Why it makes good business sense to partner with us
At KBK Wealth Connection, we understand that investing in coaching or consulting is vital to your success, but needs to come with a solid return on investment. Discover how Kathleen has influenced the advisors, business owners, and wealth management firms that have engaged with her and helped them achieve tangible business results.
Case Study: Michelle Francis, Life Story Financial
Michelle, the founder of Life Story Financial and a fee-only financial advisor, struggled to overcome hesitation in charging fees aligned with her worth. Recognizing that her challenge is a common one that women often face – a lack of confidence when negotiating salaries or setting fees – Michelle sought a female coach with expertise in this area and turned to Kathleen.
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Starting with one-to-one private coaching, Kathleen and Michelle delved into the psychology behind Michelle’s hesitations. As Michelle describes, the insights she gained played a pivotal role in “increasing my confidence when it comes to talking to prospects and telling them what I charge, really sticking to that and feeling confident asking for it.”
After Michelle participated in private coaching with Kathleen, she extended her journey by joining Kathleen’s group coaching program. Kathleen guided the group through exercises centered on their value stories in this setting and encouraged members to discuss the challenges in their businesses openly.
As Michelle notes, “Kathleen helped us feel comfortable being vulnerable about the challenges in our business while keeping things upbeat and ensuring that we were also talking about our successes. She’s particularly gifted in transforming challenges into a more positive light that helps us move forward.”
Results and Final Words from Michelle
Michelle notes that the impact of working with Kathleen has been long-lasting.
“Before coaching with KBK, I had a hard time ‘selling’ my financial planning services. Now, I am able to share with prospects how I add value to their lives and feel more confident doing so. I feel less pressure, and I am closing more sales and have doubled my revenue since working with her.”
Michelle refined her practice niche to serve mid-career women and “female-led households,” where women are the primary breadwinner and actively manage family finances. This specialized focus is highlighted on the Lifestory Financial homepage, and Michelle credits Kathleen for helping her coin the term.
Case Study: Rhomes Aur & Jackie Schultz, First Horizon Bank
For several years, First Horizon Bank has committed to enhancing services for female investors. The bank partnered with First Horizon Advisors to form a task force dedicated to researching and implementing innovative strategies. Rhomes Aur, CEO of First Horizon Advisors, Inc., and Jackie Schultz, Training and Development Consultant, struggled to find a consultant to partner with…
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…First Horizon to bring their initiative and vision to life. That was until they met Kathleen.
Jackie explains:
“As a woman with extensive experience in the financial services industry, Kathleen was truly the only consultant we found who embodied the essential qualities we sought. While there were corporations offering training, none possessed the unique perspective Kathleen brought to the table. Additionally, while some had experience, none matched her expertise as a woman with relevant experience in advisory services.”
Consulting with Kathleen
The initiative commenced with a focus on three pivotal areas: employee education, branding, and client engagement. Kathleen played a central role in crafting a holistic educational program for private bankers and wealth advisors, incorporating case studies and best practices. She spearheaded a Women in Wealth summit, fostering client dialogue to shape tailored business strategies. Furthermore, Kathleen conducted seminars for female clients across diverse markets.
Over the years, Kathleen’s steadfast dedication has persisted, refining strategies and orchestrating educational components for subsequent events, culminating in her pivotal role in organizing First Horizon’s latest Women in Wealth Summit. This approach seamlessly transitioned from internal education to external communication and event facilitation, reinforcing the initiative’s momentum.
Results and Final Words from Rhomes and Jackie
Through ongoing collaboration with Kathleen, promoting Women in Wealth is not just a First Horizon program—it’s integral to its corporate culture. Tailored Women in Wealth marketing plans, including client events and employee education, have been developed in each of the bank’s 20 distinct markets, underscoring a collective commitment to inclusivity and empowerment.
In fact, First Horizon has maintained a cohesive yet adaptable approach tailored to the nuances of each locale, even as it expanded in the Southeast following a merger of equals. Last year, as all markets were invited to partake in the Women in Wealth Summit, the goal was to pinpoint local champions to lead the initiative. Notably, each market wholeheartedly embraced the proposition, formulating distinctive business plans by every appointed champion.
The bank has witnessed success stories where couples engage with teams, empowering women throughout the process. Previously, business losses stemmed from advisors predominantly engaging with men. However, with a renewed focus on inclusivity, such occurrences have declined. Remarkably, the bank now maintains female accounts even in cases of a male partner’s passing, diverging from industry standards.
Case Study: Gina, Change Management Consultant
After 15 years in business, Gina, a successful consultant and trainer, had never regularly evaluated her pricing strategy and fee structure. Like many seasoned professionals, she defaulted to discounting her price whenever a prospect showed any sign of resistance. Her business was profitable, but Gina believed she could earn more if she just didn’t cave in so quickly. She was anxious about losing business to competitors, yet tired of not being fully compensated for the depth and breadth of her expertise, and she wanted more change management consulting engagements. But couldn’t articulate her value in a way that resonated with business leaders.
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Private Coaching with Kathleen
Gina heard about the Unleash Your True Value® Coaching Program at a networking meeting. She was uncertain the program was for experienced business owners like herself, and wasn’t sure where else to turn for help. She was skeptical, but decided meeting with Kathleen couldn’t hurt.
After their call, Gina understood the program was designed to meet the needs of experienced professionals. She decided to take the leap and sign up for private coaching the next day.
Within a few coaching sessions, Gina gained insight into her money history and psychology, and understood where her tendency to discount her fees originated. She mastered tactics to overcome this tendency and developed a written pricing strategy for her change management offerings. Gina had an aha moment in one of her sessions with Kathleen that gave her a new perspective on how to communicate her value, with clarity and confidence.
As Gina shares:
“The Unleash Your True Value® Coaching Program enabled me to increase my profitability and feel more confident communicating and charging for my value. I highly recommend KBK’s individual and group programs, especially if you are an experienced business consultant like me. Kathleen has been instrumental in helping me go to the next level.”
Gina benefited greatly from her one-on-one sessions with Kathleen, and decided to join Kathleen’s ongoing Mentor Coaching Group for Women in Business. In the group, she fine-tuned her message of value and explored new avenues for change management work.
Results and Final Words from Gina
The Unleash Your True Value® Coaching Program changed the trajectory of Gina’s firm. Her decision to join the program was the catalyst for raising her hourly rates by 20% and more confidently selling her change management services, which soon resulted in her closing a deal for $15,000 more than she would have in the past.
Now, Gina is doing more of the work she loves and being well compensated for her expertise. Discounting? A thing of the past.
Case Study: Judi Harrington, Judi411
Judi, a writer and business owner, came to Kathleen carrying a story she’d told herself for years: that she was bad at math, and that she was, in her own words, a “hot mess” when it came to money. Like many talented business owners, the real issue wasn’t her competence, it was an old, unexamined belief that had never been named or questioned.
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Working with Kathleen, Judi began to understand her money personality, both its gifts and its blind spots. She identified strongly as an “Alchemist,” a money personality type defined by creativity and resourcefulness, and recognized an “Accumulator” pattern running alongside it, one that showed up as holding onto things like leads, clients, decisions, longer than served her.
As Judi describes it, “I’ve learned to embrace my alchemist but also recognize that sometimes I let that side of me become a distraction, so I’m finding balanced ways to embrace that part of my money personality that move me in a good direction.”
Rather than trying to change who she was, coaching helped Judi see that her instincts had been misjudged rather than misplaced. What she’d dismissed as “faking it till she made it” was, in fact, a demonstrated skill: “I’m much more comfortable coming up with creative solutions on the fly because I’m embracing my alchemist.”
She also learned to work with her Accumulator side instead of against it, catching herself in the moment: “I’m learning to let go of leads that aren’t converting sooner because I recognize this is one way my accumulator does not serve me well. I can tend to hold on to things for too long.”
Results and Final Words from Judi
Judi notes that the impact of coaching with Kathleen has reshaped both her mindset and her business.
Since coaching, Judi has become more consultative in how she works with clients, launching Copy Coaching, a done-with-you service built directly on the creative, in-the-room problem-solving she once discounted. She has also grown sharper in leveraging her strategic alliances and expressing emotional value more clearly with prospects — a shift she credits with accelerating her conversions.
“KBK helped me see that my creativity itself is a great value, and as a result I’m adding a consultation side to my business that allows me another income stream. KBK has helped me see the full spectrum of what informs my money mindset and how my money personality serves me (and doesn’t). I’m able to catch myself when I’m engaging in self-talk that doesn’t serve me and instead reframe it or discard it. It’s powerful work and it’s had a great impact on my business.”
Additional Testimonials
“Kathleen’s group coaching had a tremendous impact on my business strategy and my confidence as a business owner. She skillfully facilitated a highly synergistic group of accomplished women, and her coaching around money mindset helped me recognize long-held beliefs that were shaping my business decisions. I left with practical strategies, personal growth, and a network of women I genuinely admire. If you’re looking for a coach who will challenge your thinking and build a genuine community, I highly recommend Kathleen.”
– Katie Greeley, Fairway Home Mortage
“Kathleen is an incredible negotiation coach! With her unparalleled guidance and support, I developed greater confidence, learned effective negotiation strategies, and ultimately landed my dream job with a 34% increase in pay.”
– Kimberley Martindell, Head of Insurance and Annuities Operations at Steward Partners
“I so benefited from having a group of committed entrepreneurs to connect with and share ideas and support with – made a huge difference as I went from having a dedicated team to going solo!”
– Emily Bouchard, Author, Little Book of Trust and Money
“Working with Kathleen on a customized coaching program and broader Webinar series was a joy – she’s responsive, insightful and impactful. Her ability to drill into issues, and answer impromptu in depth questions, is impressive. Feedback was terrific and I look forward to her adding value to my current Team.”
– Olga Constantopoulos, CIBC
“Through the work we have done together, I have become a better active listener, a confidant, a family advisor and mediator… and as a result my business has continued to grow by over $40 million in net new assets a year. Kathleen helps me to understand how my own personal experiences with money shape my prejudices and conversations with clients, which really makes me think. She is a tremendously valuable resource that has strengthened my advisor muscles in a way that is growing my business and building unbreakable relationships with my clients.”
– Alexandra Horwood CIM® Director, Wealth Management, Portfolio Manager • Richardson GMP
“Kathleen provided me with concrete ideas I could implement between our calls, and with her direction, I was able to push through some internal hurdles while also reaching my goal of being published nationally. These events would not have happened without Kathleen’s encouragement.”
– Kelly Shikany, Financial Advisor
“Kathleen’s expertise in the industry is undeniable, yet what sets her apart is her flexible and personalized approach. Unlike many consultants armed with rigid methodologies, Kathleen took the time to understand our unique circumstances and challenges. She demonstrates remarkable patience, meeting us at our current level of growth while also pushing us toward progress. Her willingness to adapt and transition seamlessly when needed has been invaluable. Working with Kathleen isn’t just about following a prescribed path; it’s about collaboratively navigating towards our shared goals, with her guidance leading us to new levels of success.”
– Jackie Schultz, Training & Development