Our counselors help you navigate the financial services world to protect your hard-earned money, improve your current financial situation to the maximum extent possible, and successfully set and achieve your longer-term goals. 

Appointments focus on what you'd like to get out of the program. Our counselors advocate with and for you, help you navigate through various options and inform you of your rights as consumers so you feel empowered to make the best decision.

All financial counselors are certified by the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors. Financial counseling services are funded by the City and County of San Francisco and provided by these three service providers.

Andrea C - LGBT

Andrea

SF LGBT Center

Andrea was born and raised in South America and earned her degree from Santa María University in Caracas, Venezuela. She has over 10 years of experience in business and corporate law as a legal assistant and legal business adviser. Andrea moved to the Bay Area in 2016 and after assisting friends with financial advice for several years, she became a licensed financial counselor in 2022. She is passionate about combining her interests, career, and her background as a native-Spanish speaker to empower others in her community.

Blanca

Blanca

Financial Capability Investment

Blanca has over ten years of experience in financial counseling and education. As a HUD-certified counselor and an EMPATH economic mobility coach, she has assisted in rental aid, homebuying, foreclosure prevention, credit counseling, and overall financial wellness. Blanca is passionately committed to financial education and coaching, focusing on empowering underserved communities, families, and youth. She combines professional expertise with a sincere and personal commitment to those she assists, aiming to foster positive and enduring changes. 

Carlos

Carlos

BALANCE

Carlos is a certified financial counselor and educator with a background in economics. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, he discovered his passion for personal finance during the pandemic and has since dedicated his career to supporting people in building stronger financial futures. Carlos believes that every client is an expert in their own financial journey. His role is to listen, provide tools and strategies, and advocate alongside clients so they can make informed decisions with confidence, always with a focus on empowerment and long-term success. 

Chris_SMC

Chris

BALANCE

Christopher is a Certified Financial Counselor (CFC) and HUD-Certified Housing Counselor who helps clients strengthen their finances through cash-flow management, budgeting methods, credit improvement, debt management, saving strategies, and goal setting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Golden Gate University, where he is also completing a master’s degree in financial planning. Christopher incorporates motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment approaches, and financial coaching techniques into his work. He is passionate about helping clients understand their financial lives, identify practical next steps, and build lasting confidence in their ability to make informed financial decisions.

Fabrizio Chavez headshot

Fabrizio

Financial Capability Investment

Fabrizio Chavez is a bilingual Financial Coach dedicated to helping individuals and families build confidence with money through education, practical guidance, and compassionate support. Drawing on his background as an educator and his passion for financial wellness, he empowers clients to create sustainable habits, navigate financial challenges, and work toward goals that align with their values.

Fabrizio believes that personal finance is about more than numbers—it’s about creating stability, reducing stress, and expanding opportunities. He strives to make financial concepts approachable and actionable so clients feel equipped to make informed decisions with confidence.

Howard_SMC

Howard

BALANCE
Howard is a Senior Certified Financial Counselor and HUD-Certified Housing Counselor with more than three decades of dedicated service at BALANCE Financial Wellness and more than 32 years of experience in the financial services sector. During his career, Howard has had the privilege of helping over 30,000 individuals and families gain the knowledge, confidence, and strategies needed to achieve their financial goals and build greater financial stability.
 
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa, with dual degrees in International Management and Spanish. As an active member of the LGBTQ+ community, and with a strong commitment to serving seniors and individuals with disabilities, Howard has dedicated his career to providing compassionate, inclusive, and empowering financial guidance.
 
Howard takes pride in being professional, helpful, and non-judgmental, meeting clients where they are and helping them move forward with practical solutions and renewed confidence. His guiding philosophy is simple: “Do not focus on your past failures, but build on your current successes.”
John SMC

John

Financial Capability Investment

John has been a leader in the financial capability field since 2008. John has helped over 8,000 clients address severe personal and financial challenges, giving them support and tested tools to achieve financial security and economic mobility. As a San Francisco native from a second-generation Mexican family, a former small business owner, financial advisor and a UC Berkeley graduate, John brings a unique and powerful combination of local, cultural, and financial expertise to his work with diverse clients and partners.

Julia SMC

Julia

BALANCE

Julia is a bilingual Mandarin-speaking Certified Financial Counselor and HUD-Certified Housing Counselor with a background in Psychology and Neuroscience from UC Berkeley. Her experience supporting behavior change has given her insight into behavior, motivation, and habit formation, which she brings to her work with clients. Julia believes financial wellness is about understanding the bigger picture and recognizing opportunities to strengthen one’s overall financial future. She enjoys helping clients identify practical strategies, access helpful resources, and stay motivated as they work toward their financial goals.

Nalleli SMC

Nalleli

BALANCE

Nalleli was born and raised in Colorado where she developed a love for nature and community advocacy from an early age. Seeking a diverse educational experience, she attended the University of San Francisco. She started her professional career working at a law firm and accounting firm. In her roles, she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of financial literacy in people's lives. As a result, she is committed to empowering others with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve financial well-being.

Torey

Torey

SF LGBT Center

Torey is an NACCC-certified financial counselor at the Center, helping community members navigate budgeting, credit building, and long-term financial goals with compassion and practical tools. Raised in the Midwest, Torey brings a grounded, client-first approach shaped by years of housing policy work, political organizing, and campaigns across the Bay Area. They hold a master's degree in urban and public affairs from the University of San Francisco with a focus on affordable housing policy. 

Verenice

Verenice

Financial Capability Investment
Verenice Lopez-Meza is a bilingual (Spanish-speaking) Financial Counselor with more than ten years of experience supporting individuals and families through case management, behavioral health, child welfare, and family support services. She is pursuing a Master of Social Welfare at UC Berkeley and is passionate about helping underserved communities build financial stability, strengthen resilience, and achieve their goals. 
 
Verenice brings a rare combination of lived experience, academic training, and professional expertise to our program. As a former foster youth who emancipated from the San Francisco foster care system at age 19, a Latina immigrant, and a single mother, she understands firsthand the challenges many individuals and families face when navigating complex systems and overcoming barriers to economic mobility. These experiences have shaped her commitment to advocacy, empowerment, and creating opportunities for individuals and families to thrive. She is dedicated to helping clients build financial confidence, develop practical financial skills, and create pathways toward long-term economic security and generational well-being. 
Wasim

Wasim

Financial Capability Investment

Wasim grew up in London, where he inherited an entrepreneurial spirit from his parents. He attended a UK Immigration Law program sponsored by Cambridge University and gained valuable experience in finance as a banker in the US. Wasim's investment journey began at the remarkably young age of 14. His early exposure to the world of finance not only taught him valuable lessons in money management but also instilled a deep appreciation for the power of financial literacy. As a SF Financial Counselor, he is excited to empower others with his diverse background. 

SF Financial Counseling is generously funded in partnership with many local agencies:
HSA
SF Public Library
SFO
HSH
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SF Juvenile Probation

                                                

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