Why do you charge for your services if you’re helping people who are struggling with money?

This is a totally fair question. To be honest, I grappled with it myself. It boils down to this:

If you want to build strength, you can watch lots of videos online, and check out library books, and do bodyweight exercises, all at a cost of zero dollars. But many people still think it’s worth paying to take fitness classes, or hire a personal trainer or teacher, because they want the accountability or the expertise tailored to their individual selves, even just to get the ball rolling.

If you want to make changes to your financial life, the information is out there. Although I’m working hard to find ways to make information relevant and accessible and fresh, I haven’t invented any of this, and there are already tons of resources that are available at relatively low cost (or free). But if you haven’t been able to make change stick on your own, there might be a reason.

If you need accountability, I offer compassionate accountability and a genuine desire to see you win with money. If you need expertise, I worked for nearly five years in banking, I made (and learned from) plenty of personal financial mistakes and became debt-free, I’m certified to coach in the framework I followed to secure my own financial well-being, I have racked up hundreds of hours of client work and research, and I’m getting an advanced degree in accounting.

I don’t want to make anyone’s financial situation worse by adding another cost… but according to my clients, working with me makes your financial situation better. So if you want a personal finance trainer to help you build your money muscles, I’m ok getting paid for that. I’m confident that you’re going to see a giant return on your investment with me that continues well after our time together.

I also create a lot of free and low-cost content — you can get an hour of coaching every month for just $5! — and I am always working to develop other accessibly-priced offers.

Where are you?

I’ve lived in the Charlotte metro area since 2014. When I worked in the city, I loved the city but I hated my commute, and I also felt kind of weird about Charlotte. I felt overwhelmed by its traffic and explosive growth and grief-stricken by its economic inequality issues. I also wished we lived in one of the “cool” parts of town, not just in suburbia. (I seriously considered creating a blog called “Suburban AF,” and tbh I can’t promise that won’t happen at some point.) But a couple years ago I basically turned into this guy.

I love this city now, and one of the things that used to drive me crazy about it is now one of the things I love the most. In Charlotte, almost everyone is a transplant from somewhere else. This means the city’s character is sort of hard to define, but it also gives the town a warm, collegiate vibe – “oh, you’re new here? I am too, let’s be friends!” – which is a really nice departure from feeling like we’d have to chisel our way into a community. I grew up moving around a lot, and some places were not super fun to be “new.” Charlotte is really welcoming, and while it’s still a slightly bigger city than I think I can handle, I’m very happy to be here.

Where else can we find you on the interwebs?

Besides right here, I’m on Instagram, Facebook, and of course there’s the newsletter. I’d love to connect with you!

Why “Fortuna,” and what’s with the Ferris wheel?

When I wanted to start a website and a business, I had a hard time thinking of a name. Everything I came up with was obscure, awkward, or already taken.

My husband heard on a podcast that brands seeking original names should look to ancient mythology; because he is a real one, he looked up mythological figures associated with money and suggested Fortuna. Somehow, no one else had nabbed “Fortuna Money” yet, and the more I researched Fortuna, the more I appreciated her.

Fortuna is a Roman goddess variously described as the goddess of luck, chance, fate, abundance, and prosperity (she’s analogous to the Greek goddess Tyche, if you’re a geek for the Greeks). Most portrayals show her holding a cornucopia overflowing with coins; some show her blindfolded, while others associate her with a wheel — the “Rota Fortunae” — that spins randomly and deals out wild reversals of fortune.

There’s a double-edged aspect to this: our luck can change quickly — good or bad — and the things that come our way aren’t necessarily fair. I appreciate this duality. There are always factors outside our control that affect us profoundly, for better or worse, and there are also many things we can do to create more abundant and prosperous lives despite the reversals of fortune that may come our way.

The Ferris wheel in our logo is a whimsical nod to the Rota Fortunae. A big part of what I do is empower you to face life’s changes and challenges. Even if things are relatively chill for you right now, your work with me will help you make the most of the ups, and prepare you to ride out the downs in a position of security and stability.