Everything You Need

to run a Financial Literacy Workshop Series

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Developed by Steffan Consulting Inc. with the help of the Accountable Network

financial literacy for a diverse group of people

Imagine If ...

you had an easy & affordable way to run financial literacy classes that let you go deeper than just teaching budgeting

engaging educational videos for financial literacy

Imagine If ...

the instructional videos & professional handouts you had were based on an industry-leading coaching process

Imagine If ...

the content appreciated diversity, adapted to different situations, and gave you time to connect & coach

It's Here!

All the materials you need to successfully run a financial literacy program

Access to the session videos

Download professionally designed handouts (printable or fillable PDF files)

Get support & guidance through our private leaders' community

Access product updates & marketing materials as they are released

Serve both the USA & Canada with curriculum written for (and legal in) both locations

Get running quickly with leader notes & tips for running a group

Options for upgrading including custom branding and spreadsheets

Pre-made marketing materials for e-email campigns and social media

Bernadette & Kirby We Serv Financial Coaching
“Groudwork is an amazing workshop series. We ran it for six consecutive weeks in our church as a Sunday School, and all attendees unanimously agree that it's full of value and real-world application. ”

Janice Graham-Ziemba Open Paths. LLC
“I know that course development is not a seat I enjoyed. Groundwork is a stepping stone for additional coaching and the price point is within reach of a congregation and my own budget.”

Jenny Reichley Evergreen Finance Coach
“I can use Groundwork with small groups, Sunday school classes & families to continue to grow my visibility and creditability and then the profitability will come as I convert some to 1:1 clients. ”

Groundwork allows me to offer a more rounded solution; I can train up a church financial hero and have them plug and play and I can attend from time to time to answer questions. ”

Ron Povaleri
Financial Coach
Lighted Tunnel Financial Coaching

With Groundwork, I can train others in area churches and corporations to do the plug and play. It could also be a less costly way to offer Corporate Financial Wellness. ”

Kim Eldred
Financial Coach
Kim Eldred, CPA

The truth is ...

YOU can be an excellent group leader without needing to practice or be nervous

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I want to expand to churches and corporate events. Kathy's work is amazing and I have no ability to develop something anywhere close to what she has done. I have refused to use another popular program for this and have waited it out till the right product came along. I want a 5-6 week course that I can pitch to contacts that I have made. Groundwork is it. ”

Daniel Boyd
Financial Coach
Boyd Financial Coaching

Combine your passion to teach personal finances with engaging videos that serve multiple learning styles and stages

Groundwork For Mastering Money - financial literacy curriculum

Session 1

Foundations

Discovery
4 Keys for Mastering Money
Capacity
Income Streams
Balance
Unplanned Spending
Tracking

Session 2

Needs & Wants

Altitude/Net Worth
Defining Success
Wellness Wheel
Core Values
Needs
Wants
Dream List

Session 3

Saving

Saving
Priority List
Emergency Funds
Sinking Funds
Saving Ledger
Compound Interest
Opportunity Cost

Session 4

Spending

Planning
Order of Operations
Creating a Spending Plan
Mid-Month Adjustments
Irregular Income

Session 5

Debt

Debt
Paycheck to Paycheck
Leveraging
Traps
Steps to Get Out
Freedom Strategy

Session 6

Giving & Generosity

Why Give
Spontaneous Generosity
Strategic Generosity
Responsible Giving
Creating a Giving Plan

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Groundwork provides a simplified message so those that have no background at all can develop a good foundation on which to build. It is up to date for visual learners which most people are ⚊ especially the younger people. The plug and play option makes it very easy to provide services quickly and effectively. At this price point it would be easy to recoup the investment. ”

Ron & Meg Knapper
Financial Coaches
Knapper Financial Coaching

Regular and Faith-Based Versions

Finacial Literacy Curriculum

Everything you need to easily and effectively run an engaging plug & play financial literacy workshop for families and groups, or as a part of an Organizational Wellness Program.

Faith-Based Group Curriculum

Get the full curriculum plus additional video teachings, handouts, scripture verse list, & discussion topics based on Christian principles.

How it works

Once you purchase a license, Groundwork can be used as many times and on as many people as you want within a 1-year period. If you have arranged for someone else to play the videos for you, they will need their own license.

Groundwork helps you maximize your time
Financial experts are often asked to volunteer their time to teach. It's an honor to be asked and even better if it only requires just showing up rather than taking weeks of preparation.
Groundwork minimizes public speaking anxiety
Stop worrying about what to say and how to say it. A short welcome and introduction to who you are gets each class going. The videos cover the mechanics — you add your personality, stories, compassion, and expertise whenever it's needed. There is plenty of time for you to shine while you help participants with the activities.
Groundwork partners with certified coaches
Participants are encouraged to get personalized help at important points in the videos. Handouts include a link and QR code that lets all participants book a FREE Call with a trained financial coach. If you meet the qualifications, they can be sent directly to you.
Groundwork makes complex concepts simple
Groundwork teaches as though participants have no financial knowledge so everyone uses the same terms and can learn things they may have missed in the past (without having to muster up the courage to ask). This approach allows your group to quickly be on the path toward what they REALLY want by the time Groundwork is over.
Groundwork helps grow your business
The visibility and credibility built from being the person at the front of the room naturally leads to you being the go-to expert for participants who want to move to the next level. You just need to communicate the best way to sign up (and we can help you with that).

I just finished a zoom session with a family of 6 (mom, dad, a 17 yrs old, 2 - 15 yrs olds, and a 12 yr old). Two of the kids are in a school financial literacy class and they said that Groundwork has more information. The mom & dad appreciate that they are learning this together. ”

Jenny Reichley
Financial Coach
Evergreen Finance Coach

Wow!! Way to go, Kathy!! I did the first session with my Money Savvy Sisters group yesterday. It went over very well! They are looking forward to diving deeper in the next few weeks. ”

Heather Oynes
Financial Coach
Heather Oynes Financial Coaching

Groundwork fills a huge gap in financial literacy and introducing financial topics that can help people understand what coaching is and see their need for more in-depth attention. ”

Janie Folkert
Financial Coach
Folkert Financial Coaching

Q & A

What is Groundwork?

Groundwork is a 6-session video-based financial literacy group curriculum.

It was created to serve people who can't afford a personal financial coach, have trouble learning from a single person talking, and those who live in both Canada and the USA. It covers the core concepts people need to build healthy money habits and develop the right mindsets for sustaining their new skills.

The program allows for personalized answers (rather than a black-and-white, follow the dots method). It is very visual and was intentionally created for a variety of personality types and learning styles.

Excerpt from the Groundwork Beta Testers meeting

Why would I want to use Groundwork?

Groundwork allows you to serve a whole bunch of people when you don't have the capacity to meet them all individually.

It is also an excellent option for pro-bono or speak-to-coach gigs that would normally require a lot of preparation.

If you aren't fond of public speaking or you haven't done a gig for awhile, Groundwork is fantastic. You just push play and by the time it gets to the first discussion break, you'll be relaxed and ready to answer questions.

Groundwork is a great solution for mixed groups or extended families who aren't all in the same place financially. The foundational skills taught over the 6 sessions are helpful for everyone.

The drop-out rate for Groundwork participants is very low. Most participants comment on how helpful the classes are and look forward to the next one.

Excerpt from the Groundwork Beta Testers meeting

Where did the material for Groundwork for Mastering Money come from?

The content for Groundwork is based on a 12-session live program that was created and refined over many years by Chris and Kathy Steffan. It was further developed in collaboration with the Accountable Network.

The motive behind Groundwork is to help leaders and coaches easily teach financial literacy classes in a way that is affordable, easy, fun, effective, and brings sustainable results. The videos and handouts are purposefully made to showcase the person leading the sessions as the go-to-expert.

Groundwork is a passion project. We want to help coaches reach more people so more lives can be transformed.

How does Canadian and US information work together?

Groundwork was originally created for Canadians and when we developed the 6-session version, we added statistics from both the USA and Canada since our reach suddenly expanded the boarders when in-person wasn't an option.

The two countries have similar cultures and economies so foundational concepts that relate to Canada also apply to people in the United States.

For country legalities and terms, the videos stay at a high level. Leaders of Groundwork can draw on their own experience to bring in details for their location

Excerpt from the Groundwork Beta Testers meeting

How has this financial literacy program been used?

Groundwork has been used as a small weekly group, a large weekly group, a biweekly curriculum for a private facebook group, with families, for a group of homeschooled teenagers, as a financial wellness program for a mechanics shop, as a value-add for a financial advisor, for church Sunday School, and more. The video has Bernadette and Kirby explaining how they ran it.

Excerpt from the Groundwork Beta Testers meeting

How does the license work?

When you purchase a license, you get access to the training videos and supporting materials. You can run the program as many times as you want with as many people as you want for 1 year. That could be 500 people or running it just for your grandma. As long as you are the one pushing play, go for it.

There are 2 versions of Groundwork. The regular version has a shovel in the logo. The Christ-Centered version is a little bit longer, includes scriptures and Biblical ideas, and has a cross in the logo. To keep the administration as easy as possible, you get access to both versions with one license.

The license owner is the only one who is authorized to run Groundwork. To access the videos, handouts, resources and support each user must create an account on the Steffan Consulting portal. If you need someone else or an organization to have access, please book a Discovery Call so we can discuss your options.

Who can run Groundwork?

If you have experience running Financial Peace University (FPU) or other type of budgeting program for a group, you are welcome to apply for a Groundwork License and will likely be approved to lead it yourself. The application process helps us make sure you have the support you need to be successful. Please review the materials prior to your class starting. If you have any questions or are unclear how things work, let us know. We want you to be confident and successful!

If you are not a Certified Accountable Coach, the handouts will have a link for participants to have a free coaching session with Kathy Steffan. When they register, there is a place for them to put a referral code and we'd encourage you to create one so we know they are part of your group. The coaching call is not a sales pitch — we just want to make sure they are getting the support they need.

If you would like an experienced financial coach to serve your organization, church or other group, please sign up for a Discovery Call to discuss what you are looking for.

What do participants need to gather before the first session?

Nothing.

We start the series with some basic information and soft-skills. Not only does this approach help them really understand WHY they need to pay attention to their finances, it gives them time to warm up to you as a leader before you dig into numbers.

Excerpt from the Groundwork Beta Testers meeting

How much time is needed for each session?

The length of each session varies depending on what you are offering (or are offered). Most find 90 minutes per session to be a good length. That would give time for videos, small discussions and starting on the worksheets - they will have homework. If you can make it 2-hours you can get into deeper discussions, spend more time making sure they understand the activities, and can get more detailed with the scenarios. If you only have 30-45 minutes see if you can add a couple extra session and divide the lessons in half.

Where do I find the videos, handouts and support?

You will purchase your Groundwork license through Steffan Consulting Inc and set a password for the secure portal. As soon as you pay the invoice, you will get access to the videos, the regular handouts, and a link to the support group. Coach Connections members will also get a coupon to waive the fee for adding the videos to your Accountable library on Kajabi.

If the live location you are presenting in does not have stable wifi, please book a Discovery Call to discuss what you need to run the program successfully.

Who are Ted and Cindy?

Ted and Cindy are the pretend couple we use as an example for how the forms and worksheets could be filled out. They are introduced in the first video and can be referred to during your discussion times. Along with the blank forms, you will have access to examples completed by Ted and Cindy you can use to help teach the lessons.

Scenarios are a very nice tool for small groups who don't know each other very well or are uncomfortable talking about their money situation. They allow you to talk about money decisions without tangling up in the emotions behind their money.

The scenario is very loose so you can let the participants have creative license to fill in the gaps. When there are actual numbers to work with, or information on the worksheets, participants can ask intelligent questions and then reapply the skills to their own situation as homework.

Excerpt from the Groundwork Beta Testers meeting

What is included with the license fee?

The license includes access to 6 teaching videos, leader tips, discussion questions, Groundwork branded handouts, a free Discovery Call with a professional financial coach for every participant, access to our private leaders' community, promotional videos, social media posts, and a email marketing campaign.

Certified Accountable Coaches can upgrade their license so the handouts are branded with their logo, contact information, and QR code that points the free coaching session directly to them.

Other optional upgrades will be available as they are released

How does Groundwork compare to Financial Peace University (FPU)?

Many of the coaches in the Accountable Network are Ramsey Coaches and have run FPU multiple times. It is a popular plug-and-play program for churches and has been around for over 30 years. Please visit their website for more details.

Groundwork is also a plug-and-play program. It has been running as live workshops for over a decade and as a recorded program since 2022. In Groundwork, we make sure the person pushing play either is, or is connected to, an Accountable Certified Financial Coach and every participant has the option to sign up for a free 1:1 coaching session with this coach.

FPU	Groundwork
USA financial content	Canadian and USA financial content
Not allowed in Canada	Allowed in Canada
Videos are Dave Ramsey and other Ramsey personalities	Videos are narrated graphics and are designed so the expert is whoever is leading the class
7 Baby Steps (run from broke all the way to financial indpendence)	Essentials for financial stability (no investing or insurance lessons)
Volunteer pushes play and facilitates discussions	Trained Financial Coach (or equivalent) pushes play and facilitates discussions
Developed with a large budget and design team. It is very polished and sessions are structured in line with the Ramsey brand.	Developed by volunteers and put together by a financial coach who used to work in the design industry. Improvements are made every 1-2 years based on user input. How you run your sessions is up to you.
9-week class	6 Sessions usually done over 6 weeks
2024 prices were $80 USD per person	Participant cost is up to you
In-person or virtual	In-person or virtual
Content is delivered digitally (we're not sure if there's still a hard-copy workbook)	Handouts can be printed (black and white to keep costs low) or are fillable PDFs

Is it the same as the Accountable Speakers Kit?

If you are a Coach Connections member* you already have access to the Accountable Speakers Kit.

The Speakers Kit is a collection of 3 PowerPoints already built and ready to present on the top 3 requested topics (budgetting, why, and debt). They have been developed and tested over a long period of time and all three have excellent results. You are the speaker in this instance.

You can use these presentations for a 1-time gig or a 3-4 session series with each session running 60-120 minutes. You can show and hide slides as time allows. The workshops do need to stick pretty close to what is provided so you stay consistent with the Coach Connections methodology.

If you're not comfortable public speaking or you don't have time to prepare and practice your speech, Groundwork is a great alternative.

Groundwork videos present the content. There's no preparation needed other than planning how you want to introduce yourself. The nuances you bring to the table come from answering questions, leading discussions, and telling your story. You get to be yourself and care for the people wanting help.

Groundwork's great for diverse groups who need to start with basic financial literacy. It goes way back to ground zero and starts with what income is, what expenses are, and why they need to be intentional with their money.

*click here to learn about Coach Connections (and let them know Kathy Steffan sent you)

Was AI used to create Groundwork?

The short answer is NO.

Groundwork was created well before AI was accessible to the general public.

AI is captivating technology and we have used it occasionally when looking for an idea to talk about in our marketing campaigns or to find other ways to say something. For the most part, though, we have stayed away from it because of our appreciation for the creative community out there. We like people and want to use their God-given skills directly whenever we can.

Is it a stand-alone course?

The current format of Groundwork requires a knowledgeable person to lead the group. This was done on purpose. Statistics show only 10% of the people who sign up for online courses actually finish them and never get to experience the transformation that's on the other side of the work.

Having a capable leader helps keep them accountable, answers their specific questions, empathizes with their situation, encourages them, and can adapt the material for their specific needs. It's also more fun to interact with a human.

If you want people to take Groundwork without you having to lead it, help them sign up for one of the classes being offered through our participant-facing Groundwork page.

Excerpt from the Groundwork Beta Testers meeting

Whose voice is in the videos?

The voice belongs to Kathy Steffan (the person doing most of the talking in the Beta Testers Meeting clips)

Kathy has been teaching financial literacy since 2016 and has spent thousands of hours developing her skills and creating resources to help her clients really understand how money works and all the areas it influences.

Kathy is a member and mentor in the coach training organization, Coach Connections, LLC (an industry leading network of financial coaches that has been around since 2009) and is a leader in their associated Accountable Network.

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OMG!!! First session went awesome!! Our participants were so attentive, and they enjoyed the lesson. Heads were down taking notes like CRAZY. They really did look like they were hungry for the knowledge and they were absorbing everything. We dismissed them with the homework of TRACKING and BRAINSTORMING/RECORDING INCOME. Looking forward to next week.
YESSS!!!! Another great session. One of the Deacons remarked "wow - this is really some deep stuff to get you thinking.." Well yeah - that's the point..LOL!! Great foundational material. They were really devouring it.
OMG!! Not even 3 sessions into it, and we already have a Free Assessment call scheduled!
YAAYYYY!!!! We've just signed up new clients!! This workshop is da BOMB dot COM!!!
They are loving this workshop. They said it's practical and the concepts are easily applicable to 'here, now and today'. Already we've been asked to host this again!
Today was an EXCELLENT day. The lesson on Giving was quite eye-opening for all. Can't wait to do this workshop again!! ”

Bernadette & Kirby Addison
Financial Coaches
We Serv Financial Coaching

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