A financial coaching service webpage advertising free, one-on-one financial support with a smiling male coach wearing glasses and a blue polo shirt with a logo, sitting at a table with a notebook and a white mug, talking to a woman with brown hair in a ponytail, in a bright office with plants and inspirational posters.

What Your Coach Can Help You Do

  • How to look at your household finances to manage expenses better and start to save.

  • Ways to manage government programs as your household income increases through work.

  • How to access an affordable loan to eliminate high-cost payday loans.

  • Tools to build your credit score, net worth and work toward financial self-sufficiency.

Financial Assessment
In order to set goals, you need to start with a complete assessment of your financial situation.

We work with you to get the full picture of your financial situation.

Income Help
The ability to earn an income is one of the greatest assets you have. We look for ways to improve your situation through income supports and employment opportunities.

Navigating The Benefits Cliff
The benefits cliff is the point where a small increase in earnings (like a raise) can trigger the loss of public or private benefits.

We work with you to understand how to manage your earned income and benefits, helping you make smart decisions.

Tax Preparation
If you earn less than $60,000 annually, you can have your taxes done for free.

Credit Score
Access to affordable credit helps people take control of their own dreams.

We run your credit scores twice a year, and set goals around strategies and activities that can help you increase your credit score.

Net Worth
We work with you to set goals for reducing debts and building assets to increase your household net worth and we stay with you through the process.

In fact, a typical typical engagement with a Financial Coach is at least 18 months.

​Affordable Loans and Banking
Through NextStepKC, we can help you access loans at reasonable rates.

These are loans that can help you avoid toxic debt (like payday and title loans) to handle emergency needs and build good credit.

We can also help you access banking services through our partnership with Holy Rosary Credit Union.

CONTACT A FINANCIAL COACH

  • Portrait of a smiling middle-aged man with short hair, wearing a blue checkered shirt, standing in front of a brick wall background.

    Jeff Sheets

    Hawthorne Place Apartments

    email
  • A middle-aged man with glasses and dark hair, wearing a checkered shirt, standing in front of a brick wall.

    Paul Gordon

    Eastgate CareerHub

    email
  • A woman with glasses and dark hair pulled back, wearing a white top, standing in front of a brick wall.

    Claudia Alarcon

    Hawthorne Place Apartments

    email
An infographic outlining reasons for seeking financial coaching and how a financial coach can help. The top section shows icons and reasons such as paying bills, debt overload, credit score improvement, benefits or income change, saving for goals, and uncertainty about where to start. The bottom section lists ways a financial coach can assist, including budgeting, credit, debt, savings, benefits, employment, banking, and goal setting.

Need Help with Money?

Money can be stressful, especially when bills, debt, benefits, work, and family needs all overlap. You do not have to figure it out alone.

CSL’s Financial Coaches can sit down with you, look at your situation, and help you make a plan that fits your life. Together, you can review your budget, set goals, find ways to reduce debt, build savings, improve credit, and move toward greater financial stability.

CSL is part of the LISC Financial Opportunity Center® network, a national model that helps people improve income, credit, savings, and long-term financial well-being.

What a Financial Coach Can Help You Do

A CSL Financial Coach can help you:

  • Review your household budget

  • Understand where your money is going

  • Find ways to better manage bills and expenses

  • Set realistic financial goals

  • Build savings for emergencies

  • Improve your credit score over time

  • Reduce debt and avoid high-cost loans

  • Understand how work, income, and benefits affect each other

  • Connect with employment, public benefits, banking, and other CSL resources

Start with Your Full Financial Picture

The first step is understanding where you are today.

Your Financial Coach will work with you to review your income, expenses, debts, benefits, credit, and savings. This helps you see the full picture and decide what steps may help the most.

Income and Employment Support

Your ability to earn income is one of your greatest financial strengths. CSL can help you explore ways to increase income through employment opportunities, career services, public benefits, and other supports.

Your coach can also help you think through how a new job, raise, or change in hours may affect your household budget.

Understanding the Benefits Cliff

Sometimes, earning a little more money can cause a household to lose benefits like SNAP, housing assistance, childcare help, or other support. This is sometimes called the “benefits cliff.”

A Financial Coach can help you understand how changes in income may affect your benefits, so you can plan ahead and make informed decisions.

Free Tax Preparation

If your household earns less than $60,000 a year, you may qualify to have your taxes prepared for free.

CSL can help connect you with free tax preparation resources, so you can file accurately and make sure you receive any credits or refunds you may be eligible for.

Credit Score Help

A better credit score can make it easier to qualify for safer loans, housing, and other opportunities.

CSL Financial Coaches can help you review your credit report, understand your score, and set goals for improving your credit over time. Coaches typically review credit scores with participants twice a year and help identify practical steps to strengthen credit.

Reducing Debt and Building Savings

Building financial stability takes time. It may include paying down debt, building savings, improving credit, and preparing for future goals.

Your Financial Coach can help you set goals and stay with you through the process. Many people work with a Financial Coach for 18 months or more, giving them steady support as they work toward feeling more confident and secure with money.

Affordable Loans and Banking

CSL can help connect you with safer, more affordable loan options through NextStepKC. These loans may help you avoid high-cost debt, such as payday or title loans, cover emergency needs, and build positive credit history.

CSL can also help you access safe banking services through our partnership with Holy Rosary Credit Union.

Contact a Financial Coach

Jeff Sheets

Hawthorne Place Apartments
Email Jeff

Paul Gordon

Eastgate CareerHub
Email Paul

Claudia Alarcon

Hawthorne Place Apartments
Email Claudia