John J. McGuinness

Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach

Portrait of a man with a beard and short hair, wearing a blue patterned shirt, smiling in front of a blurred blue and white background.

Founder & Financial Coach
Behavior-First Guidance | Real Life. Real Change.

For more than 15 years, I worked in the funeral service industry, helping families through some of the most heartbreaking moments of their lives. Whether it was the passing of a parent, the sudden loss of a sibling, or the unimaginable grief of a child, I was the steady, compassionate presence in the room — guiding them forward with empathy and care.

But behind the scenes, I was quietly struggling.

I faced chronic anxiety, depression, poor financial decisions, and a lifestyle that appeared stable but was crumbling from within. Each day, I longed for a deeper sense of purpose — not just in my work, but in my life. I wanted to help people in a more transformative way, but I didn’t yet have the tools.

Then everything changed…

A building on fire at night, with flames and smoke coming from the upper floors, and a tree silhouetted against the flames.

*actual photo

January 7, 2022 — The Fire

That night, flames tore through the apartment below mine and across the hall. Chaos erupted. But the only alarm I heard was the one on my phone — a bank notification reminding me of my dangerously low balance.

By morning, I had lost everything: Furniture I never truly owned (thanks to rent-to-own agreements), a high-interest computer, photo albums, documents, clothes — even a toothbrush.

All that remained was my girlfriend, the clothes on my back, a large panting Goldendoodle… and one slightly smoked, tailless cat. (For the record, the fire didn’t take his tail. He’d chewed it off himself a few weeks earlier — because, well, cats.)

What should have been rock bottom quickly became worse. My unaddressed emotional spending and debt turned a disaster into a full-blown crisis. As Dave Ramsey famously says, “Debt turns an emergency into a crisis” — and I was living proof.

A person in a denim jacket standing at a fork in the road with one path leading into dark storm clouds and the other into sunny skies with green fields and trees.

The Turning Point

In the midst of that chaos, I stumbled on a video of Dave Ramsey speaking directly to people like me — overwhelmed, defeated, and stuck. And for the first time, I realized:
My problem wasn’t just financial. It was behavioral.

That moment marked the start of a new chapter.
Step by step, I began to rebuild.

I took ownership of my story. I addressed the habits, mindset, and emotions driving my choices. I paid off debt, lost over 80 pounds, regained mental clarity, and most importantly — I found purpose.

Today, I’m no longer surviving. I’m thriving — with focus, peace, and a deep calling to help others do the same.

Silhouettes of two people on a mountain, one helping the other climb, against a colorful sunset sky.

Why I Coach

I became a Ramsey Certified Financial Coach to walk alongside people just like you — whether you’re buried in debt, feeling stuck, or simply seeking direction.

No lectures. No shame. Just honest conversations, practical strategies, and a personalized plan to help you take control of your finances and your future.

Because here’s the truth:
Money is only 20% math — and 80% behavior.

You can’t change math. But you can change behavior.
You can rewrite your story.
You can rebuild — just like I did.

Let’s Take the First Step — Together.

No shame. No judgment. Just real change.