Meet Amanda Taboas | Financial Coach & Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Taboas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Over the last couple of years, I noticed that many friends of mine were dealing with the very real fear of where their finances were and more importantly, where they were heading. I found that there was an overwhelming need for guidance not only with what to do, but how to mentally cope with the struggles that come with money management. We’re barely taught how to handle our finances, and we certainly are not given much guidance in regards to what to do when the little voices in our heads start to tell us to panic.

My Financial Coaching business takes mindset into account first – the idea is to get comfortable in that headspace, and THEN tackle things like budgeting, saving, debt management, and more.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I guess the biggest challenge I’ve found in starting a business is knowing that there’s absolutely a NEED for what I wanted to do, but there wasn’t any services available for the WAY I wanted to do things, so coming up with that part from absolute scratch was difficult.

I think that’s also what makes me the most proud; financial coaching isn’t one size fits all (it shouldn’t be because everyone’s situations and needs are different), but the businesses and services I’ve encountered before all seem to have the same basic structure. For me, I wanted to break that mold and present a totally different approach for people my age.

What sets me apart is my approach. At the end of the day, my clients seek me out because they’re needing help with their money, but a lot of the time, their worries surrounding money are deeply rooted elsewhere. I take the time to tackle the problems with the mindset first BEFORE moving on to the problems with the money.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am an extremely food-motivated person, so my Best Time Ever would be centered almost entirely around that.

First and foremost, each day would be spent in a different area of the city.

First off- Balboa Park. There’s SO much to do there – walking through the gorgeous gardens, drinks at The Prado, and of course, the Zoo. Buona Forchetta in South Park is one of my favorite Italian spots in the city, and it’s right around the corner.

Next, a Taco Tour, hitting up our favorite joints – The Taco Stand in La Jolla, PB Fish Shop in Pacific Beach, and finally, Puesto in Mission Valley. Who doesn’t love tacos?!

Last (but most certainly not least), beach day! Coronado has the best views of the city, and the Hotel Del is beautiful. Plus, the ice cream shop on the property is amazing.

Other honorable foodie mentions:
– Underbelly, North Park
– Ironside in the Gas Lamp Quarter
– In-N-Out (come on)
– The Grass Skirt in PB
– Sombrero (highly recommend the chile rellano burrito)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, my husband William has been the biggest supporter in all of my endeavors. He’s always there to listen to my crazy ideas, give me feedback when I need it, and encourage that I’m on the right track.

I’ve learned the most about business building and personal development from my mentor, Mahalene Dulay, Founder and Visionary for Modern Wealth Collective. Her guidance has been a crucial part of business development, and I would not be where I am without her.

Instagram: @abt_financialcoaching

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-blair-smith-8ab07483/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABTfinancialcoaching

Image Credits
Keeley Miller Photography