Private Work with Mikelann Valterra
Mikelann Valterra has been in private practice as a Certified Financial Recovery Counselor and Money Coach since 1996. She has worked with hundreds of people on their relationship to money. Often times, clients feel as if money is their “final frontier”–while they’ve done work on many areas of their lives, money remains frustrating and confusing. Her goal is to transform their relationship to money, from how they deal with money to how they feel about it.
There are many issues that money coaching deals with. “Underearning”, which this website addresses in detail, is only one issue that Mikelann works with as a money coach. Many of her clients also need to address debt issues, inheritance issues, and how they handle and spend money. For many, the key is to escape the “money fog”. The process of emerging from this “money fog” helps clients tackle issues such as emotional spending, chronic debt, underearning and making more conscious decisions about their lifestyles.
There are three kinds of private work Mikelann does with people. (Click on the appropriate heading for more information.)
Mikelann is a specialist in working with women who run service-based businesses. If you are frustrated with the amount of money you are making and sense you are earning below your potential, this is for you! See below for details
If you are frustrated with personal finance and long to feel better about your relationship to money, this is for you. Typical issues include debt issues, spending issues, money communication and overcoming self-defeating money habits and attitudes. See below for details.
Often times people consult with Mikelann for a few sessions on a particular issue, such as how to set and raise their rates or salary negotiation. See below for details
Money Coaching with Small Businesses
Mikelann Valterra believes it is possible to have the peace of mind that comes from making great money and providing a worthwhile service. She takes a two-pronged approach to working with small businesses. In order to have deeply satisfying work, Mikelann believes clients must examine their issues around money as well as implement profitable and sound business practices. Indeed, reconciling these two issues: service and profit, is a core issue for many women business owners.
As a money coach and financial recovery counselor for nearly ten years, Mikelann is intimately familiar with the issues women face around money. And self-employed women face additional challenges. Often isolated, they may have difficulty building their practices, selling their services and charging what they are really worth. Money Coaching can take women from having a marginal business to a thriving business.
Most coaching clients are self-employed or operate as independent professionals. Typical clients include: therapists, lawyers, consultants, professional organizers, coaches, body workers, virtual assistants, graphic designers, artists etc. Women who have a genuine desire to make more money and are willing to look at their issues, will strongly benefit from money and business coaching. (NOTE: If you only want to work on conquering underearning, enroll in the Three Month Conquering Underearning Program.)
Typical Issues:
“I’m sick of working so hard and not having much to show for it.”
“I’m feeling increased competition and wonder if I can really compete.”
“I’m behind on paying my taxes again.”
“I know I’m not charging enough, but I’m afraid to raise my rates.”
“I know I need to market my practice, but I’m overwhelmed at the idea.”
“I’m tired of creating and carrying business debt.”
“I’m vague about the money – feels like I’m in a money fog.”
“I’m finally ready to start my business, but don’t know where to start.”
During our work, you will:
- Learn how to plan your business income and expenses each month
- Learn how to adjust your plans when things don’t go as expected
- Learn how to save money for taxes and irregular expenses
- Learn how to pay yourself on a regular basis (deal with erractic income)
- Learn how to “market” yourself in a way that feels comfortable to you
- Create an annual income and spending plan for your business
- Learn how to set your fees and how to raise them
- Learn how to articulate what you do to others
- Learn how to package your services to clients
- Identify how your beliefs about money are playing out in your business
- Work through your money issues and make peace with profit
- Become comfortable as a business owner as well as a service provider
- Feel motivated, encouraged and supported as you make the necessary changes to take your business to the next level
- Learn how to ask for what you want and need in business
What clients say:
Working with Mikelann has changed my relationship to money – from a relationship where money (or lack of) controlled me to one where I manage the money. It sounds so simple, but it has been amazing for me in my law practice and my personal life. I am a huge fan, I have given her book as gifts and regularly forward her newsletters to encourage others to learn more about her!
JP, Attorney.
How it works:
If you are curious about Money Coaching for small businesses and wonder if it would help you achieve the results you desire, simply call or email Mikelann to set up a free half-hour consult. Clients work with Mikelann twice a month in 60 minute sessions, by phone or in person at her Seattle, WA office.
Money Coaching with individuals
Mikelann works one-on-one with clients, guiding them and teaching them the skills needed to gain control over their financial life. She will empower you to deal with seemingly hopeless and/or long-standing financial problems and frustrations. Mikelann provides a safe and nonjudgmental place to learn about money and change unhealthy financial behaviors. While supplying the tools and teaching the skills needed for effective money management, she also addresses the underlying issues that help shape, and may continue to fuel, a client’s money behaviors and problems. Some clients identify with “emotional spending” and explore their behaviors and beliefs that fuel this. Many identify with being in a “money fog” to some degree. And almost all clients want to feel more in control of money and have more peace and less stress around finance. (NOTE: If you only want to work on conquering underearning, enroll in the Three Month Conquering Underearning Program.)
During our work, you will:
- Gain an accurate picture of your financial life
- Learn how to “plan” instead of “budget”
- Develop clarity about how you make money decisions and choices
- Identify what you need and want and how to meet these more effectively
- Learn solid money-management techniques
- Decrease your expenditures and explore increasing your income
- Deal with debt issues and create a realistic repayment plan that will not detract from your quality of life
- Examine the impact of past or future inheritances
- Learn how to handle expenses that would otherwise end up on credit cards
- Learn how to save in a meaningful way
- Learn how to communicate with others about money
- Identify and overcome self-defeating money beliefs and attitudes
- Uncover lifestyle dreams and goals and the income needed to achieve these goals
- Learn how to ask for what you want (negotiate)
What Clients Say:
“Mikelann has skillfully guided me through the complex and sometimes emotional landscape of my beliefs and behaviors surrounding money. This process has significantly increased the quality of my life for I no longer experience the shame, dread and panic I once had.”
MS, Seattle
“I was 45 years old, a professional woman earning good money, living in financial chaos. There was a month when I spent more money on bounced check fees then on my car payment. Over the course of our work, Mikelann has helped me to achieve financial clarity. I’m out of debt. I pay my bills on time. I have money in savings. I know my income and expenses. I bought a condo. I no longer live in fear and chaos! I recommend this work to everyone living with recurring financial stress.”
SJH, Seattle
“Fifteen months ago I was terrified that I would never get out of debt. My fear about money was ever-present in my life. Today I know exactly how much money I have, how I spend it and when I’ll be out of debt. I am no longer afraid that there’s something wrong with me or that I’ll end up penniless. I feel full of choices about my money. Money coaching with Mikelann has given me a freedom I never imagined possible.”
CC, Seattle
How it works:
If you are curious about Money Coaching and wonder if it would help you achieve the results you desire, simply call or email Mikelann to set up a free half-hour consult. Clients work with Mikelann twice a month in 60 minute sessions, by phone or in person at her Seattle, WA office.
Short-Term Coaching
Mikelann has expertise in helping women (and men!) set and raise their rates. Many consult her on just this issue. Learn about rate-setting and explore your internal blockages around charging people an appropriate amount of money. Learn how to set the correct fee for your business, and how to raise your fee and communicate this to your clients. This can be a difficult situation for many professionals, and Mikelann will support you through the entire process. Mikelann also works with many professionals on how to negotiate their salary.
Learn how to:
- Research what others are charging or earning
- Set your rate and communicate it to clients
- Know when it’s time to raise your rates or ask for a raise
- Keep client boundaries around money
- Analyze hours worked to money earned
- Hone your negotiation skills
- And much more…
[back to top] |
