Your Money, Your Goals - A financial empowerment toolkit for social services programs.

MODULE 3:

Starting the conversation

Starting the conversation

If financial empowerment is not a

part of your regular work with clients,

knowing when to bring up the topic

can be a challenge at first. Ways to

start the conversation include:

 Using the existing assessment

tool in intake or assessment

meetings with clients

 Making the most of shorter

discussions you have with

clients to introduce a tool or

make a referral

 Integrating financial

empowerment into

organizational programs or

procedures

 Following up with clients

when they bring up financial

issues directly or indirectly

Everyone has questions about money. Even the
wealthiest people in the world may turn to
someone when they have financial questions.

It can be difficult, though, to talk about money,
even with people that you know well. It can feel
uncomfortable to raise the topic of personal
finance because it’s so personal. Because the
subject of money is deeply personal, it can seem
even more difficult to talk about it with clients
that you don’t know well.

But you talk with clients all the time about other
personal issues. Talking about money can get
easier if you start the conversation with
your clients at the right time in a way that
acknowledges their desire to have control
over their own lives. By approaching financial
issues in a non-judgmental way, you will build
trust that allows you to work with clients to
address their financial challenges.

Most people are working to get their financial
houses in order. But even if you are among the
few who have never had money struggles
yourself, chances are that you’ve seen someone
you care about struggle with financial issues.