About Izzy
Hello! I'm Izzy, a proud military spouse and a first-generation immigrant from Okinawa, Japan.
Izzy Carnes, AFC®, MQFP®
My Money Story
Growing up, I had little guidance on managing money or planning for the future. My father was a hardworking man, but he struggled with a gambling addiction. Some of my earliest childhood memories of money include wearing hand-me-down clothes from my cousins and sister, my mother always buying expired food because it was discounted, moving in with relatives from time to time, and missing extracurricular activities because of my family’s financial constraints.
As a young adult, I lived paycheck to paycheck, struggling to cover my bills as my debt continued to grow. I had little understanding of saving or investing, and all I could think about was staying afloat until the next round of bills arrived. Without mentors or opportunities to learn about financial literacy, I had to navigate my financial journey without the guidance I wish I’d had.
How I Started
My journey into financial coaching began when I volunteered as a budget counselor at a military nonprofit organization. Through my volunteer training, I learned so much about money management, budgeting, and financial planning. I’ve developed a deep passion for helping people clarify their financial goals and working alongside them as they take meaningful steps toward achieving them. Today, I am an Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) and a Military Qualified Financial Planner® (MQFP®), with over 20 years of experience providing financial counseling to individuals and families.
I’ve spent many years volunteering with nonprofit organizations that provide financial counseling services, helping clients understand their finances and build budgeting strategies that fit their unique needs and goals. My work has included supporting military service members and their families, veterans, widows, and young adults, as well as individuals from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and gender identities.
Through these experiences, I’ve learned the importance of meeting people where they are and offering practical, respectful guidance that reflects each person’s situation and values. I welcome people of all backgrounds, identities, faiths, and neurotypes, including neurodivergent individuals and veterans living with PTSD. My goal is to ensure everyone I work with feels respected, understood, and valued.
Why Partner with Advisors?
In 2020, I joined a financial planning firm, initially as a paraplanner. Along the way, I discovered that my strengths and skills naturally aligned with Operations. Since then, I’ve worked alongside financial advisors as a Director of Operations.
Through my work with financial advisors, I’ve come to appreciate how much a client’s financial foundation, habits, and past experiences can influence their financial planning journey. Regardless of income or net worth, every client brings a unique relationship with money that can shape how they understand, engage with, and feel prepared for financial planning.
This is what inspired me to extend my financial coaching and counseling services to clients referred by financial advisors. By helping clients strengthen their day-to-day money management, build healthier financial habits, and gain confidence in their financial decisions, I aim to help them become more prepared and engaged participants in the planning process.
My goal is to complement the work of financial advisors by supporting the financial well-being of the people they serve, allowing advisors to focus more of their time and expertise on financial planning while their clients build a stronger foundation for success.