Welcome, Recent Graduates

Personalized Financial Coaching with Justin Jarrell

Hi—I’m Justin Jarrell, a Financial Coach based in Bellingham, WA. I work with recent college graduates who are tired of feeling overwhelmed, behind, or unsure what to do next with their money.

Whether you just landed your first job, are staring down student loans, or still feel like you missed the class on “how to adult,” you deserve a simple plan that fits your real life. I’ll help you build practical skills—like budgeting, paying off debt, saving for emergencies, and making confident financial decisions—one step at a time.

Current rate: $95–$110 per 60-minute session

Introductory calls are always free. Let’s start where you are and move forward—together.

Picture of Justin Jarrell, Financial Coach, at his desk; he coaches budget skills, how to get out of debt, how to save, how to plan for retirement

Send inquiries to: justin@wealthandwisdomcoaching.com, or

What I Coach

As a Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach, I help recent college graduates learn how to budget, save, and spend with purpose—without the stress or guesswork.

My coaching is practical, personal, and focused on real progress. I don’t sell products or give investment advice—I teach you the skills to take control of your money now and build a strong foundation for the future.

If you're out of college but still feeling stuck, you're not alone. If these sound familiar, you’re in the right place:

  • Your job offers a retirement plan, but it may as well be written in another language.

    With coaching:

    • Understand retirement basics

    • Choose the right options for your goals

    • Start investing with confidence

    Starting early is more powerful than starting big.

  • You’re ready for your own space, but rent, deposits, and setup costs feel impossible.

    I can help you:

    • Set a clear savings goal for first month, deposit, and essentials

    • Delay the move until your starter emergency fund is built

    • Budget out your future rent and bills so nothing catches you off guard

    Independence is doable—but not if you skip the foundation.

  • You avoid checking the balances. The payments are random. Interest is eating you alive.

    With coaching:

    • List your debts from smallest to largest—no judgment

    • Cut unnecessary spending so you can attack them with intensity

    • Build momentum with quick wins (hello, smallest credit card balance)

    Debt freedom isn’t about math—it’s about small wins and motivation.

  • You make more now—but it seems to disappear the second it hits your account.

    Let me help you:

    • Create a zero-based budget that gives every dollar a job

    • Get current on bills so you’re not always playing catch-up

    • Build in margin so you’re not over-drafting by the 20th

    Making money doesn’t fix the problem—managing it does.

  • A surprise medical bill. A flat tire. Your job cut hours. Suddenly you’re short on rent.

    Coaching will help you:

    • Build your first $1,000 emergency fund fast—before anything else

    • Use a separate account so you don’t “accidentally” spend it

    • Pause extra debt payments until this cushion is in place

    You don’t need $10k to feel secure—just a starter fund you don’t touch.

  • You’re constantly stressed. One wrong move and you’re back at zero.

    With coaching:

    • Build a full emergency fund (3–6 months of expenses) after debt is gone

    • Use sinking funds for things like car repairs, holidays, and travel

    • Track every dollar with a budget that works before payday

    Peace comes when your money stops controlling you.

  • Your current car barely runs. You feel stuck between junkers and bad loans.

    Coaching can help you:

    • Save cash toward your next car instead of financing it

    • Plan for insurance, taxes, and maintenance—not just the sticker price

    • Upgrade slowly—debt-free, every time

    The car is a tool. Not a financial trap.

  • You’re scared to use credit cards. Or you already messed up and feel stuck.

    I’ll coach you to:

    • Pay off debt instead of chasing points or rewards

    • Avoid cosigning, balance transfers, and personal loans

    Credit isn’t the goal—freedom is.

  • Money makes you anxious because no one ever showed you what to do.

    With coaching:

    • Learn the exact order to handle your money: emergency fund → debt → savings → investing

    • Build habits now so you don’t keep restarting

    • Ask anything—no shame, no fluff, no lectures

    You don’t need to figure it out alone.

  • You’re told to save, but between rent, debt, and gas money, there’s nothing left—and no clear goal.

    With coaching:

    • Start with your $1,000 emergency fund—before saving for anything else

    • Build a clear savings path: starter fund → debt freedom → full emergency fund

    • Avoid saving for a vacation while you’re still putting groceries on a credit card

    Saving works best when it follows the right order. Security first—extras later.

  • You’re splitting rent, dinners, and trips—but no one talks about what they can actually afford. It’s awkward. Sometimes it feels unfair.

    Let’s:

    • Set financial boundaries that protect your goals—even if friends spend differently

    • Say “I can’t swing that right now” without guilt or shame

    • Stick to your budget even when peer pressure shows up

    Peace with money often starts by telling the truth—kindly and clearly.

  • It’s a big check. You want to be smart with it, but the temptation to blow it is real. This is very common.

    With coaching:

    • Make a step-by-step plan before the money hits your account

    • Put the refund toward your emergency fund or debt—not just brunch and impulse buys

    • Split the money with purpose: stability now, fun later

    A tax refund isn’t a bonus—it’s your money coming back. Use it to move forward, not just catch up.

About Your Coach

After graduating college, I relocated to Washington, DC for my first job. The paychecks felt big—until rent, groceries, and real life kicked in. I was living in an expensive city, paycheck to paycheck, and totally unprepared.

My first manager gave me some solid advice about setting up my 401(k). I didn’t totally understand it, but I knew compound interest mattered, so I set it up anyway. At the same time, I had $12,000 in student loans coming due—and those six months before the first payment hit were filled with stress and avoidance.

I thought I was saving, but I kept pulling the money right back out. I opened a credit card “to build credit” and barely kept up with the payments. I wasn’t tracking my spending, and even though I was earning a decent income, I had no plan. A couple years in, I realized I had nothing saved, debt hanging over me, and no real strategy.

If I had known about the Baby Steps, I would have started by saving $1,000 fast. I would’ve focused all my energy on knocking out that student loan. I would’ve built a real emergency fund before worrying about retirement accounts or credit scores. What I needed back then was a coach—someone to help me slow down, get focused, and take one clear step at a time.

That’s what I offer now. I’ll meet you where you are, help you make sense of your money, and guide you forward—on your timeline, at your pace.

I’m a Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach and currently pursuing the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) designation through the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education® (AFCPE®).

My Coaching Process

The paychecks started coming in—but so did rent, student loans, and real-world expenses no one warned you about. My coaching helps you build a plan for your money that actually works, starting with the basics and moving step by step.

1. Free Intro Call (15 min)

We’ll talk about where you’re at, what you’re up against, and whether coaching makes sense for you. Totally casual. No strings attached.

2. Pick What Works for You:

Option A: Coaching Game Plan (60 min - $95 per session)

First—Discovery Session
We’ll get everything on the table—your income, spending, debt, savings, and goals—and build a clear, doable plan that fits your life right now.

Then—Ongoing Coaching Sessions
In future sessions, we’ll walk through budgeting with purpose, saving your first $1,000 quickly, knocking out debt with a real strategy, building a full emergency fund, and getting ready to invest once the foundation is solid. It’s all about doing the right things, in the right order—without the stress or confusion.

Option B: Ad-Hoc Coaching (60 min – $105)

Got one big money question? Whether it’s how to budget your first real income, tackle student loans, or make sense of your 401(k), we’ll break it down and give you a plan to move forward—without the overwhelm.