We recently spoke with SmartPath Coach Moosah Dowlatabadi about how he motivates clients and creates systematic steps they can follow to hit their financial goals. Let's dive in!

### First please tell our readers a little about yourself and your professional background. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA by immigrant parents, I saw firsthand the toll that personal finance can take on a household. We lived within our means and were able to amass the wealth my parents moved to this country for. I’ve always been the type of person who was interested in learning, so I took it upon myself to study the Warren Buffets of the world and try to live my life by their standards. This drew me into the world of Finance where I’ve been fortunate enough to work on both sides of the spectrum in handling client assets in the millions of dollars and helping clients survive the paycheck to paycheck lifestyle. I can say one of these sides was easier than the other, and one side has been more meaningful to me personally.
### What life experiences attracted you to financial coaching and planning? Being a lifelong athlete I’ve experienced the impact a great coach can have on both the mental and physical front. As a result, I was fortunate enough to play Division I College Soccer and live out a childhood dream. After this accomplishment I felt it was my obligation to help mold future generations of soccer players so began my journey with “Soccer4Starters” a company I started while in school. We’d reach out to underprivileged communities and provide free soccer camps while incorporating simple social skill exercises in the sessions. In our eyes, this went a long way in helping us create lasting impact in both the children's world and society as a whole. After graduating with a degree in Finance and Economics, I took the natural course of action and became a stockbroker at a household name brokerage firm. I worked there for a few years, but something inside of me said this isn’t fulfilling your purpose in life. I was helping affluent clients plan and manage their money, but deep down I knew they would be in a good position regardless of the products or help I offered. With that in mind, this drew me to the world of Financial Coaching and my journey with SmartPath. Since coaching was already in my wheelhouse, it was a natural transition in motivating clients and creating steps they can follow to hit their financial goals. In the short time I’ve been here, it’s impossible to measure the satisfaction and gratitude I have felt in helping our clients hit those goals. I look forward to the continued growth and success of all our clients.
### What are your favorite aspects of working with clients? - Watching their growth - Creating lifelong impact - Being a companion of their journey “Cheerleader in the corner”
### I believe one of your core areas of financial focus is helping clients pay off debt. Will you share your candid advice for people working on this goal in 2020? Use Cash! It's hard to spend money you don’t really have. Most people fall into the trap of credit cards by their enticing offers: 0% for the first 18 months, Get 1,000 bonus points towards the vendor of your choice when you spend $2,000 in the first month, Earn 70,000 sky miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 2 months. These are just a few of the thousands that are out there! Although they look attractive at first glimpse, opening credits cards allows a person to spend much more than they make in any given month. This, in turn, is how most people find themselves in a hole with no ladder to get out. Don’t get me wrong, credit cards can be great ... when leveraged the right way. Coming back to getting out of debt, use CASH and begin tackling the debts you have with a strategy: - Avalanche: Use FUEL to pay down the card with the highest interest rate first, while making the minimum on others. Once that card is paid off use the money you were paying on it and apply it towards the next card with the highest interest rate. Continue until all cards have been paid off. Remember this can take a few years to tackle so stay motivated! - Snowball: Use FUEL to pay down the card with the lowest balance first, while making the minimum on others. Once that card is paid off use the money you were paying on it and apply it towards the next card with the next lowest balance. Continue until all cards have been paid off. This is great for the small wins, as you’ll see the overall number of debts you’re paying decreases over time. If you’re looking to save the most money the Avalanche method will be the best move! Either way, both options are great methods for getting out of debt.
### What is one thing you would suggest that everyone could do immediately to better their financial position? __Track Your Spending__. In this day and age, there’s no excuse not to know where your money is going. There are multiple apps out there that make this task more accessible and manageable. We use SmartPath Mobile with our clients, it’s a great way to see if you’re on track to "Spend Less Than You Make" every month! SmartPath Mobile is available through the [Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/pe/app/smartpath-mobile/id1457846376?l=en) and on [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smartpathfinancial.app&hl=en_US).

Interview with SmartPath Senior Software Engineer, Kyle Redding

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