This opportunity is open to Personal and Family Financial Planning (PFFP) majors and minors who are in good academic standing. You don't need to be an expert already - just interested in supporting your peers and developing your own coaching skills.

No prior experience is required. All peer coaches complete a two-week onboarding training at the start of the program, which introduces coaching foundations, financial wellness tools, and communication skills. The training prepares you to step into your role with confidence.

That's okay - and honestly, very common. Many coaches join the program because they want to strengthen their own financial confidence while helping others. Remember, the role is about guiding peers in their decision-making, not being ana financial expert. You'll learn alongside your clients, and the training will give you tools you can use for your own financial life, too.

During your first two weeks, nearly all of your hours will be dedicated to training. Once you begin coaching, your weekly 5-10 hours will include a mix of client coaching sessions, staff meetings, preparation, and outreach activities. Each week will look a little different, but you'll always have staff support to balance your workload.

Every coach's schedule is flexible, but here's an example of a "day in the life": 

Monday, you might spend 30 minutes preparing resources for an upcoming client session. On Tuesday, you could meet with a peer for a 45-minute coaching conversation, followed by a short reflection and writing session notes. On Wednesday, you might answer a quick follow-up email from a client (remember, you're guiding, not giving direct advice). 

On Friday, you'll attend our 90-minute weekly staff meeting, which includes training, reflection and program planning. You might also spend 30 minutes that day helping with outreach - like tabling at the student union or delivering a class presentation. Across the week, expect to spend 5-10 hours total on training, coaching, and program activities.

Not at all. Peer coaching is designed to feel approachable and comfortable for students. We ask coaches to dress in a way that is professional and not overly formal - think "presentable student," not business suit. For most sessions, clean, business casual attire is fine. If you're helping with an outreach event or class presentation, you will be asked to wear program-branded apparel (like a polo or t-shirt we provide).

Yes. This is a paid student position through the Take Charge America Institute. You'll be compensated for all training, meetings, coaching sessions, and outreach activities, so every hour you invest in the program is paid.

Most coaching sessions focus on student-friendly financial topics like budgeting, credit basics, saving, student loans, and emergency funds. Sometimes students bring up questions that are outside our scope, such as investing advice or tax issues. In these cases, coaches do not give direct answers but instead help peers think through their goals and then connect them to campus and community resources.  

That's completely normal! Your role as a peer financial coach is to guide, not instruct. You are not expected to solve every problem or know every answer. Instead, you'll focus on asking good questions, listening carefully, and helping your peers discover their own next steps. Our weekly staff meetings and supervisor support will ensure you're never on your own when a challenging question comes up.

Financial Coaching Cats is more than just a job - it's a supportive learning community. You'll be a part of a team of PFP students who are passionate about financial wellness and helping others. Weekly staff meetings are a space to learn together, share challenges, and celebrate wins. You'll find that the team environment is one of the best parts of the program.

We ask peer coaches to commit to at least two consecutive semesters. This helps ensure continuity for the students you coach, gives you time to grow your coaching skills, and builds a stronger team culture within Financial Coaching Cats.

Yes. Many of our coaches are also engaged in student organizations, leadership roles, research, volunteering, or other extracurricular commitments. The key is being able to commit at least 5 hours per week, with flexibility to work up to 10 hours when coaching sessions are scheduled. The program is designed to be flexible so you can grow as a coach while staying active in other parts of campus life. And if your other commitments ever become too demanding, you can always speak with the program supervisor to adjust your schedule or hours to maintain balance.

Absolutely. Peer coaching is meant to compliment your academic journey, not compete with it. Most coaches balance their role with a full course load, and many find that the skills they gain - like time management, communication, and problem solving - actually strengthen their academic performance. As long as you can consistently set aside 5 to 10 hours per week, you can successfully participate in the program while keeping up with your coursework. If academic demands ever become overwhelming, you can always speak with the program supervisor to adjust your schedule, reduce hours, or move hours around to ensure your academics remain a priority.