Interactive. Experiential. Client Driven.

Sage Financial Solutions delivers a program that provides you with the skills and techniques to build upon your financial foundation and support clients as they make lasting financial behavior change.

Financial Fitness CoachProgram

Build the skills. Deepen the learning. Focus on mastery.

Hold the Dates: Next training begins on December 2, 9 and 16, 2021. Registration opens October 14, 2021.

What is the FFC^® program?

The Financial Fitness Coach certification program models the coaching methodology by meeting you and supporting your professional development on your terms with our team of mentor coaches. Financial Coaching works to narrow the gap between what people know and what they do; it illuminates—through thoughtful questioning—what gets in the way of meeting life goals. The certification is comprised of 3 distinct modules. Each module of training builds upon the last to enhance the viability of our programming. Complete all three to obtain your FFC^® certification in as little as 6 months! Rolling Admissions.

“The two-day training gives you the foundation, but more important than that are the opportunities to practice. The FFC^® is uniquely set up to really give that practitioner the confidence to bring the value of all those skills and techniques to the client.”

FFC^® Participant

Before You Enroll

Requirements:

The FFC^® coaching certification requires financial knowledge to understand the content in practice case studies and pursue how financial information lives in the client’s life. This requirement may be fulfilled as a corequisite.
Certification is crucial to protect against incomplete advice from non-experts. Certified professionals set and hold high standards, so consumers know what to expect regarding education, experience, and ethics.
Do you qualify? Not sure whether you meet these requirements? Explore our pathways of completion to learn more.

Module 1 - Coaching Foundation

Upon completion, you’ll be able to take the core essentials of financial coaching and put them into practice.

Module 2 - Coaching Applications

Deepening the Learning (~15 hours)
Online Learning Labs deepen your understanding of the core skills
Self-paced videos, assignments, discussions, and quizzes help you absorb the content
Assess your skills by submitting recorded coaching sessions with self-critiques

This training builds upon Coaching Essentials, taking a deeper look at each skill and technique, providing guidance as you develop your coaching skills.

Module 3 - Coaching Mastery

Final Steps to Certification – (~22 Hours + 100 Experience Hours)
2 day live virtual training
Online sessions with a Mentor Coach to ask questions and work through case studies
Complete and report required experience hours
Demonstrate your skills by submitting a recorded session for evaluation

Coaching Mastery takes your training to the next level through exam, experience, ethics and a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Is it Right For You?
Why the FFC^® Program?

The FFC^® program is a great fit for anyone who wants to become a Financial Coach or use coaching skills in their work as an educator, counselor, or planner. Whether you are starting your career or seeking to add to your professional skillset, this program can help you tie your financial content and client communication together to support your clients in creating healthy financial habits.

“The FFC^® is the perfect complement to the AFC. After acquiring the foundational financial information needed to be of value to my clients, the FFC^® allows me to partner with my clients in a way that gives them a safe space to journey deeper into their relationship with money."

FFC^® Participant

Interactive Virtual Learning Advantage

This program is unlike any other virtual course you’ve taken before! The content is not passive — it requires active listening and participation. You will be able to practice your new skills during online sessions with a Mentor Coach. Submit recordings of your coaching sessions, for critique. Enjoy our rigorous online Learning Labs with self-paced videos and assessments to help you absorb the content. All the while building your confidence in your competence by submitting recorded coaching sessions for self-critique and feedback.

FFC^® Building Blocks...

Interactive, experiential, client-driven
Three modules of training each building upon the last to enhance effectiveness with clients
Requires that you are/become a financial expert so you can build skills upon a strong knowledge base. (Note: This requirement may be completed simultaneously with the FFC^® certification program but it must be completed before the completion of Module 3: Coaching Mastery in order to receive certification.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Must I register for all parts of the program at once?

Not necessarily. Each coaching module can be taken sequentially by itself for professional development purposes or to get a feel for the financial coaching profession.

To receive the FFC^® certification, trainees must complete all three required Modules and fulfill the financial knowledge co-requisite.

**co-requisite – a course or other requirement that a student must take at the same time as another course or requirement.

What is the flexibility of the program?

All FFC^® Courses are facilitated in a hybrid structure (also known as blended courses) with web-based online learning (e.g., video lectures, online discussions, or activities). All Modules are a combination of live training, mentor coaching sessions, and self-paced course work and fieldwork experience. Great for working professionals!

How do I know which pathway is right for me?

There are 4 possible pathways to completing the FFC^® Certification.

Fresh Start Pathway may be for you if you need to complete the financial knowledge corequisite, are looking for financial content, and coach training.

Financial Professionals Pathway aligns with the financial professional who meets the corequisite and is in need of the coach training.

Coaching Professionals pathway supports those that may hold a coaching certification and are looking for financial specific coach training as well as financial content.

Head Start Pathway supports seasoned professionals who hold financial and coaching certifications looking for financial specific coach training.

FFC®️ Financial Knowledge Corequisites

Applicants must provide evidence of FFC^® approved co-req from the approved list: AFCPE’s Money Management Essentials course (MME) (Our recommendation for minimum, entry-level) AFC^® (Our usual recommendation) CFP^® ChFC^® CFA^® CPA^® **If you have a question about a certification not listed please contact us to see if it meets the criteria.

What is the #FinFitCrew saying?

I feel more equipped to make tangible changes and implement new practices to be a better partner with my clients in their journey.

The two-day training gives you the foundation, but more important than that are the opportunities to practice. The FFC^® is uniquely set up to really give that practitioner the confidence to bring the value of all those skills and techniques to the client.

There are times when the best thing I can do for my client is coach them and stay in a coaching lane. Other times, it’s best for me to counsel. Having an ability to leverage both and implement techniques from both on the spot helps me become a better practitioner.

After acquiring the foundational financial information needed to be of value to my clients, the FFC^® allows me to partner with my clients in a way that gives them a safe space to journey deeper into their relationship with money. Rather than telling the client what to do, I have the privilege of experiencing the why they do what they do on their journey to how they plan to change.