Money decisions shouldn't feel like guesswork.

It might sound counter intuitive, but financial education and knowledge actually have little to do with money, at least directly or initially. Financial education for each of us starts with first identifying your life goals, dreams, and values, and only then you can “work backward” to set up a financial plan that could truly support your aspirations.

Financial knowledge can help you better create the life of your choice, and with it, security, confidence, and peace of mind. More generally, financial knowledge is power, and helps make families stronger, and communities and governments better.

I offer free, no-strings-attached financial education sessions to anyone who wants it.

No question is too basic. There are NO sales pitches, and there is NO requirement to share ANY financial information.

I'm a candidate CFP® (board exam passed, currently completing my training towards certification). These free education sessions count toward the required training hours for my CFP® certification.

I already provide pro bono financial advice (and gain more experience hours) with Savvy Ladies (which provides women free financial education programs and Helplines to build their financial knowledge and confidence). I will also soon begin pro bono work with the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program (free tax prep for the underserved, lower income, disabled, elderly, and limited English speakers).

So it's a win-win — you get free, objective and pressure-free financial education, and I get real-world practice toward becoming a certified financial planner.

I can't give you personalized advice — but I can help untangle concepts that feel confusing or intimidating, or just never got explained to you in the first place

My education might help those:

• Just starting out and want a solid foundation before diving into this world.

• Already with a decent financial background and am making one's own financial decisions, and want to bounce ideas off me to solidify your already good financial background.

• Already working with a financial professional and need a bit more education so that your meetings with your financial professional are more efficient and useful.

Sign up for a free chat, or send me your questions ahead of time and I'll come prepared.

Here are some common questions/situations I am often asked about, to give you just a sample:

• Basic budgeting and cash flow

• Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA — what's the difference?

• An uncommon tax situation that's got you stumped

• The different paths to planning for retirement

• What a 401(k) match means and how much to contribute

• Whether an HSA is worth using, and how it works

• What is the difference between between the various financial professional roles: financial advisor, CFP, investment advisor, wealth advisor, etc.

• What "diversification" actually means, in plain English

• How compound interest works over time

• What affects your credit score,

• What is the difference between a stock and a bond?

• Budgeting concepts such as the 50/30/20 rule, investing concepts such as asset classes/index funds/the role of inflation, retirement concepts such as the 4% rule.

• How life insurance works and which type might work best for your situation

• Debt payoff strategies: avalanche vs. snowball

• Estate planning basics — wills, trusts, and the difference