People in financial distress require an ear and an education
Focus News
June, 1999
By Tyra Novic Wahman

A look of kindness and understanding spreads among the smile lines of Tiffany "Tiff" Worley's eyes as he describes the work he and other "counselors" in the company do for people seeking help.

Although he has no formal training in psychology and, in fact, claims it is not required for his work, Worley calls many of his clients "afflicted" and realizes their symptoms that include denial, addiction, helplessness, depression and violence.

It seems few people who work with anyone fighting financial stress can avoid references to psychology. However, it was getting people out of debt, not psychology, that led Worley to found Metropolitan Financial Management, now located in Roseville, 10 years ago.

Director of Operations Jim Keen says there are, basically, three types of people who visit financial counseling services: The first group involves clients who are looking forward and are concerned with upcoming financial outlays - for example the couple with children approaching college age; the second group involves people working a little behind, maybe paying bills a little late and basically living paycheck to paycheck, unable to save or prepare for the future.

The third group may make a decent income, like people in the first two groups, but they find themselves living with increased debt and ever-increasing interest rates on loans or credit cards.

Not everyone in financial peril needs to call an attorney. Most people have lived in denial for a long period of time before seeing a financial counselor, explains Worley. However, once they are made fully aware of the problem - perhaps collectors have started calling, a washing machine has broken down and there is no savings put aside to help repair the machine, or the first tuition check is due and again, no money is available to pay the bill - their first move is often toward a bankruptcy attorney, rarely toward a financial counseling organization.

That is the movement that Worley and Keen would like to cut short. Their company wants people facing financial traumas to realize that most of the time, the solution to their problem lies within their grasp.

This leads to another key word Worley and Keen want to engrain in people's minds: power.

When bill collectors are calling, the car is making unidentifiable sounds and a child is seeking higher education, one of the last things most people feel is power or control. However, "there is only one person who can make these changes," says Worley, "people need to be listened to, he says, and informed in order to make their own decisions and get themselves out of debt.

Many times, Keen explained, it is a lifestyle that needs readjusting and an education regarding finances.

"Sure, somebody can go into a bankruptcy, and relieve themselves of some debt," Keen says. "But the client hasn't learned cash management, they still can't budget. They haven't solved the problem."

Financial consultants such as Metropolitan offer debt-ridden individuals payment packages that are managed by the company. With counseling, lifestyle changes, education and minimal payments, many people can get out of debt in a few years.

Keen says some clients don't even need to go on a payment plan of any kind, they are helped by learning a couple of simple changes to make their budgeting process.