Are you a talented freelancer, artist, or entrepreneur, yet when it comes to money, it feels like a confusing, stressful mess? Don’t worry, I have worked with many clients that feel overwhelmed by their (irregular) finances, despite making good money. The problem here often is not just about knowing what to do, it really about actually following through and making financial decisions that align with your goals.

Most financial advice focuses on one thing: financial literacy such as learning how to budget, save, invest, and grow wealth. And while that is important, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. We focus on real financial confidence and that requires a combination of three key elements:

1. Financial Literacy: Understanding the basics: budgeting, saving, investing, taxes, and wealth-building.

2. Behavioral Finance: Recognizing how biases (like loss aversion and impulse spending) influence your decisions.

3. Financial Psychology: Understanding your emotional patterns, fears, and subconscious beliefs about money.

Often, even the smartest, most talented people struggle financially because they are missing one (or more) of these elements. Let’s break it down.

The 3 Missing Pieces That Keep People Stuck Financially

1. Financial Literacy: Knowing the Basics Important but it’s Often not Enough

Most people assume that once they “learn how money works,” their financial stress will disappear. They might take a budgeting workshop, try using an app, or read about investing, but still find themselves overwhelmed. Why? Because knowing and doing are two different things.

If you have ever thought, “I know I should save, but I just don’t know how,” financial literacy is probably not your only issue. Something deeper is at play.

2. Behavioral Finance: How Your Brain Tricks You

Without knowing, people tend to treat a hard-earned $1,000 different from a $1,000 tax refund or other windfall. This is called Mental Accounting, a concept by economist Richard Thaler. We are more likely to save money we worked hard for and more likely to spend unexpected windfalls, even though, logically, they are the same amount.

This is just one example of how our brains trick us into making irrational money choices. Other biases include:

• Present Bias: Prioritizing short-term pleasure over long-term stability (e.g., spending now instead of saving for retirement).

• Loss Aversion: Avoiding investing because the fear of losing money feels worse than the potential of growing it.

• Sunk Cost Fallacy: Continuing an expense because “I already spent so much” (like holding onto an expensive but unhelpful business tool).

Understanding these patterns helps you to overcome them and use your money in your best interest. To keep them prevailant we question them regularly to make sure that what you are deciding really is what accomplishes your goals.

3. Financial Psychology: Hidden Money Stories Holding You Back

Money is not just numbers, it is deeply emotional. Dr. Brad Klontz’s research on money scripts® shows that our beliefs about money form in childhood and shape our financial behaviors, often without us realizing it.

For example, if you grew up hearing:

• “Money doesn’t grow on trees,” you may subconsciously believe wealth is hard to attain.

• “Rich people are greedy,” you might feel guilty about earning more.

• “I deserve to enjoy my money now,” you could struggle with saving.

Even when you want to change your habits, these subconscious beliefs can sabotage your financial success. The key is identifying your patterns and rewiring them to support your goals.

A Client Who “Knew” What to Do But Still Struggled

One of my clients, a freelance filmmaker, earned well but never seemed to have money left at the end of the month. She knew that she should save for taxes and retirement, but she was not doing it. After working together, we discovered the following:

1. She had a mental bias that made her feel each new project would be “the big break,” so she overspent on reinvesting in her career.

2. Her financial psychology told her that “money is unpredictable,” so she did not believe in planning too far ahead.

Once we questioned and tackled these believes and built a system together that automatically separated her income into different “buckets” (expenses, savings, taxes, retirement), she finally felt more in control, without obsessing over budgeting. Today, we are still meeting to discuss income, expenditures, and plan for the months to come to make sure her money serves her highest purpose.

This is the difference between knowing about money and actually changing your relationship with it.

Why Most Financial Coaches & Advisors Miss This

Most financial professionals focus on one of these areas, either teaching budgeting, coaching mindset, or offering investment strategies. But the reality is, you need all three to truly change your financial life. That’s where I am different.

I will help you:

• Understand your unique financial psychology

• Build systems that align with your behaviors and most important: Goals

• Create a clear, structured approach to managing money

I take a holistic approach because managing finances with an irregular income is not just about numbers, it is much more about how you feel about money and the systems that support you.

Ready to Finally Feel in Control of Your Finances?

Imagine opening your banking app and feeling at peace. No stress, no confusion just confidence, clarity, and a clear plan.

If you are tired of feeling overwhelmed by money and ready to build a financial system that works for you, let’s talk. Book a free consultation today and start turning financial chaos into clarity.