October 14, 2026
Financial Coaching vs. Financial Advisors: Find the Support That's Right for You
Your financial goals are unique. Let Journey Credit Union help you take the next step.
Whether you’re trying to build your savings, pay down debt, improve your credit, or prepare for retirement, managing your finances can feel overwhelming at times. The good news? You don’t have to navigate every financial decision alone.
At Journey Credit Union, we offer resources to help members feel more confident about their money, including free financial coaching and access to Journey Financial Advisors.
While both services can support your financial well-being, they serve different purposes. Understanding the difference can help you find the right guidance for your current needs and future goals.
What Is Financial Coaching?
Financial coaching is all about helping you understand your finances, build healthy money habits, and create a practical plan for reaching your goals.
Journey Credit Union offers free, confidential, one-on-one financial coaching with trained employees who are ready to listen, answer questions, and help you identify your next steps. Our Financial Coaches are employees who have been trained through the Iowa Credit Union League’s Financial Coach Program. They work with you to develop a personalized action plan based on your financial situation, without judgment or pressure to purchase products.
You don’t need to be experiencing financial difficulties to benefit from coaching. Whether you want to feel more organized with your money or work toward a specific goal, a coach can help you get started.
Our Financial Coaches can help you with:
Creating a budget: Develop a realistic monthly budget that fits your income, expenses, and lifestyle.
Building or improving your credit: Understand your credit score and explore ways to strengthen your credit history.
Developing a debt repayment strategy: Create a plan to manage debt and work toward paying it down.
Saving for the future: Build an emergency fund or establish savings goals for a major purchase.
Preparing for a home or vehicle purchase: Understand your finances and identify steps that may help you prepare for a big purchase.
Understanding your credit report: Learn what your report means and how it can affect your financial opportunities.
Navigating financial changes: Find practical ways to manage your finances during life’s unexpected challenges and transitions.
Our goal is to help you feel more confident, informed, and in control of your financial decisions.
Meet Your Journey Financial Coaches
You can reach out directly to schedule a meeting with one of our coaches.
Amber Weber — Branch Manager and Financial Coach
1400 2nd Avenue, Des Moines
515-273-1342 | aweber@journeycu.org
Kayla Donahue — Branch Manager and Financial Coach
2930 SE 14th Street, Des Moines
515-273-1390 | kdonahue@journeycu.org
Alisha Tarter — Senior Loan Officer and Financial Coach
1400 2nd Avenue, Des Moines
515-273-1345 | apenman@journeycu.org
Your coaching session is completely free and confidential. Together, you and your coach will discuss your current financial situation, identify your goals, and create an action plan that works for you.
There are no products to purchase and no pressure—just personalized guidance to help you move forward.
What Are Journey Financial Advisors?
What’s the Difference Between Financial Coaching and Financial Advisors?
Both services are designed to support your financial well-being, but they focus on different needs.
| Financial Coaching | Journey Financial Advisors |
|---|---|
| Free, confidential, one-on-one guidance | Professional financial planning and advisory services |
| Focuses on everyday money management | Focuses on broader financial goals and strategies |
| Helps with budgeting, credit, and debt repayment | Helps with retirement and investment planning |
| Supports savings goals and preparing for major purchases | Offers access to wealth management, insurance, and college savings services |
| Creates practical steps to strengthen financial habits | Helps explore strategies for long-term financial needs |
The biggest difference is the type of support you’re looking for. Financial coaching helps you build a strong financial foundation, while Journey Financial Advisors can help you explore more comprehensive planning for your future.
Neither service is automatically better than the other. The right option depends on your needs, goals, and where you are in your financial journey.
Which Service is right for you?
Not sure where to start? Think about what you’d most like help with right now.
Consider financial coaching if you want to:
Get your monthly budget under control.
Build an emergency fund.
Improve your credit score.
Develop a plan to pay off debt.
Prepare financially for buying a home or vehicle.
Explore Journey Financial Advisors if you want to:
Start planning for retirement.
Learn more about investment opportunities.
Explore ways to protect your family financially.
Plan for future college expenses.
Consider long-term wealth management or estate planning.
Your financial needs can change over time, and you may benefit from different types of support at different stages of life. Building a budget and improving your credit today can help establish a foundation for future goals, while financial planning can help you prepare for what’s ahead.
You don’t need to have all the answers before reaching out. Sometimes, the most important step is simply starting a conversation.
Take the Next Step in Your Financial Journey
At Journey Credit Union, we’re committed to helping our members make informed financial decisions and feel more confident about their futures.
Whether you need help organizing your monthly finances or want to explore long-term financial planning, we have resources to help you move forward.
Ready to get started?
Contact a Financial Coach to schedule a free, confidential meeting and work toward your financial goals.
Explore Journey Financial Advisors to learn more about retirement planning, investments, insurance, and other financial services.
Wherever you are on your financial journey, you don’t have to take the next step alone. We’re here to help you find the support that’s right for you.
Author: Alyssa Ballenger
Investment and advisory products and services offered through Principal Securities, Inc., Member SIPC, are not NCUA insured, are not deposits or obligations of Journey Credit Union, are not guaranteed by the credit union, are subject to investment risk and possible loss of principal, and are not required as a condition of receiving credit approval. Please review the disclosures on the Journey Financial Advisors webpage for additional information.
