About

CWC is a business dedicated to making wealth accessible for the common person.  We do this by giving clarity and direction to financial challenges, building confidence, and advising on how to increase their net worth. Our primary service is at the individual level, where we are differentiated from other personal finance resources by our...

1. methodology (personalized 1:1 coaching), 
2. market (young individuals with under-developed net worth), and 
3. approach (building whole-self-millionaires).

CWC also conducts in-person group workshops and has a weekly podcast, Seeds, that all focus on generating real happiness by deconstructing money fears and sharing industry best practices.

1. Continual learning
2. Personalization without judgement
3. Holistic wellbeing
4. Options, then arguments
5. Challenge assumptions
6. Innovate and adapt, don’t follow

Lesley Chen-Young is the kind, ambitious, and visionary Founder and Executive Director of Common Wealth Coaching. Born and raised in Washington, DC, although from a proud Chinese-Jamaican heritage, she graduated from Duke University and now lives in Chicago. Lesley believes that you do not have to be a 'money person' to live a full and happy life, fueled by the best principles, systems, and habits when it comes to money. For the past two years, Lesley has been a financial coach that has personally reached 350+ young professionals across industries, helping them to develop confidence and establish lifelong financial stability and success.

A financial coach provides educational guidance and support to their clients, ultimately empowering them to make their own decisions. We support continual learning and can serve as an accountability partner. Notably, many financial coaches come from outside of the finance industry, and we focus on basic personal finance strategies that help clients build wealth, especially if they don't already have existing wealth.

Financial Coaching is distinguished from Financial Advising or Planning in many ways. While Financial Advisors and Financial Planners may offer specific investment advice or sell products, Coaches do not. Financial Coaches also refrain from managing their client's money.

• Read the National Financial Educators Council definition of Financial Coaching.
• Explore the differences between Financial Coaches, Advisors, and Planners.
• Gain another perspective from a Financial Coaching blog.