Thanks to Garrett's support, instead of constantly trying to put out financial fires, I'm now on track to be debt free this year, have an emergency fund, and more consistently align my finances towards my fiancée's and my values and goals. For context, I first found Garrett while searching online for a finance coach, and I resonated with his optimism and supportive tone on his website. I proceeded to have an initial call with him, and just like the tone on his website, Garrett was warm and friendly. He was attentive, curious, and professional, and he showed up with structured programs combined with a willingness to adjust and be flexible for my specific circumstances. He clearly had the training, experience, and skills, and I got the sense he walked the talk, invested a lot in himself, and put in the work to live authentically. I was eager to work with Garrett, but I still had my hesitations. I was on track to go deeper and deeper into debt. Did it really make sense to hire a finance coach and add on another expense in my life? At the end of the day, I had to conclude that I needed additional support. I tried reading books, getting support from friends and family, and making changes on my own, and I wasn't getting the results I needed. It's as if I had tried to heal a broken bone on my own and then realized I really needed to hire a doctor. I had to admit that I couldn't do this with my current approaches, and Garrett had been able to help many others before me. After discussing with my fiancée, Jasjeet, we hired Garrett to support us as a couple. I'm so glad we made that decision. Garrett continued to show up consistently with the aforementioned qualities, and after only 7 sessions, I experienced the following results. - Alignment with Jasjeet on our priorities and financial plan which includes being debt free this year and having an emergency fund - New tools for successfully talking about and getting aligned about finances with Jasjeet - A shift towards feeling more empowered and steady in my relationship with money Of course, Jasjeet and I also needed to put in the work to show up to the sessions and do the work in-between sessions. So much credit for our success goes to my fiancée. As our coach, Garrett helped guide us with a listening ear, honest perspective, tools, and strategies. Thanks again, Garrett, and I'm looking forward to continuing our work together! read more

While I have not yet chosen to work with Garret, our initial call was fantastic. He was extremely personable and walked me through what working with him would look like in a very transparent and non-salesy way (this is coming from someone in sales). Garret took the time to understand my situation and then outlined our his services may help. At the end of the call, rather than hard selling me, he told me it might be smart to try it on my own first and then come back if I was running into the same issues. I could not recommend him enough solely based on our intro call. read more

I've had the pleasure of working with Garrett for about a year now, and it has truly been an incredible experience. I approached Garrett in late 2020 after a tumultuous previous 12 months. I had been laid off due to COVID and simultaneously incurred an enormous sum of medical bills on top of my typical monthly expenses. Naturally, I waited until things hit rock bottom before seeking help, but I'm so fortunate to have come across Garrett. He has the innate ability to show empathy but is also a straight shooter because he doesn't sugarcoat things. Rather than emphasizing the mess I was in, he quickly provided a bevy of solutions that we tackled in tandem one by one. It was an emotional rollercoaster, and I often joked that I should be giving Garrett a co-pay since he acted as a therapist throughout the process. Fast forward to the present day, and I've done a complete 180 financially, professionally, personally, and all of this has contributed to a happier life. I honestly couldn't have reached this point without Garrett's kindness, expertise, and can-do attitude. I look forward to continuing my growth with Garrett and recommend him to anyone looking to hone their budgeting and financial planning skills. read more

I decided to work with Garrett to begin transforming the way I relate to money. I had a discussion with a financial planner who told me I needed a financial COACH - so that I could one day need a financial planner - and I was incredibly lucky that Garrett was recommended! After working with him for over 6 months, I've gone from being nervous to even look at my bank account balance, to establishing the building blocks to create and manage my budget, setting goals and prioritizing debt repayment, savings, and retirement, all complemented by software tools, spreadsheets and financial calculators to make it all work. Garrett is engaging, supportive, and tailors each session to your needs. He met me on both a practical and emotional level, and he's lovely person to boot. If you are reading this review it means you're lucky enough to have come across his work, and I encourage you to reach out. read more

I found Garrett while searching for ways to be more mindful and strategic around how I use money. Garrett understood my longer term goals and adapted a variety of strategies to create an approach that feels very sustainable. Garrett worked with me to start automating more of my finances and making structural changes to accounts and bank flows to reduce some of the "noise" and ensure I spend my time focused on what I want to focus on. If you're trying to decide if you can benefit from financial coaching (perhaps you have a background in finance, accounting, etc) I can assure you that having a different perspective and being challenged to think about some long-held beliefs or perceptions is incredibly valuable. I appreciate how respectful Garrett is of his clients' time and how solution oriented he is. read more

Working with Garrett has given me much more transparency into my own finances and eased my stress and anxiety around managing my money

Right away, Garrett was very honest about not being a right fit for my personal financial needs. I was very appreciative of his transparency and being so straight forward with me. Even though we decided not to work together, he still gave me some helpful tips on how to proceed with my own personal goals. Was only on a call with him for 15 minutes but he seems very patient, nice and helpful. read more

I've always struggled with my relationship to money. I knew it was more than simple mismanagement or not making enough and I needed to dig deeper. I started working with Garrett and immediately knew I had made a great choice. Not only is he extremely easy to relate to, but kind, open and nonjudgemental. He helped me break down what my personal beliefs were about money based on a variety of factors I never considered. This work helped me to get clear, and start a path forward into financial security and confidence! I'm now in a place where I can start applying practical money solutions without feeling fearful or overwhelmed. He is a well-rounded coach, providing a variety of coaching services, allowing him to work with people with varying needs/goals. I highly recommending knowing and working with Garrett and look forward to working more with him in the future. read more

Put it quite simply, Garrett is the absolute best! I came to him for general financial guidance and advice and finished out our sessions as (what feels like is) an entirely new person. When I first was seeking financial assistance, it was because I was lost, confused, and had a poor general conception of planning/budgeting, tracking, and emotional ties to money (hey, who doesn't?). Garrett helped sort me out in ways I never knew - he put me on a direct path to planning (what are my priorities? What areas of personal finance give me the most anxiety and how can those be ameliorated through careful and sedulous planning?), tracking (where the heck is my money going? How can I put a system in place to understand overall financial tracking? How am I doing in comparison to my goals?), and mental conception of money (I was SUPER nervous all the time about money and about spending, really operating out of a true fear mindset. Garrett helped me work through those areas and come out the other side with a financial freedom and literacy I didn't know would be capable in just a few months' time). My biggest takeaway is a solid foundation in overall personal money management and, I think more importantly, a levity and deeper financial understanding that allows me to live my life *with* money instead of *around* it. Garrett is kind, attentive, calm, conscientious, responsive, timely, and knows his stuff down pat. He was so encouraging throughout the process that, even when I felt incredibly lost, I trusted and knew that I would be able to find a way forward with his guidance. If you are even one eensy ounce contemplating working with Garrett, please take this as your sign to reach out. I couldn't believe it from all the glowing reviews (as if that weren't indication enough), but he really is the real deal. Really really. (In a sea of shady online characters, you've come across a golden doubloon.) He is life changing and cannot recommend him enough!! read more

In small but profound ways Garrett has changed my fucking life.

Garrett has exceeded my expectations! I've always been conscious of my money. However, I struggled with consistency and having a game plan. Mainly, I wanted to change this and to stop being so vague monetarily. During my first session with Garrett, I felt very comfortable even though I was initially embarrassed about opening up about my money struggles; I think a lot of people have shame around $$$! However, Garrett just has the gift of making people feel at ease - no judgment coming from him. And he gets so genuinely excited to see your progress! Since working with Garrett I have saved over $10,000, I am about to finally rent my own apartment in Los Angeles (YES! No more craigslist roommates), and I am planning a trip to Ireland/Scotland! Seriously, the progress I have made in just under 3 months is unreal. Yes, this has all happened in under 3 months! This is the best investment I have ever made! If you want to start having a more fulfilling life I would definitely contact Garrett! Because if you don't have your money in order your life probably won't be in order either. Get this area handled and be awesome, not broke! P.S. if you want to see if I am real/see my progress feel free to ask Garrett for my contact info. More than willing to talk :-) read more

Garrett is a delightful money-sprite who creates both fiscal ease and effervescent joy. While working with him, I not only managed to come up with $15K in six months to pay my taxes but also began to feel strangely enthusiastic about managing my budget. To top it all off, he embraced the magenta font I used for spreadsheets. One of the things I appreciated most about his approach was his willingness to listen to what I value and help me mold my spending to reflect these values. I never felt that he was judging my choices, only that he wanted to make sure my behaviors were in line with what I claimed was important to me. In this way, I began to feel empowered to spend money more mindfully. If anyone can entwine Buddhist philosophy and fiscal habits, it's Garrett. If you can snag a spot with him, you most definitely should! Your wallet and soul will thank you (and Garrett). read more

Finances had always been a priority for me...until they weren't. I couldn't seem to kick the last tiny bit of debt that I had and I knew I needed someone to kick me in gear if I ever wanted to launch my own business down the road. Garrett is more like a therapist who helps you discover your money mindset for yourself and gives you the confidence to be the master of your money. He is inspiring and helpful in the emotional process that comes with financial independence. My goal was no credit card debt and I was hoping to launch my own consulting firm 18 months down the road. In the 7 months we've been working together I have paid off my credit card debt AND half of my house (this was not in the original plan)! Thanks to the confidence Garrett has given me I am leaving corporate America and launching my consulting firm a year ahead of time! Working with Garrett has given me Freedom. If you're looking for support and scared to face your finances then working with Garrett will build your confidence and help you find clarity in the details. If you know your finances inside and out like I did, but are ready to grow your net worth, create freedom in your life and live with an abundance mindset then Garrett is absolutely your guy! read more

I reached out to Be Awesome Not Broke with some money coaching questions and they were super helpful. They have a knack for explaining complicated money stuff. I look forward to working with them in the future. read more

I met Garrett on a flight to San Luis Obispo and the next thing I knew, a few days later, I was catching a sunrise at the peak of one his favorite trails. That pretty much sums up how Garrett has impacted my life; he's guided me on a financial journey that has led me to enjoy new horizons that I couldn't achieve on my own. Believe me, I tried. Garrett was so generous with his financial tips on our first chance meeting that I felt equipped to tackle my financial woes without him. Six months later, I found myself confused and fighting back tears when I finally opened up the credit card statement that I had been ignoring. That's when I realized that I needed help, and it's one of the best decisions that I've ever made for my personal growth. The biggest benefit that I've gained from working with Garrett is the ability to make decisions that support my values; I financially prioritize the things that I really care about. As a result, I have a trip to Japan and Korea coming up, that I thought would never happen. Garrett's approach is primarily empathetic; he takes the time to patiently listen to my financial situation in order to focus on reversing my bad habits in a nonjudgmental and supportive manner. After each meeting, his tailor fit gameplan is always structured in a way that allows me to work on things one step at a time. In trusting him and his process, I'm enjoying my life in a way that has left a profound impact on not just myself but everyone around me as well. read more

If any part of your brain is thinking about hiring a money coach, you've come to the right place. Reach out to Garrett NOW and thank us yelpers later. I worked with Garrett for three months this summer, and he has permanently reconfigured the way I think about money and my relationship to it. My goals were to have a plan for my credit card debt, understand where my money goes, and find a new career opportunity by the end of our three month journey. Garrett has helped me achieve all three goals. I appreciate his positive energy and his encouraging attitude so much. Money is an emotional thing whether we acknowledge it or not. He is clearly very talented with numbers, but he's also emotionally intelligent. My biggest take away from our work is that it's not always about the dollar $igns. It's about finding space in my life to support and pursue the things that matter to me. Our work together is an illustration of investing in yourself. I'm so happy I reached out to him. You will be too. read more

Garrett is a wonderful coach and is someone I would absolutely recommend working with if you feel like you need help getting your finances in line with your goals. He is kind, caring, knowledgeable and fully invested in helping his clients discover the power they hold within themselves. Our work together was rooted in financial behaviors and how those were passed down from my upbringing, and the ways that those old scripts manifest in my behaviors to this very day. When discussing these sorts of things, it's important that you feel you are in trustworthy hands that are less interested in judging or putting their own interpretations on your circumstances and instead seek to understand, empathize and allow space for you to make your own conclusions about what serves and how you want to move forward. I can't think of a person better equipped to this sort of powerful work than Garrett. I am a financial coach myself who is just starting off in the business. Not only was Garrett open to that, but he was actively supportive and routinely allowed me to ask questions from a coaching/process perspective. His generosity of spirit combined with his wealth of knowledge makes him an easy recommendation. read more

I started working with Garrett because I wanted to be more intentional with my budgeting / finances (I know, I know... I'm MUCH better with everyone else's numbers than my own!). My biggest takeaways were re-establishing my financial priorities and having tangible action steps after each meeting. Once we dug in to my values and long term goals, my financial to-dos changed from those that I'd started with. I realized that I was already doing some of the things I felt guilty about not doing "enough" of. It turns out that I had never stopped to think about what "enough" meant until we got to talking. I was able to let go of that guilt and refocus my energry toward accomplishing newer and more meaningful goals. I have to admit I was hesitant to start the program because I'm pretty analytical and it emphasizes not just budgeting/finances but emotions, behaviors, and habits. But after participating I was thankful I did - it truly was money well spent. read more

What an amazing conversation my husband and I just had with Garrett. He gave us solid advice on a path that will be right for us. He's patient and positive and was able to get us to identify are greatness needs in terms of financial priorities. read more

Garrett is super helpful and clearly knowledgeable in what he does, and while we didn't end up working together because his service wasn't exactly what I needed, he did his best to lead me in the right direction. Seems like a great, honest, smart guy! Would definitely recommend him for someone in need of a financial coach. read more

We reached out to Garrett in 2018 because my wife and I needed to develop a budget that we could stick to. Garrett helped us do that--and so much more during the 1 year+ we worked with him. Garrett gave direction on how we could better understand where each of us were coming from as a couple, and provided tools for communicating better about our finances. He helped us design a path for accomplishing our financial goals, like paying off credit card debt, managing student debt and building a nest egg, and subsequently coached us through actually reaching many of these goals. He helped us figure out productive ways to hold ourselves and one another accountable. And he helped us create better habits - weekly money meetings, ongoing financial tracking, goal setting, and more. The best part is that Garrett is a dream to work with! We would enthusiastically recommend Garrett to others who need help figuring out their finances. read more

Garrett is intelligent and accessible. A truly phenomenal combination when it comes to finances, and irreplaceable if, like me, the mere mention of money raises your anxiety level. Garrett was responsive to my anxiety in a way that was both disarming and effective in the long-term. I wouldn't say my anxiety around finances no longer exists, but it is certainly now tempered by a deeper understanding of the many realities and moving parts associated with finances. Additionally, working with Garrett led me to systems and processes that I continue to use -- all leading to a much healthier relationship between myself and money. To top it off, his sense of fun and humor made the entire process enjoyable. read more

Money coaching done right! For the first time in my life, I feel like I have control over my finances. Garrett's approach is all encompassing, teaching you not only how to form good money habits but also how to accept and let go of the bad ones. With each session you gain a new understanding of patterns and perspective on your relationship with money. Garrett clearly communicates each step of the way and creates an environment where you feel completely comfortable and heard at all times. This truly was one of the most remarkable qualities because talking about money is difficult especially when it is tied to sensitive experiences. I felt validated and was held accountable at the same time, which was very effective in making quick progress. I'm so grateful to have been able to go through these sessions with Garrett and highly recommend it to anyone at any level! read more

I reached out to Garrett thinking that I needed to work with a financial planner but realized in talking with him that a financial coach (what he does) was actually what I was looking for. While it ultimately turned out that he wasn't the best fit for what I needed, he recommended multiple other coaches for me to reach out to who he thought could help which I really appreciated - not everyone would do that. read more

I was referred to Be Awesome Not Broke by a financial advisor who frankly yet tenderly told me that I was not ready to be her client. I had liabilities and money-relationship issues that needed attention before she and I could work together. In short, I needed a money coach. Once I spoke to Garrett I felt that his services and approach would prove valuable. He helped me delve into understanding the what and why of my spending, the cycle of indebtedness that I inherited, the role I played in exacerbating the debt that was wreaking havoc on my marriage and my self-esteem. Working with Garrett helped me align my values with my spending. He coached me on how to have constructive and confidence-building discussions with my husband around money, and define the legacy that I want for my two young daughters. His passion for helping clients reflect, articulate, align and practice one's values as they relate to money, spending and saving does make one feel awesome! I recommend BANB to anyone who feels hopelessly lost about how to get out of debt or just wants to enrich their quality of life as it relates to financial success. read more

Garrett is always kind and thorough with his coaching. I've always had a lot of irons in the fire as far as business goes, but never a concrete plan on how to get to a place I'd like to be. Working with Garrett has been sincerely helpful in getting a concrete sense of where I am financially, where my money and effort should get put, and how to plan for the future. He's also been very helpful by making himself available over email to offer an outside opinion when unexpected offers or opportunities come up. I'd definitely recommend him to anyone wanting to level up in their understanding of personal finances and budgeting. read more

I can't say enough positive things about Garrett. He offers a personal, genuine touch that separates him from the rest. Garrett and I began working together after I accepted a new job. When the startup I joined shut down overnight, he was extremely respectful about moving forwards and helped taper his service to the situation. I never once felt like I was just part of a bottom line for his company, I always knew he viewed me as a person he was interested in getting to know. read more

After years struggling to make ends meet (let alone save) in an expensive city, I figured it was time to kick it into high gear. Hiring a financial coach was an intimidating process for me, but I felt understood and empowered by Garrett. I found Garrett through yelp and recognized that most of his clients were my age and must be around the same point in our careers. He's a great teacher and has an incredibly understanding and thoughtful approach. I'm very surprised how much fun I've had learning to manipulate my budget - I've looked at my plan and budget every day since talking to Garrett and am making more intentional choices with my money. I left our 2 hour session with a clear plan for budget, credit debt payment plan, and savings. I would 100% recommend working with Garrett if it's your first deep dive into your finances! read more

Without question the best investment I've made over the last 5 years was hiring Garrett as my financial coach. He and I have been working together for years and I've reached a point of financial literacy, spend awareness, and goal planning that most, including myself, see as either impossible or fruitless, neither of which are even remotely true. I have learned to command my use of money to reach goals that have value to me; it is hard to put a price on that. Every dollar I've spent on BANB is a dollar well spent. All of my dollars today go toward experiences and possessions I enjoy and appreciate rather than being whimsically tossed at whatever struck my fancy in the moment. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish with guidance from this fabulous young man. I bought a house. What do you want to do? read more

I discovered Garrett on yelp and I'm so glad I did! He has been fantastic. I am in a big transition year (finishing graduate school, changing jobs and moved across the country) and wanted to plan ahead as much as possible with student loans and credit card debt. I wasn't really sure where to start so I decided to speak to someone with experience to get some advice. Garrett helped me make a plan for the immediate, the next several months and for the coming year/s. He is very collaborative in process and works WITH you to understand your needs, goals and a realistic yet effective path to get there. I am in a better spot now thanks to him, in a short amount of time. To top it all off, he's a very kind and warm guy and very easy to work with. Very much have enjoyed my experience working with him and will continue to in the future. read more

I am a physician who worked with Garrett for several months following a recent career transition. My goal in working with Garrett was to build a solid foundation for, and relationship with, my evolving personal finances. Garrett took a holistic approach in helping me accomplish this goal. His thoughtful sessions stimulated self-awareness and intentionality, helping me understand my underlying beliefs and motivations surrounding money and re-orienting my money patterns and behaviors toward my larger life goals and motivations. He also provided a tangible roadmap for this process. Garrett has a pedagogical framework to his approach, but personalized each session, adapting dynamically to my responses and input, and maximized the value of the whole experience. I would recommend him to anyone interested in exploring their relationship with money and incorporating solid habits, direction, and peace into their personal finances. read more

I was going through a very tough time in my life financially due to some unfortunate work and family circumstances. I wanted and needed to get some help in order to navigate through this very difficult time in my life. I did some research on financial coaches near me and I saw the name "Be Awesome Not Broke". I immediately fell in love with the name, so I decided to do some research on it. All the reviews were very positive to support the name. I gave it a shot, and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Garret is so patient, positive, kind and very understanding. I learned so much from him and I am financially free because of him. Not only was my expectations over exceeded with the financial freedom, I got a new job and I was able to GET THE FUCK OUT OF NYC on a well needed vacation. I learned so much, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a great person. I would HIGHLY recommend working with him if you want to take control of your financial situation and your life. Thank you Garrett, I appreciate you. read more