Jill McMenamin Ross

Finding Financial Wellness

Money shouldn’t be a stressful subject – and if your immediate thought is, “yes, but it is,” it’s time to dig into why you feel that way, says Jill McMenamin Ross, founder of Flow Financial Therapy and Advising.

Jill McMenamin Ross, CEO, Flow Financial Therapy and Advising

“Money is such a fundamental part of people’s lives,” says Ross. “But for some reason, nobody wants to talk about it. It’s time we change that.”

There’s so much more to analyzing your finances than just tracking money coming in and out of your account, she says. Beneath the surface of every transaction are emotions and financial perceptions that influence your decisions – even if you can’t see it at the time. And a lot of those emotions can be what’s holding you back from being financially healthy. That’s where financial therapy, coaching, advising and planning come into play.

“You can go to a therapist or a marriage counselor and talk about money being a major stress in your life, but they don’t have the expertise to give you the knowledge and resources you need to take back control of your money,” says Ross.

“People carry a lot of stress about money based on their history with finances. If you grew up never having to worry about money or if your family lived paycheck-to-paycheck, that will have a significant impact on your perceptions of money long into your adulthood,” says Ross. “That’s what I want to dig into.”

Financial therapy is much more than wealth management – although Ross’ 27 years of experience in banking and wealth management means she can certainly dive into that as well. This unique therapy focuses on understanding what impacts your financial habits so you can adjust those behaviors (and improve your ability to communicate about those behaviors) to reach your financial goals.

“Money is such a fundamental part of people’s lives. But for some reason, no one wants to talk about it. It’s time we change that.”

Providing this therapy is a way for Ross to combine her background in social work, for which she holds a master’s degree, with her career in finance. Since launching Flow Financial Therapy and Advising in May, Ross has received an outpouring of interest and support, she says.

“This is the piece that’s been missing in commercial finance for so long,” she says. “I’ve always felt there was a knowledge gap between financial experts and our clients. I was always looking for ways to make financial knowledge easy and accessible to everyone, not just people who were already wealthy.” “

This is something everyone can benefit from,” she adds. “When we get to know our own relationship with money, we get to know ourselves better too, and it makes reaching our goals – both financially and personally – that much more attainable.”

3 Tips on Assessing Your Financial Wellbeing

Learn to talk about money with your partner

One of the biggest stressors in a relationship, says Ross, is money. “You should be able to talk with your partner about what your financial goals are and how you will reach them,” says Ross. “That cuts down on all the fights and animosity that comes with looking at your bank accounts to see what the other person spent.”

Set intentions

Being financially healthy is going to look different for everyone, says Ross, and it won’t necessarily mean you have a lot of money in the bank. Most of the time, it’s feeling like you have enough to be secure. Ross’ therapy will help you discover what “secure” means for you.

“Is it feeling like you don’t have to worry about the bills every month? Knowing that you can cover expenses without having to give up your vacation or regular manicures? Whatever it is, there’s no judgment,” Ross says. “Knowing where you want to go is the key to taking the steps to get there.”

Reflect

Set aside time to analyze where your money is going and why you made the choice to spend the way you did. “This will give you unexpected insight into what really matters to you, or what you’re afraid of that’s holding you back,” says Ross.