Helping You Along The Way With Your Financial Journey

For The Love of Money

Happy Wednesday Golden Divas!

I hope all of my Golden Divas had a FABULOUS summer! This post is going to get a little personal because I love you and there is NOTHING you can do about it. So without further ado let’s talk about your FINANCES! Yes…let’s talk about that mean, oh mean, mean green, almighty dollar, cash money! 

Summer vacays and Christmas shopping are a couple of the biggest financial expenses along with paying a mortgage and having a car note that can deplete your savings. Ladies, we know how we do…let’s take a girl trip, a family trip, a trip with our bae or catch a great summer concert, and ya’ll know those are not cheap! And let’s not forget those tantalizing restaurants you heard about that you’re dying to try out to satisfy your taste buds.

Whatever you decided to do to make your summer spectacular you spent some money. Now, don’t get me, wrong ladies, you deserve a slice of happiness for all that you do year-round.

However, we need to ‘Mind Our Monetary Business’ in the process to make sure we can keep on doing what we are doing. That’s why it is so important to have some FINANCIAL LITERACY so that you can manage your money and enjoy your LIFE!!  

Golden Divas one of my favorite songs that depicted the true essence of how people viewed the mighty green is ‘For The Love of Money’ by the beloved O’Jays! When they recorded this song back in 1973 it was over seven minutes long; however, it received substantial radio airplay, because of it’s funky bassline and undying truth!

Did you know the song title came from the scriptures, 1 Timothy 6:10: ‘For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’

We all love money, we all need money to survive in this world, and we all at some point in time coveted after it believing it will solve our problems. However, we don’t have to continue to be a slave to money. Yes, it’s a blessing to have money and for those who are trying to acquire more of it, you can’t be illiterate to managing your finances.  

That is why it’s time to get serious about our finances and how we can maximize the almighty dollar. Hey, we work hard for our money so why not invest in the coins that you have made and make it really work to benefit you. There’s an old saying. “Money doesn’t grow on trees,” which means that money is something that must be earned and that it is not easy to acquire (we know that all too well). It also means that you should be careful how much you spend because money is not an infinite resource.

None the less, we all believe if it did grow on trees, we wouldn’t have a care in the world. Or would we? The more money most folks have, the more they will spend. The question then becomes, are you a good steward over your finances? Ladies, you know it doesn’t matter how much money you have; if you’re not managing it correctly, it will be like having holes in your pockets. The meaning of that statement is simple: you run out of money as fast as you get it by spending money on unnecessary things that you know you shouldn’t have spent money on in the first place!

“Mastering your money is about more than math. It’s about adjusting your mindset.”

Managing your money today, tomorrow and in the future can be very intimidating and stressful. Luckily, we have people who are trained and skilled to help us to make the right decisions, which lead me to my Golden Diva Interview for September. I have known Michele Chambers well over 35 years; she is a skilled professional when it comes to building a money management blueprint to gain financial power. Basically, this diva will help you take the power back over your finances! Her heart and mind are in the right place to help you to stay on track, get back on track or to get in the money game of financial empowerment. 

Michele is here to help you on your business journey of achieving your financial goal of success with her company MaXimi$e, where she specializes in budgeting, credit education, and financial literacy.

MEET MICHELE CHAMBERS

Michele Chambers is a 53-year-old wife, mother, and finance professional. She has worked as the Assistant Controller for the Chicago Bulls for nearly 29 years; she is a certified financial coach and owner of MaXimi$e a personal financial service.

Michele has been married for 16 years to her husband Kelvin, and she has a daughter named Kierra. Michele balances her personal and professional obligations by serving as the CFO of Life Church. As well as volunteering, reading, going to concerts, being an avid spades player, traveling, sharing her love for God, family, and friends.

Her passion for helping African Americans excel in their personal finances and generational wealth sparked her to create MaXimi$e. Michele’s business was named after her late mother, Maxie.

Ladies listen to this classic song that The O’Jays recorded describing the many ways that greed and the hunger for money can do to a man and the lengths they will stretch to acquire more and more.  

For The Love Of Money made a revival in 2004 when it was used as the theme for the hit reality television show The Apprentice. As mentioned earlier in this post we all love money but do we really know how to budget and save our money? After you enjoy this song, as I know you will my Club Fifty guest is here to educate you financially with her great service. 

IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHELE CHAMBERS

C50: Michele, you have a full-time job. Why did you decide to start your own business to help people with their financial journey?

MC: I have always had a natural gift for finances, and I love helping people with their financial issues and goals; so it was a natural transition. The purpose of MaXimi$e is to educate my clients on credit, budgeting, saving, and overall financial literacy.

C50: What qualifies Michele Chambers to be a financial coach?

MC: I have 31 years of experience as an accountant, and I am a certified financial coach. I have an additional coach certification from Dave Ramsey (Financial Peace University), and I’m currently serving as the CFO of Life Church.

C50: What exactly does financial coaching entail?

MC: My coaching is very personal and individual meeting. I always like to find out three questions to start my initial session. Every client has a different story and a different journey.

1. Why do you want to start financial coaching?
2. What are your financial strengths and weaknesses?
3. What are your short term and long term financial goals?

C50: Is it ever too late to learn about financial literacy?

MC: NEVER! The back of my business card reads:

“You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream” C.S. Lewis

C50: What would give potential clients confidence in your abilities?

MC: I have 30 plus years of accounting and finance experience in the public and private arena, and my clients come from all walks of life and economic status.

C50: In addition to paying you as a certified financial coach, what other fees may occur?

MC: There are no additional fees related to my coaching program. I provide a coaching contract and require a minimum of 6 monthly sessions.

C50: Has starting your own business enhanced or interrupted the flow within your marriage?

MC: My husband always tells his friends and family I have ten jobs; between my fulltime position, church position, and my clients. I take care to balance my home life with my professional and spiritual obligations.

C50: How much access will a potential client have to meet with you as their coach? Are you available for phone calls or emails outside of scheduled appointments?

MC: Yes, aside from our monthly meetings; I am available for phone calls and emails. I also send my clients weekly tips and articles to read, along with some follow- up information.

C50: Are there specific goals that need to be met by both the coach and the client?

MC: Yes, that is established in our first session. Every client has specific needs; be that credit building or reestablishing, debt elimination, or savings goal. Each party has an obligation to work collectively by being transparent, honest, and diligent to meet stated client goals.

C50: In addition to your coaching ability, and techniques that you mastered, how do you motivate, engage, and move clients of all ages and backgrounds to take positive financial action?

MC: The most motivating strategy is for clients to track their progress. I have had clients who have raised their credit scores 300 points, to clients who have saved their first $1,000.00. Tracking your progress, small or big, is the greatest motivation.

BONUS QUESTION

C50: What differentiates MaXiMi$e from other coaching financial businesses?

MC: MaXimi$e is a Christian based service that utilizes God’s principals and teachings along with modern resources and tools.

C50: There you have it Golden Divas, financial guru Michele Chambers is willing and ready to help you get your financial situations in order. Michele can be reached at 708-872-0558. Thank you, Michele, for sharing your knowledge regarding financial literacy to educate and inform us on how to get back on track with our finances.  

Remember Golden Divas we don’t want money to rule us; we want to learn to manage it better!!