Best friends makeover: Month 1

Finances
Meet the coach: Jennifer Kirby is a certified financial planner with a passion for making sense out of complex financial situations. The principal at Calgary's Kirby Financial Group Inc., she has 11 years' experience in the industry and a proven track record for helping clients clarify their unique personal and financial objectives.

Tanya
Coach's comment:
"Tanya is losing sleep, literally, worrying about her finances. By consolidating and restructuring some of her debt and by working on her other objectives over the next year, we will help her find a way to rest easier."

Objectives:
• Start paying off portions of her credit card debt, line of credit from the bank and student loans.
• Purchase a home.
• Save for Kesler's education.
• Save for retirement.
• Learn about finances and financial matters. Tanya (as well as Tracy) will be on her own after the makeover wraps up in a year and needs to learn how to save and invest by herself.

Action plan:
• Identify short- and long-term goals.
• Meet with Jennifer regularly.
• Share goals with Tracy for support and for accountability.

Strategies:
• Restructure credit card and other debt if possible (talk to Credit Counseling Services of Alberta).
• Review options (with the Government of Alberta) for various options on student loan repayment.
• Review will and estate needs (with Leanne Cherry, a lawyer with Underwood Cherry Gilholme, Estate Lawyers in Calgary).
• Review existing insurance.
• Develop savings strategy and investment plan for when loans are paid off.
• Gradually familiarize herself with money-saving vehicles such as RRSPs and mutual funds.

Tracy
Coach's comment:
"Tracy's mounting debt is creating a lot of stress in her life. By helping her clarify her options, she will have a clear vision and plan for the future."

Objectives:
• Pay off credit card debt, student loans, skating club dues from son's figure skating training and Alberta health-care premiums in arrears (Alberta residents pay a premium).
• Take Spencer on a vacation in the next year to 18 months.
• Save for retirement.
• Learn about finances and financial matters.

Action plan:
• Prioritize objectives.
• Meet with Jennifer regularly.
• Share goals with Tanya for support and accountability.

Strategies:
• Review and explore credit card debt and debt restructuring options through Credit Counseling Services of Alberta, as well as options for student loan repayment through the Government of Ontario.
• Develop savings strategy and investment plan to implement once loans are paid off.
• Review and update will and estate needs with Leanne Cherry.
• Review existing insurance.
• Review benefit plan and identify shortfalls in coverage.
• Gradually familiarize herself with money-saving vehicles such as RRSPs and mutual funds.
• Develop a firm budget and track monthly spending to monitor where her money is going.

Career
Meet the coach: Gimalle Crawford is a career coach in Calgary who specializes in assisting her clients to identify their talents, skills and natural abilities so they can find challenging and fulfilling employment opportunities. Gimalle spent 25 years as a police officer prior to retiring and completing a master's degree in leadership development. Her company is called The Women's Edge.

Tanya and Tracy
Coach's comment:
"Tracy is at a point in her life where work is more than just a means to an end. She's looking for something particularly meaningful that makes her feel great about getting up every morning.

"Tanya is at her best when she's helping other people. Her genuine desire to make a difference in someone's life is one of her main sources of inspiration."

Objectives:
(Tracy and Tanya have the same objectives and strategies.)
• Obtain a fulfilling job that meets financial needs.
• Obtain a position that evokes passion so they wake up excited to go to work.

Action plan:
• Meet or talk to coach every two to three weeks.

Strategies:
• Use reflection, inquiry and dialogue to identify specific activities and tasks that energize each woman.
• Explore current skills, talents and strengths with Gimalle.
• Pinpoint specific skill sets and natural abilities and start identifying the right fits for work.
• Identify and explore career opportunities that support and require those tasks and activities.
• Use each other as a sounding board; for example, when working through tough sections of homework questions Gimalle has assigned.
• Explore networking strategies to plug into career areas of their choice.
• Rework résumés to focus on strengths and interests.

Image (fashion and beauty)
Meet the coach: Astrid DesLandes is a personal development coach, corporate consultant and president of Belle Vie Seminars. Born and raised in France, Astrid coaches individuals and organizations on many areas, including the importance of image in their personal and professional lives.

Tanya and Tracy
Coach's comment:
"Tanya's wardrobe and style are currently more utilitarian than stylish for practical reasons. As she gets into better shape, she'll benefit from clothes that can carry her over a couple of sizes or can be altered as she is losing weight."

"Tracy wants to learn how to better integrate all the great pieces of clothing that she has a knack for finding in vintage and consignment stores. An analysis of her body type and what clothes look best on her will help her choose pieces that can work together easily and stylishly."

Objectives:
• Update image (hair, makeup and wardrobe) within budget and for ease and simplicity in day-to-day life.

Action plan:
• Meet with or talk to Astrid regularly and before special events.

Strategies:
• Update hair, skin care and makeup.
• Audit clothes closets.
• Look at how to create different outfits with key clothing pieces.
• Define a clothing style that best fits each woman's body type.
• Create wardrobe for specific occasions including dating and job interviews.

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Photo by Roth and Ramberg