At Ascendus, financial coaching is a strategy, a commitment, and a bridge to transformation. Through conversations with our Lending Managers and Directors across the country, a clear vision emerged: coaching enables entrepreneurs to build financial strength, unlock opportunities, and pursue long-term resilience.

💬 Why Financial Coaching Matters

Financial coaching addresses the lack of financial education faced by underserved entrepreneurs. As Jose V. Made, Director of Lending in New York, explains, “Money is not always the solution. Sometimes the issue is your staff, your location, or not knowing your numbers. Coaching helps diagnose the real opportunity.”

Coaching empowers clients to uncover and address root challenges, equipping them with the confidence to navigate their business journey sustainably. Andrea Ierace, Senior Vice President of Lending, highlights how coaching reshapes relationships between Ascendus and clients: “Coaching allows clients to stop seeing us as gatekeepers and start seeing us as allies. It changes the dynamic completely.”

🛠️ A Personalized Approach to Lending

At Ascendus, coaching is integrated throughout the lending process — before, during, and after a loan is disbursed. Adriana Contreras, Lending Manager based in Florida, shares, “We used to offer technical assistance as a one-size-fits-all. Now it is tailored: taxes, credit, licenses — whatever that client needs.”

Moreover, coaching begins even before an application is submitted. As Andrea affirms, “Even before they apply, we are helping clients understand their numbers. It is about readiness and sustainability.” This proactive guidance lays a foundation not only for securing funding but for building resilient, thriving enterprises.

🌱 The Transformative Power of Coaching

The transformations sparked by coaching are profound. Entrepreneurs often return with stronger credit profiles, clearer goals, and greater confidence. “They come back more secure. They are proud, because they have advanced,” says Jose.

Andrea notes that clients evolve from avoiding financial conversations to actively setting goals and asking strategic questions — a shift that fuels long-term success.

Through financial coaching, clients move beyond reactive behaviors to informed, proactive decision-making. “We are not just fixing one issue. We are building habits that protect businesses in the long run,” explains Andrea.

Transparency becomes a powerful tool as clients learn to manage finances openly, creating opportunities that previously seemed out of reach — a transformation emphasized by Dayanne Bohorquez, Lending Manager for New England and Expansion Regions.

📊 Measuring Progress and Leveraging Technology

To track progress and personalize support, Ascendus leverages tools like the Financial Health Score® and our own Borrower Index. According to Fabiana Estrada, Regional Vice President of Lending and Business Development, “It is like going to the doctor. You need real data to know where to go next.”

While artificial intelligence streamlines administrative tasks, at Ascendus, it’s viewed as a tool to enhance — not replace — human connection. “AI can reduce repetitive work. But that lets us spend more time where we are needed most — on human connection, listening, and guiding,” says Andrea. Fabiana Estrada reinforces this, reminding us that, “Coaching is still about walking the journey with the clients.”

🤝 Building Trust and Lasting Relationships

Coaching at Ascendus builds enduring relationships rooted in trust. “We are not just loan consultants. We are business advisors, customer service, mentors,” says Adriana.

Dayanne describes how Ascendus becomes part of the client’s ecosystem, much like an accountant or trusted advisor.

Investing time in coaching pays profound dividends. As Jose articulates, “What do you have to lose? An hour of your time? What you gain could transform your business forever.” Andrea Ierace likens coaching to preparing for a marathon — an act of resilience, preparation, and deliberate ascension.

🚀 A Catalyst for Broader Impact

Financial coaching multiplies the impact of capital. It ensures that loans serve as stepping stones, not stumbling blocks. “Advice is often worth more than the loan itself. It secures the investment,” says Jose. In Fabiana words, “With coaching we are enabling transformational impact.”

This Way Up represents our philosophy. Ascendus is not the destination, but a bridge. “It means elevation. It means clients are not stuck. Coaching helps them ascend — financially, strategically, and personally,” says Andrea. Fabiana adds, “We are part of the journey, not the end of it. We are a tool for advancement.”

✨ Final Thought

What we heard from our Lending Managers and Directors was passionate and clear: financial coaching is a tool to ascend. It is how we enable small business owners not only to access capital, but to unlock confidence, capacity, and community. Each client moves upward — resilient, bold, and supported — with our team as a committed ally beside them.

That is what “This Way Up” truly means.