Cornerstone Financial Coaching

SPAM Alert...With a Twist!

I get spam emails (ie. cold calls) constantly, and normally delete based on the ridiculous subject line.

For some reason, I read this one.

And I kept reading because they were describing me better than I describe me!!!

Check out their opener:
"Decades as a credit union CEO.
A licensed CPA.
A financial coach for professionals and small business owners. That is a combination of credentials that almost no one in the financial coaching space can match, and it means you are operating at a level of depth and credibility that most coaches are simply not positioned to offer."

I don't need or want what they sell.
But I did screenshot that paragraph!

Because sometimes it takes a stranger trying to get your money to remind you what you actually bring to the table.

If you or someone you know has been settling for financial guidance from someone without this kind of background, there's a better option.

ps. if you'd like to send me a non-spam email: christine@cornerstonemoneycoach

"Penny Wise, Pound Foolish".....

I've been saying this a lot lately.
I'm seeing small business owners stuck in this loop.

The economy is squeezing from both sides: customers buying less, costs going up.

Business finances aren't being actively managed.
The owners know this.
They just don't have the time, energy or desire to dig into it alone.

Yet they've convinced themselves they can't afford an experienced CPA who can spot issues, fix them, and find ways to increase profitability.....all at a reasonable fee.

Here's where I really start to cringe: these same businesses continue to:
✔️ Pay 20-30% interest on company credit cards month after month;
✔️ Travel to industry conferences and professional development seminars; and
✔️ Maintain multiple overlapping subscriptions they haven't logged into for years.

I'm not intending to call anyone out, I just can't unsee it.

Whether it's personal or business finances, our spending reflects our current priorities.

It's truly hard to watch when I know the math isn't mathing.

The future cost of not taking action is almost always higher than the cost of getting some help.

If any of this sounds familiar, I'd love to have a conversation.

You know how your feed starts to look like what you talk about most?
Well, mine is full of other "money people" talking about money.

I usually scroll right past these, but a couple of weeks ago I actually commented on a post by someone I'll only refer to as 'the guy with the 7 baby steps.'

I was so offended on behalf of the person he was speaking to that I couldn't help myself.

And of course I got dragged by his loyal followers immediately.

Then I got likes.
For days.
And weeks.

From people who were also offended and appreciated that someone said it.

Here's my thing: his big ideas...get out of debt, save more...are fine. Great, even.

But his methods are a crash money diet.
Crash diets work, but not for long because they aren't sustainable.

His advice might be fine for a young person just starting out with some credit card debt and no real obligations.
Go live in a trailer for a year, drive a junker, grind it out. Okay.

But try telling that to a family with teenagers, a mortgage, and real life happening at full speed.
These people aren't going to crash diet their way through that season of life.

Money is not black and white.
Shaming people into extreme behavior doesn't build healthy financial habits; it just makes them feel worse about themselves so they are too embarrassed to ask for help when it is available.

Building habits that you can work with and fit your life will take you so much further.

My inbox is always open if you have questions or want to run a scenario by me.

I sat down to write an obligatory post today and I was boring myself as I wrote it.

Trying to hit the right balance of visibility, calls to action, and all the rest.

I felt the "ick".

So I'm throwing out the social media "rule book".
I doubt you want to read canned posts any more than I want to write them.

So let's do an 'about me' and what you can expect from my pages:

- I'm a financial professional, yet often wonder why my own finances aren't as easy for me as my clients;

- I was a CEO of a credit union, but spent my fair share of days wondering how I convinced anyone to leave me in charge! (Despite great financials and glowing reviews, imposter syndrome is a real thing);

- I've been a CPA for decades, but don't and won't do tax prep (I do know how to research and strategize though!);

- Money and financials are serious business, but I l try to mix in humor where I can. Life is too short to take ourselves too seriously;

- Most importantly, I started this business 6 years ago and am still wondering where my support staff is at! And trying to remember that I don't get paid to breathe like I did as a salaried executive.

So............
✖️ My videos run too long because I can't say what I want to in 30 seconds;
✖️ I don't post with the correct rhythm for the algorithms so who knows if my posts show up in the feed; and
✖️ I hope that sharing the good, bad and ugly off the cuff will give you a better picture of what it's like to work with me.

Bottom Line: There are SO many people out there that need my help but not many that will admit it until they have a real mess on their hands.
So I will keep trying to get in front of them however I can.

If you ever have questions, my message box is always open.

Whether you filed your completed return or an extension, you may have just paid the IRS more than you were prepared for.

That mean you have an opportunity:
✔️ To understand why you owed more than you expected;
✔️ And to have a plan for 2026 so next April is a breeze.

This is exactly the kind of clarity I provide for my personal finance and small business clients.

If the tax process was stressful this year, please know you're not alone and I'd love to help you find the answers.

Send me a message if you'd like to chat.

Did you know that today is T minus 7 days to send in your 2025 tax payment?

If you planned ahead, you are likely unphased by that statement.
If not, it might cause a little (or a lot) of tension.

If you're scrambling to either find the money to make your payment, or put together the numbers to determine how much you owe, let this be the last year that it comes down to the wire.

I work with my clients to put a process in place so they're not caught off guard.

Setting aside what you expect to owe throughout the year prevents that stress and overwhelm in April.

It also means the numbers are organized and accessible ahead of time for both personal finances and your small business.

If you'd like to get that weight off your shoulders for next year, let's talk.
Learn more at CornerstoneMoneyCoach.com.

A loser times volume is a bigger loser.

Selling more doesn't always help the bottom line.

When your pricing isn't covering your costs, there's a loss.
Getting more clients with that model costs you more and creates a 'bigger loser'.

I know there are many business owners who are exhausted, fully booked, and barely breaking even.

The problem isn't effort.
It's that there isn't a pricing model that actually works, and the default is simply "more sales are better".

This is a fixable problem.
But you have to dig in and look at the numbers.

Or partner with someone who can help you do that and save you the time, energy and frustration.
🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

📩 cornerstonemoneycoach.com