What led you to a career in personal finance? And what inspires you to continue doing this work today?:

I joke that I listened to the wrong parent when I was deciding what I wanted to study in college. One parent suggested I follow my heart into something creative, and the other parent suggested I pursue something more practical. I ended up studying accounting and becoming a CPA with a PFS designation, and I added the AFC to capture the human side of money. Now I get to do both things – follow my heart into the creative industry and (practically and lovingly) help people with their money.

How did you learn about the AFC certification, and why did you decide to pursue the certification?:

I finished the financial therapy certificate program at Kansas State University online, and learned about the AFCPE through the professors and other students. I really appreciated having a designation that was focused on applying technical knowledge in a human-centric way.

What have you enjoyed most about the program so far, and/or what would you say to someone considering pursuing the AFC?:

Do it! The AFCPE overall is a tremendous organization doing really wonderful things in the world of finance. It includes practitioners, educators, and researchers, and the diversity of perspectives and practices is inspiring. Plus, advising clients is not something you should do alone — It takes a community of support to excel, and the AFC community provides that support.

Tell us about a project or initiative you are currently working on.:

I’m just wrapping up the final research report on a six-month program for creative business owners in West Virginia, and the program’s impact still takes my breath away. The confidence gained by the participants, the way they diversified their income, and the way they built habits and systems is inspiring.

Next up is expanding the library of resources and courses I offer… And probably hiring a few additional AFCs, so if someone is looking to work with creative individuals, get in touch!

What is the best way to connect with you (social links, etc.)?:

My website is MinervaFinancialArts.com, and I’m findable on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainegroganluttrull/) and Instagram (@MinervaFinArts). Truthfully, though, email is the best way to get directly to me.

My Name: Noel Morrell

My Work: Certification Coordinator

My Roots: I’ve lived in 6 states so far, and still counting since I’m a military spouse.

My Passion: Empowering people to attain their financial goals through financial literacy, support, and resource guidance.

My Favorite Quote: “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” -John Muir.

My Hobbies: I enjoy hiking, gardening, traveling, reading, and watching F1.

My Favorite Personal Finance Resource: Mint has always been my go-to, a great resource for budgeting, and net worth tracking.

What led you to AFCPE? The opportunity to be a part of a team that shares my passion for financial wellness.

What are you most excited about in your new role? Supporting candidates in their certification journey.

What led you to a career in personal finance? And what inspires you to continue doing this work today?

I noticed that the people I was working with in my mental health counseling profession were also struggling with finances. It got me to thinking about ways that I could work with them to address those financial concerns as they were connected to some of the other problems we were working through. I also knew that I wanted to be able to speak from a place of training and not just the things that I have done in my own life. That led me to applying for the FINRA Foundation Fellowship for 2022 and obtaining my AFC®️ designation.

The thing that inspires me to continue this work is the overall satisfaction that I get from being able to assit my clients from a truly holistic posture, integrating my training as a mental health and financial counselor, with my additional training as a certified personal trainer. Seeing the transformation my clients make is something that will never get old for me.

How did you learn about the AFC certification, and why did you decide to pursue the certification?

I learned about the AFC certification back in 2016, when I was wrapping up my training to become a mental health counselor. At the time, I was not looking to put anything additional on my plate, but always knew that I would come back to it eventually. In the beginning of 2022, I was in a place where I knew that I could devote myself to completing the process to become an AFC and applied for the FINRA Foundation Fellowship scholarship.

What have you enjoyed most about the program so far, and/or what would you say to someone considering pursuing the AFC?

I have enjoyed everything about the process. I also got to meet some pretty cool people. The biggest thing I enjoyed was going through Coaching Capabilities with Andi Wrenn. What I would say to anyone considering pursuing the AFC is do it. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to support clients take strides towards financial stability.

Tell us about a project or initiative you are currently working on.

I am currently working on developing some content geared towards increasing awareness of the basics of personal and behavioral finance.

What is the best way to connect with you (social links, etc.)?

LinkedIn is the best way to reach out to me. I am on there as Brandon Shurn, Ph.D., LCPC, LMHC, AFC®️, NCC.