working with Derek has changed my life for the better. Throughout sessions, I was able to release the financial mental baggage that was weighing on me. After our sessions, I feel like a completely different person with a renewed outlook in all areas of my life. Derek doesn't shy away from asking hard questions about life and I was extremely impressed with Derek's ability to summarize our sessions.
Working with Derek will enable you to live your best life."
- Rhea O. (Minnesota)
"Working with Derek has been wonderful. The skills that he has taught us have changed us on multiple levels. We are able to now have positive, constructive conversations about our day-to-day finances, as well as planning our financial futures. We have a deeper understanding of our financial goals and how to make those a reality.
Through Derek's guidance, we have been able to implement a streamlined system that works for us."
- Amy & Brian H. (Minnesota)
"Derek does a great job is asking the right questions to get you to think about your priorities - not just financially, but throughout your life. Derek makes you think deeply about your use of finances and if that is aligned with your values and the legacy you want to leave.
I would recommend Derek to anyone who wants to better understand what your values are and how your finances support them."
- Chris M. (Minnesota)
"Derek is a true financial expert who had my best interest in mind throughout the entire process. I found it very helpful to discuss specific situations and come up with a plan that was aligned with my values. Derek is gifted at leading you to decisions versus making decisions for you.
I highly recommend Derek. I have 100% confidence in my financial decisions and know my future is better off thanks to Derek's advice."
- Lucas A. (Minnesota)
Options
Are you interested in financial therapy or financial psychology? Consider joining the Meaningful Money Memo. Each week, on Thursday, you'll get an email that addresses different areas of the psychology of money, including money history, happiness, meaning and purpose, and living intentionally.
About Derek
I'm Derek and I help people make smart decisions with their money and their life.
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I'm a financial therapist, life planner, speaker, writer, and mindfulness coach. I help people use their money to live the best life they can, with intention. My number one priority is to simplify money matters and help people get unstuck so they can live their lives on purpose.
