About Beyond Money
Financial coaching that’s practical, compassionate, and built for real life.
Beyond Money exists because the financial industry can be alienating at best — and cruel at worst.
Too many people seek help and walk away feeling small, ashamed, or overwhelmed. We built Beyond Money as an antidote: clear guidance, emotional steadiness, and a shame-free space to get your money back under control.
Why we focus on high earners with money stress
A lot of our clients have “successful” lives on paper — stable careers, solid incomes — and still feel stressed, avoidant, or out of control with money. Many are women earning $150k–$500k who:
carry significant consumer debt
have low savings
live paycheck to paycheck
feel embarrassed that money is still a struggle
We don’t believe you’re broken. We believe you need a system that works — and support to stick with it.
Fiduciary standards.
Everything we do together is designed for your long-term flourishing, not short-term fixes or transactional gain. Beyond Money doesn’t sell insurance or offer investment management services — instead, we’ll focus on your bottom line, and you can rest assured that everything we do together is in your best interest. We don’t take commissions or have a vested interest in the decisions you make, and never receive a cent beyond your monthly fees.
Long-term support.
Real transformation takes time, and I’m here for all of it. Finding fast progress can be easy, but as you’ve probably seen in your financial yo-yoing — it’s sticking to sustainable, long-term change that’s hard to come by. From initial breakthroughs to inevitable setbacks, from visioning next chapters to adjusting as life changes, I walk beside you. This isn’t a quick fix. This is a financial partnership rooted in presence, growth, and trust.
Flexible programs.
Clients start with a 6 month coaching container, wherein we meet bi-weekly for 1 hour, with email and text support between meetings. From there, some people need long-term accountability support, whereas others are confident to implement their new financial plan solo.
I am based in Chicago but work virtually with clients around the country.
What we believe…
YOU BELONG.
We support and celebrate your identity, including ethnicity, race, gender, LQBTQ+, age, nationality, religion, and abilities.
MONEY IS PERSONAL.
You are your own person, with your own history and your own dreams. You will always be treated as an individual, and never given one-size fits all solutions.
IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE.
You don’t have to sacrifice enjoyment of life in order to achieve financial health. We can make room in your budget for whatever’s most important to you — shopping, vacations, and all.
YOUR PROBLEMS ARE REAL.
The financial stress you’re feeling is real — even if you feel like you shouldn't have these problems at your income.
INTEGRITY MATTERS.
The financial industry is full of bad-actors and financial scams. To be clear: e never take commissions or referral bonuses.
MONEY IS EMOTIONAL.
It’s about more than financial education and budgeting. You simply can’t heal your relationship with money without addressing the emotional or psychological components.
ADVICE NEEDS TO BE RELEVANT.
Generic budgeting advice often fails in today’s cost of living and modern lifestyle pressures.
MONEY CAN BE GENTILE.
Judgment has no place. My highest mission is to always be a safe place for my clients, so you can explore your money in a compassionate, shame-free container.
THE SYSTEM IS SETTING YOU UP FOR FAILURE.
The economic system is designed to keep you in debt and spending money. You haven’t done anything wrong by getting here and none of this is your fault. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t create anew and build a new future.
Meet the Founder
Beyond Money was founded by Kate Grayson, a Chicago-based financial coach who set out to create something very different from the financial industry she had experienced herself.
Over the years, Kate saw how many smart, capable people struggled with money — not because they were irresponsible, but because they were never given systems that worked with real life. She watched friends and loved ones quietly carry debt, overspend, and live paycheck to paycheck despite strong incomes, often feeling embarrassed or ashamed to admit it.
Beyond Money was built as a practical, shame-free place to get support.
Kate has been coaching since 2018 and has worked with more than 100 clients. She is a Certified Financial Therapist (CFT), Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), and is certified in the Trauma of Money Method. Her approach blends clear financial structure with emotional awareness, helping clients build sustainable habits without judgment or fear-based tactics.
Today, Beyond Money operates with a clear, repeatable coaching methodology designed to support clients consistently. While Kate founded the company and shaped its approach, coaching is delivered through the Beyond Money model — ensuring clients receive structured, compassionate support whether working with Kate or with a trained Beyond Money coach.
When she’s not thinking about money, Kate can usually be found rotating through one of her many hobbies — from hand-weaving to open water swimming — a reminder that financial stability is meant to support a full, lived life.