Somehow we’ve lost the art of creating our own ideas, finding our authentic voice, and being ourselves as financial coaches. And it’s something I’ve been wanting to address for too long.

I want to start by saying I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who follows along, whether on the podcast, YouTube, or social media. I’m thrilled to have inspired so many to become financial coaches.

I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’ve found what works for me and the people I serve. I want to help you do the same. But here’s something I’ve said many times: what works for me, my business, my life, and my way of working and talking to my audience probably won’t work exactly that same way for you. It’s so important to find your own voice and do you in your business.

  • Your clients hire you for your perspective, not your ability to sound like someone else. They can sense when something feels off even if they can’t put their finger on it.
  • Start with conversations you’ve actually had with clients or friends instead of starting with other people’s content; real questions create real connections.
  • Giving credit doesn’t diminish your authority—it actually shows you’re engaged with your field and humble enough to acknowledge others.
  • The most distinctive coaches often consume less content from their direct competitors and find inspiration from psychology, behavioral economics, or leadership development instead.
  • If you have to ask yourself “would I be comfortable if someone changed my content this way?” then the simplest solution is to give credit.
  • Your vulnerability creates connection in ways that polished, generic content never will; share your money mistakes, lessons, and turning points.
  • Content creation becomes easier and more enjoyable when you’re drawing from your own well of experience rather than trying to maintain someone else’s voice.

The Power of Being Yourself

One of the most common compliments I receive when meeting people in person for the first time is, “you are exactly who you are in real life as you are in your emails and on your podcast.” (They also tell me I’m shorter than expected, but that’s another story.) This alignment between who I am online and in person is something I take pride in, and it’s something your clients will notice too.

When you try to sound like someone else or use strategies that aren’t aligned with your own beliefs and style, a disconnect happens. Think about this from your clients’ perspective: they sign up to work with the person they connected with through your content, only to discover someone different in your sessions. This creates confusion and erodes trust, which is the foundation of the coaching relationship.

Your unique perspective, experiences, and communication style are what will help you connect with your ideal clients. These relationships tend to be stronger, last longer, and lead to better outcomes and more referrals. Remember, your clients don’t expect you to know everything or never be inspired by others. They expect you to be real.

The Line Between Inspiration and Copying

There’s a line between being inspired by someone else’s content and straight out copying it. This isn’t a new conversation, but it’s worth addressing openly. As someone who is proudly inspired by others’ work and loves to give them credit—and as someone who has had my words swiped from me and my methods claimed by others as their own—I think it’s important to talk about it honestly.

So let’s talk about what crosses the line:

  • Simply changing sentence structure or swapping synonyms while keeping the essence the same isn’t enough
  • Using someone else’s content as part of your system for creating your own isn’t ethical, especially without attribution
  • Monitoring what others post and then creating nearly identical content weeks later shows a lack of originality
  • Copying design elements, unique phrases, or content structures without adding your own perspective crosses the line
  • Using AI to rewrite someone else’s content and make it sound like you without adding unique thoughts is not okay

These approaches might seem like shortcuts, but they’re actually harmful to your business in the long run. They prevent you from developing your own voice and connecting with your audience.

A helpful question to ask yourself:

If the roles were reversed, would I be comfortable with how this person has changed my content?

If there’s any doubt, the simplest solution is to give credit.

The Lost Art of Attribution

I’ve been reflecting on what I call the lost art of attribution. There used to be blog circles where content creators would openly build on each other’s ideas. Someone would write an article that sparked a thought for someone else, who would then write their own piece with a different perspective, openly acknowledging where the inspiration came from and linking back to the original content.

These blog circles created well-rounded conversations about topics, adding nuance and different viewpoints. But somewhere along the way, we’ve lost this practice of attribution. Some mistakenly believe you only give credit when directly quoting someone. But attribution is about more than avoiding plagiarism—it’s about honoring the ecosystem of ideas.

Giving credit doesn’t diminish your authority. It actually enhances it. It shows you’re engaged with your field, continuously learning, and humble enough to acknowledge others. Your clients don’t expect you to generate every idea in isolation. In fact, they appreciate knowing you’re connected to the broader conversation in the financial coaching world.

How to Develop Your Authentic Voice

Let me share practical strategies for developing your own authentic voice while still learning from others.

First, be realistic. For some, this isn’t a natural skill you just have in business. It might take time to cultivate. But it’s worth it.

Start by getting clear on your unique perspective:

  • What experiences, values, and beliefs shape how you view money and coaching?
  • What client populations do you serve best?
  • What problems are you particularly passionate about solving?

Rather than starting with other people’s content, start with conversations you’ve had with real clients or with friends and family. What questions do they ask repeatedly? What breakthroughs have you witnessed? What struggles do you see them facing?

Look into your own personal money journey next: the mistakes, the lessons, the turning points. Your vulnerability creates connection in a way that polished, generic content never will.

Develop systems for capturing your own ideas when they arise. Keep notes of client conversations, questions that come up in sessions, and your own financial insights. Before creating content inspired by someone else, ask yourself: What unique perspective can I add? What have I learned that others might not yet know?

Your voice will naturally develop over time as you continue to show up authentically. Remember, it’s better to publish less content that truly represents you than more content that sounds like everyone else.

Consuming Content Mindfully

How you consume content matters. If you follow other coaches, be intentional about how and when you consume their content. Have their emails go into a specific folder and set specific times to read them. Coach yourself into the right mindset before reading, reminding yourself you’re looking for inspiration, not imitation.

Ask yourself reflection questions after consuming:

  • What resonated with me and why?
  • How does this connect to my own experience?
  • What would I add to this conversation?

Consider taking a content consumption break if you’re feeling overwhelmed or finding it difficult to separate your voice from others. I had to do that for about three months one summer.

Many coaches consume less content from their direct competitors and find inspiration elsewhere—psychology, behavioral economics, leadership development. This cross-pollination of ideas helps you develop connections and insights that are uniquely yours.

Building a Sustainable Business Through Authenticity

Authenticity is a key ingredient to building a sustainable business. Copying content might seem like a shortcut, but it creates a fragile foundation that’s difficult to maintain. Clients can sense when you’re not being authentic, even if they can’t quite put their finger on why something feels off.

When you develop your own authentic voice, content creation becomes easier and more enjoyable. You’re drawing from your own well of experience rather than trying to sound like someone else. This authenticity creates a stronger connection with your audience.

People hire financial coaches not just for their knowledge, but for their approach, personality, and perspective. Your unique voice becomes a significant part of your brand differentiator.

Reminders for Content Creation

  • Start with client conversations: What questions are they asking? What challenges are they facing?
  • Draw from your personal experience: What money lessons have you learned that could help others?
  • Consider your unique perspective: How does your background, values, and beliefs shape your approach?
  • Use your own voice: Write how you speak, with your natural rhythm and vocabulary
  • When something inspires you, add your own twist: Apply it to a different situation, combine it with another idea, or expand on it.
  • When in doubt, give credit: It’s not a weakness but a strength to acknowledge your influences.

Your Voice is Your Greatest Asset

Your authentic voice is your greatest asset as a financial professional. It’s what will attract the right clients and create meaningful transformation. Powerful connections happen when you show up as yourself, not as a version of someone else. When you do this, you’re giving your clients permission to show up as themselves too.

Of course, your journey of finding your voice is ongoing. It will continue to evolve as you grow as a business owner and thought leader. Be patient with yourself. Authentic content might take longer to create at first, but it becomes easier and actually faster over time.

Trust that your unique perspective is valuable. There are clients who need exactly your approach to financial coaching.

If you’re struggling to find your voice or create authentic content, Financial Coach Academy® can help. We provide frameworks, community, and personalized guidance to help you develop confidence in your unique approach.

In a world where content is everywhere, your authentic voice is your true differentiator.