TPC Financial Coaching

10/29/2026

🎃👻 The scariest thing about Halloween?

Apparently, it’s not ghosts, goblins, or things that go bump in the night…

It’s your husband sneaking up behind you with a budget, a stack of bills, and the words:

“Hey babe, got a minute to talk about our finances?” 💀💰😂

Shannon has survived a lot of scary things in life, but apparently nothing compares to being married to a financial coach who thinks discussing Roth IRAs is quality time. 🤣

In my defense, financial freedom is pretty romantic. ❤️💵

Happy Halloween from the Cooneys! 🎃

10/28/2026

💚 6 YEARS OF MARRIAGE. 6 MONEY LESSONS. ONE INCREDIBLE PARTNER. 💍

Six years ago, I married my best friend, Shannon. And while I spend a lot of time teaching others about financial wellness, I can assure you that marriage has taught me a few lessons of its own. 😂

We've experienced plenty of life's milestones together. From getting engaged and saying "I do," to building a home, welcoming Waffles into our family, and eventually receiving our greatest blessing, our daughter Keely. ❤️

And somewhere along the way, we've learned that building a strong marriage and building a strong financial future have quite a bit in common.

💚 Communication matters.

💚 Shared goals keep you moving in the same direction.

💚 Financial security creates peace of mind.

💚 You're teammates, not opponents.

💚 The future is worth investing in.

💚 And perhaps most importantly, don't forget to enjoy the journey.

Because here's something I believe more than ever:

Money is a tool. It's not the destination.

You can have the perfect budget, a paid-off house, and a healthy retirement account. But none of it means nearly as much without the people you love beside you.

So today, I'm taking off the financial coaching hat for just a moment to celebrate the woman who has been by my side through it all.

Happy 6th anniversary, Shannon! ❤️

Here's to the memories we've made, the life we're building, and the many chapters still ahead.

And yes, even a financial coach is still learning a thing or two about marriage. 😉

👉 Swipe through for six financial lessons inspired by six years of marriage.

10/27/2026

🚨 PUBLIC SAFETY FRIENDS — I COULD USE YOUR HELP!

Here's a question worth asking:

We spend our careers preparing for emergencies on the job. But how prepared are we for financial emergencies at home?

That's exactly the kind of conversation I'm trying to better understand through my 2026 Public Safety Financial Wellness Survey.

I've been fortunate to travel, teach, and have some incredible conversations with first responders about money, debt, retirement, financial stress, and everything in between.

But personal experiences and classroom conversations only tell part of the story.

I want the data to help tell the rest.

👮 Law Enforcement
🚒 Fire
🚑 EMS
🎧 Dispatch
🛡️ Corrections
🤝 Other Public Safety Professionals

We're making a final push to gather additional responses before wrapping up this research.

No sales pitch. No products. Just real people sharing real experiences to help strengthen financial wellness in our profession.

👉 Take the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf56Z24pT6Wav6mEJPWNz8RVwe5k-d4QWp9PtnxG0VO9PLRiw/viewform?usp=header

And please SHARE this post with anyone you know in public safety. One share could reach an entire department!

10/26/2026

💰 $150,000 a year… and still living paycheck to paycheck?

It happens more than you might think.

Especially in public safety, where overtime, specialty assignments, and extra-duty jobs can create some pretty impressive paychecks.

But here’s something I remind people during my financial wellness trainings:

Making good money and being good WITH money are two very different things.

I’ve seen how easy it is for lifestyle inflation to creep in.

A raise? New car.

More overtime? Bigger house.

Promotion? More subscriptions, toys, and monthly payments.

Before you know it, that bigger paycheck is already spoken for before it even hits your bank account.

And here’s the kicker…

What happens when the overtime dries up? Or you get injured? Or you simply decide you want more time at home with your family?

Your financial plan shouldn’t depend on working yourself into the ground.

Financial freedom isn’t about looking wealthy. It’s about having options.

💬 Curious what everyone thinks: Is lifestyle inflation a bigger financial problem than people realize?

10/22/2026

What's scarier than Dracula showing up at your door in October?

Having $50,000 sitting in savings while car loans, credit cards, and other debt payments keep draining your paycheck.

I've had this conversation with first responders more times than I can count.

They've worked hard to build their savings. But when we start talking about eliminating some of those monthly payments, the answer is often:

"I don't want to touch my savings."

I get it. But is that savings balance giving you financial security—or just making you feel secure?

I'm not suggesting you drain your emergency fund. I'm suggesting we take a closer look at what those payments are costing us.

My latest blog tackles this exact situation.

There's peace of mind in having money in the bank. There's also peace of mind in not owing everybody a piece of your paycheck.

Read it here:
https://www.tpcfinancialcoaching.com/blog/why-are-you-still-broke

10/22/2026

10/19/2026

🚔 COACH TPC SAYS: Who really owns your overtime check?

Let's talk about something we don't discuss enough in law enforcement.

Overtime is practically a way of life. Court, staffing shortages, special assignments, details… there's almost always another opportunity to make a few extra bucks.

And there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking advantage of it.

But here's the uncomfortable question:

Are you working overtime to get ahead, or are you working overtime just to keep up?

There's a BIG difference.

When your car payment, credit cards, mortgage, and regular expenses require extra shifts every month, overtime stops being an opportunity and starts becoming an obligation.

And that obligation comes at a cost.

Time with your family. Days off. Rest. Your ability to say no.

The goal isn't to never work overtime.

The goal is to build a financial life where overtime is a CHOICE, not a NECESSITY.

That's what financial wellness is really about.

What's your take? Is overtime helping you move forward, or just keeping you afloat?

10/18/2026

TPC Financial Coaching LLC is conducting this research project to better understand financial wellness challenges within the public safety profession and the financial wellness education and resources currently available to public safety employees. This survey is open to active public safety profess...

10/17/2026

🚨 That credit card interest rate isn’t playing around. 💳💸

I’m not here to tell you to cut up every credit card you own. But I am here to show you how quickly a balance can turn into a financial hostage situation when high interest rates enter the chat. 😂

Today marked YEAR TWO of bringing financial wellness training to the Lake in the Hills Police Department! 👮‍♂️🍀

This one hits a little differently. Lake in the Hills isn’t just another agency on my calendar. It’s the community I call home.

Knowing the officers who serve and protect my family and neighbors are being equipped to make confident financial decisions? That’s pretty darn meaningful.

Thank you, LITH PD, for inviting me back for round two! And thank you to 100 Club of Illinois for sponsoring this training!

Protect the community. Protect your financial future. 💚

10/17/2026

💥 Murphy Doesn’t Care About Your Budget!

I wrapped up a coaching session yesterday with a family that’s only in month TWO of our financial coaching program.

We’ve been putting in the work. Building a budget, organizing their debt snowball, and intentionally setting aside some money as a buffer.

Nothing flashy. Nothing complicated. Just making their money work for them instead of wondering where it all went.

And then Murphy came knocking. 🚗💥

Car accident. Not their fault. Other driver uninsured. $500 deductible.

Here’s the part I love.

A few months ago, this would’ve likely meant another $500 on a credit card. Another bill. Another setback.

But not this time.

They had the money sitting in savings.

Was it frustrating to use that hard-earned cushion? Of course! Nobody enjoys watching their savings account go backward.

But that’s what the money was there for!

Now we replenish that buffer, continue attacking the debt snowball, and keep moving forward.

I told them this was a WIN. And I meant it.

Financial success doesn’t mean life stops throwing curveballs. It means you’re better prepared to handle them.

Sometimes the biggest financial victories aren’t about how much money you make or how much debt you pay off. They’re about the debt you DON’T have to take on.

That’s why I love doing this work. 💚

TPC Financial Coaching
Money Stress to Financial Success