What Pleasantly Surprised Me During My Training to Become a CFT
When I heard the Gym was offering the chance to become a Certified Financial Trainer, I had already been a member for over 4 years. Joining the Gym was the first real investment I made in myself, and when my trainer asked me what my goals were I never imagined celebrating so many of them with the Financial Gym community.
I celebrated my wildest goal of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail by stopping at one of the former physical locations in NYC because without my trainer clarifying my goals, I never would have thru-hiked. I traveled to Atlanta to meet and hike with other Gym members and have been delighted to hear their continued progress on podcast updates. I was a podcast guest myself celebrating Gym members who bought their own homes as single women.
From my experiences with the Gym, I expected there would be a strong community in the new CFT program. I knew the program would test the financial knowledge I gained over the last several years of becoming a money nerd. What I didn’t fully understand as a client and learned in the CFT program was what a welcoming and one-of-a-kind workplace the Gym has created in an industry that historically has not been. The Financial Gym is truly changing the landscape of the finance industry.
In CFT school I learned the Gym’s values of inclusivity and empathy create a workplace that is unlike any other in finance, and that’s why it helps a broader range of clients than most financial companies. As a trainer, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn a whole new world view with each client by learning about the unique ways that client’s life experiences and money impact each other.
“We believe in inclusivity and that through diversity, understanding, engagement, and acceptance we are a stronger community,” read one of the slides in the Gym’s half marathon training program. It wasn’t just something in their marketing, it was the first time I learned about diversity, equity, and inclusion in a professional training. Talking about these issues helps create a more welcoming work environment, but a more diverse workplace does actually create better results.
Understanding each client and knowing that their life experiences affect their financial experiences is key to creating a custom financial plan to get them where they want to go. We are not financial advisors looking at your financial life in a vacuum; we are your best financial friend, rooting for you to achieve the goals that are possible with a healthy financial foundation.
I encourage you, if you are thinking about becoming a client, to look at our team page and find a trainer that resonates with you. And, if you’re thinking of becoming a CFT, I encourage you to think about your own community's financial needs. If the people in your community are being left behind by most finance companies, becoming a part of the CFT program is a great way to help change that.
If you’re interested in personal finance and coaching people, The CFT School could be exactly what you’re looking for. In The CFT School, not only do we give you the training you need to guide clients through their own personal financial fitness journeys, but we also give you the opportunity to be matched with new clients who come to the Financial Gym looking for trainers. The CFT School gives you the training, tools, and human support you need to run a successful financial coaching business. Learn more at TheCFTSchool.com.