Sharie Mathiesen, TMCC FLAME$

Below is our interview with Shari Mathiesen, NSHE Specialist II for Financial Literacy & Default Prevention for Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC).  Shari oversees the FLAME$ program and is in charge of student loan default prevention. Here is our interview…

How has the OA-NV Financial Coach Training influenced your work at TMCC?

The financial coaching I received through OA-NV has influenced my work tremendously.  I now have the tools to assist students in becoming financially fit, as well as helping them find ways to pay for college.  Through the Financial Coaching Training I learned not only financial literacy basics but how values and culture influence financial decisions.  I now have the tools to teach the FLAME$ Peer Mentors how to coach students in financial literacy topics that are important to the

How do you use financial coaching at TMCC?

I use the knowledge I gained to teach the Financial Literacy Peer Mentors here at TMCC to coach and assist students with financial goals.

We use many of the tools highlighted in the OA-NV Financial Coaching training such as the SMART Goal Worksheet, the Financial Wheel, the Money Priorities Chart along with many other activities taught at the training.

I also assist student employees with their own financial goals to help reduce the stress money can cause so they can focus on their education.  When not worried about debt and other financial issues students are usually more successful and are more likely to complete their degree.

Do you feel that financial coaching is effective?

Financial coaching is a very effective tool in helping students learn about money.  We use the Center for Financial Security’s Financial Capability Scale at the beginning and end of our coaching sessions.  Students almost always score higher when completing the scale for the second time.  At TMCC we also conduct an entrance and exit interview to gauge what a student got out of the coaching sessions.  The results are always positive and students leave the sessions with the tools needed to help them be successful with managing their money.

Do you have any comments you would like to share with those thinking of taking the OA-NV Financial Coach Training?

I went through the very first training offered in 2015.  I enjoyed it so much I wanted to repeat it a few years later.  Unfortunately due to time constraints I was not able to do that.  I learned so many valuable skills which a lot of people take for granted.  It is surprising how many students don’t know how to budget and save and don’t know much about about credit cards, and credit reports and scores.  Although learning about money matters is very important, it was the soft skills I gained that were a game changer for me.  Being able to talk to people about money on a level they are comfortable with is invaluable.  Listening, being objective and how to tailor each coaching session to meet the needs of the student are skills that I don’t believe i would have learned in other financial coaching models.

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