Don’t Plan It for Them: Helping Clients Decide What to Do With a Tax Refund

Tax refund season brings opportunity.

And for financial coaches, it also brings temptation.

When a client receives a large windfall — $3,000, $7,000, even $20,000 — it’s easy to get excited about the progress they could make. Debt payoff. Emergency funds. Investments. Big wins.

But sometimes in that excitement, we forget to pause and ask:

What do they want?

In this episode, Cody and Maria unpack a subtle but important coaching lesson — one that often surfaces during tax season:

Why coaches can unintentionally overstep when windfalls arrive
How goal-chasing can override client ownership
The importance of asking before advising
Why splitting a refund may increase long-term engagement
How mature coaches measure success differently

This conversation isn’t really about tax refunds.

It’s about leadership.
It’s about restraint.
It’s about remembering that great coaching helps clients make confident decisions — not just efficient ones.

Because it’s not about what’s mathematically optimal.

It’s about what they’re ready to own.

🎧 Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode

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🎵 Music by Summer School

Don’t Plan It for Them: Helping Clients Decide What to Do With a Tax Refund | EP 231

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