Meet Emily Gowen, AFC®

My Story

in 2011 I had consumer debt, student loans, and had just started my own business with a near-empty bank account- and had no idea how I was going to make it work.

For years I had chosen to do work that I loved, knowing that it didn't pay well, and was facing the consequences. I constantly had to think about money just to make sure I would be able to pay my bills. My background in math probably helped me set goals for my business and follow a plan each month, though it was my determination that eventually led me out of financial anxiety and into a place where I was saving money. 

Fast forward a few years and I had paid off all of my debt, saved an emergency fund, and opened a small but exciting retirement account. However, I didn't do that alone. As a first-generation college student who was financially self-sufficient at a young age, I could always 'make it work' but lacked financial literacy. I sought out help from local non-profits to learn the language and healthy habits of money management.  Once I had accomplished my initial goals, I started volunteering as a Financial Coach for a non-profit whose services I had benefitted from. I helped close friends pay off thousands of dollars of their own consumer debt, creating spreadsheets with them and checking in on a regular basis. 

Excited but not knowing what to do next with my money, I cold-called a financial advisor. I told her that I was just starting to 'get my sh*t together,' and asked, 'What now? What should I prioritize?' She told me there was basically no one for me to talk to, as I could not afford a Financial Advisor and had no substantial wealth to be managed. However, she would soon be offering trainings for Money Coaches so she offered to meet with me and see if it was a good fit.

I believe that naming what we want and seeking help to get there is one of the most powerful things we can do. Since that call I made and all the trainings that followed, I have further transformed my relationship with money to a place I never thought possible — Owning my dream home and rental property in a west coast city, remodeling them and transforming the land, and funding college savings accounts for my kids. I understand the inequity and hurdles that make prosperity so difficult for some of us to achieve, and also believe in our abilities to take control of what we can to turn our lives around.

Areas of experience & interest

Self-employment and defining financial freedom, gardening & landscaping, hiking, creating new spaces & buildings, and prioritizing quality of life and personal growth. I’m also a mom to twin kindergarteners who teach me more than I can express. As of 2025, I can now add moving my family across the country and selling houses to the list as well!

If you don't feel that you are ready for one-on-one coaching, please check out my Resources Page or self-paced Financial Foundations course to get started.