Hear firsthand from a Greylock Financial Wellness Coach.
Stephanie Martin excels in helping people identify solutions and improve their financial stability and acumen. She earned her Financial Wellness Coach certification in 2016 and has been coaching and teaching full time since 2018. Stephanie has always been heavily involved in the community and currently serves as president on the board of Camp Howe and also as a board member of Berkshire Community Action Council. She has been with Greylock since 2012.
The following Q&A describes her impactful work as a coach and how these services benefit our community. To contact a coach and learn more visit greylock.org/cec or call 413-344-1026.
What is your role as a Financial Wellness Coach? How do you spend most of your time?
As a Financial Wellness Coach, I meet individuals "where they are at" to help assess their overall financial health, goals and needs. Then together we work out a game plan to overcome financial challenges and achieve success(es) - and I cheer them on along the way. I also meet with groups of people to present financial wellness classes and workshops to provide guidance and to better educate attendees on a variety of topics like credit, preparing for homeownership, budgeting and more. Both individual coaching sessions and classes/workshops can take up about the same amount of time with preparation, execution and follow-up.
In your experience, what surprises people about your service? Is there anything they don't expect from financial coaching?
So many folks seeking financial wellness coaching are surprised that our services are FREE and that Greylock membership is not required. With credit-coaching specifically, I have found individuals are often surprised that their credit reports are not as poor as they anticipated.
What would you say is the most common challenge you address?
That is a good question as it depends on the scenario. Many people have never created a budget nor do they track their spending. Helping them be accountable can be challenging. For credit, often individuals have learned bad habits that are difficult to break, or they have been in survival mode for a long time, so making changes is a struggle.
Is there anything you wish people knew about what you and your fellow coaches offer?
Coaching is not a one-size-fits-all situation. We have a variety of coaches with different styles, and we offer numerous ways to solve problems or create plans.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love helping people. I really love guiding folks to better help themselves. Seeing the satisfaction on their faces or hearing the optimism in their voices makes my heart smile.
What is most challenging or uncomfortable for you?
Knowing I cannot "save" everyone is tough to overcome.
Is there anything else that you'd like to share?
Coaching has been one of the most rewarding and challenging roles I have played throughout my career at Greylock. Although not every session is a "win," every interaction is meaningful.
Get in touch and learn more: greylock.org/cec or 413-344-1026.
Photo: Coaching Team at Community Empowerment Center; Jeff Lowenstein, Gloria Escobar, Cindy Shogry-Raimer, Stephanie Martin and Mame Opoku