The first time I went to see Mike & Meagan, I was pretty sure I was going to be told things were
worse than I thought, and I would never be able to stop working. I had left my financial planning
for the future very late, and I just knew they’d smile but ultimately tell me there was little they
could do to help. Truthfully, it was that fear that kept me from asking for help earlier.
You see, I haven’t always made smart financial decisions. I had debts, I got in over my head,
and I rarely thought beyond my next paycheque. It’s only money, you can always make more,
right? Turns out that’s a fine attitude to have if you want to avoid doing hard things, but not so
much if you want to have a future.
On my first visit to Mike & Meagan, we took inventory of all I have coming in and going out.
SURPRISE, I was overspending. I needed to make some cuts to my budget of the things that
were unnecessary and start thinking about long-term goals. No more paycheque to paycheque,
but intentional spending and saving to achieve the life I wanted. They also took all my info from
that first meeting and came up with a plan, one that wouldn’t even hurt too much, to give me not
just a future but hope. And most surprising of all, they never once made me feel judged or
stupid. I was not expecting them to be supportive and encouraging, though in retrospect, I
should have. The fear that had kept me from getting help was unfounded. I found a team that
was rooting even harder for me to succeed than I was.
Over the last several months, things in my life have changed dramatically. I’ve started looking at
money differently, I’ve increased my discipline with it, and I’ve even been able to do some
saving. Which came in very handy when my believed-to-be secure job ended abruptly. Had my
layoff happened before I’d gone to see Mike & Meagan, before we set up a plan and took
proactive steps, I would have been in big trouble. I would have lost my home, my car, basically
my whole life within about 30 days. But 6 months since my first meeting, I’m not only holding on,
I’m not drowning or racking up debts to make my monthly expenses. Yes, without a steady
paycheque coming in, things are tight, and I won’t last forever, but I do have the space to find a
new job without having to panic.
My experience with Mike & Meagan, and the whole team at Soloman, has been wonderful and
truly life-changing. As Mike said the first time we talked, “You don’t go to the doctor after you’re
healed, you go when the injury happens.” I’m so thankful that I took the chance.

A.M.