Certified YNAB Coach · One-on-one coaching

Worry less about money. Know exactly where you stand.

A family, a business, a first apartment, big decisions ahead: when money has a lot of moving parts, it's hard to feel settled, even when things are going well. Together we build a plan you trust and a habit you keep, so the next decision feels clear instead of stressful.

Book a free intro call See pricing

Based in Ames, Iowa. Sessions are over video, with evening times available.

Sound familiar?

Coaching isn't only for people in a money crisis. It helps most when there are more moving parts than a simple budget can handle.

“We both earn good money. Why does it still feel tight?”

Families with a lot going on

Two incomes, kids, a house, maybe bonuses or irregular pay. We pull it all into one plan so you can see how it fits together.

“I can't tell where the business ends and our household begins.”

Small business owners

I run my family's business books in QuickBooks alongside our YNAB budget, and I'll help you set up the same clean split, including seasonal income and tax set-asides. I work alongside your accountant, not instead of them.

See business pricing

“I've tried YNAB, but I can't get it to stick.”

YNABers who feel stuck

Maybe you just signed up and it hasn't clicked, or you've used it for years and stopped trusting the numbers. Either way, we get you to a budget you actually check.

“It's the first time I'm managing my own money, and I don't want to mess it up.”

College students

A part-time job, financial aid, rent, and a semester full of costs nobody warned you about. We set up your first budget together so good habits start now, while the stakes are small. Parents: give your student a strong start in college, wherever they study, by booking their first session for them.

See student pricing

Why work with me

  • Already supporting others through YNAB

    Family, friends and people in our church, well before I got certified.

  • Four days, 100 acres

    In 2021 my wife and I bought a horse boarding business and land on a four-day deadline. We could say yes because we knew exactly where our money stood.

  • I run two budgets myself: business and household

    Our family business and our home, kept separate and both up to date.

How coaching works

I don't hand you a template of categories. We start from first principles: what you value, what's coming, and what each dollar needs to do. With that foundation in place, prioritization gets simpler, because every decision is weighed against what matters most to you.

  1. 1

    Start with a free intro call

    Pick a time for a free 15-minute video call. We'll talk through what's going on and which option fits, with no pressure to sign up.

  2. 2

    Lay the foundation

    Before we touch categories, we get clear on your priorities and the core principles behind the YNAB method. Then we build or fix your budget around them, so it reflects how you actually want to live.

  3. 3

    Build the habit

    Setup is the easy part. The habit is where most people stall, so every plan ends with a simple weekly routine you can keep. Want someone in your corner until it sticks? That's what Ongoing Support is for.

Pricing

For individuals, couples and families.

Single Session

$249

One focused hour to set up YNAB or get it working again

  • New budget, or a repair: reconcile, untangle credit cards, and decide whether to start fresh
  • A written summary of what we changed and what to do next
Book a session
Best value · save $148

Starter Pack

$599

Three 60-minute sessions over one month: build it, live with it, make it stick

  • Session 1: build or rebuild your budget
  • Session 2: live with it for a week or two, then fix what's not working
  • Session 3: true expenses, goals, and a plan for the months ahead
  • Email questions between sessions
Get the Starter Pack

Ongoing Support

$349/month

Weekly accountability, for making the habit stick

  • A 30-minute monthly review
  • 15-minute accountability check-ins the other weeks
  • Email support
  • Month to month, cancel anytime
Start Ongoing Support

Not sure which fits? Book a free 15-minute intro call.

David Haila, Certified YNAB Coach

Hi, I'm David Haila

  • Using YNAB since 2020
  • Helped scale Workiva to $880M
  • Small business owner

YNAB transformed the way I spend money. I used to rely on Mint, which really just reported what I'd already spent, and I pulled together spreadsheets whenever I wanted to understand our financial picture. My older brother had been a YNAB fan for years. In 2020 I read Jesse Mecham's book, started using YNAB, and was hooked. Now I have a real-time view of our money priorities every day of the year. That clarity is why my wife and I could say yes to buying a horse boarding business in 2021.

Before coaching, I spent 17 years helping scale Workiva (NYSE: WK) from an Ames startup to $880M in annual revenue, starting as a software engineer and eventually leading a team of 750+ people around the world. Leading at that scale taught me to reason from first principles when tradeoffs get hard, and that is the heart of good stewardship. As a small business owner, I also run the bookkeeping, payroll and forecasting in QuickBooks, connected to our YNAB business budget.

I'm a leader in my church and have served on several community boards. I see money as stewardship: a tool for living the life you actually want, not a source of worry. I became a Certified YNAB Coach in May 2026 to help more people get there.

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Certified YNAB Coach

Questions people ask

Do I need YNAB already?

No. If you're new, we set it up together in your first session. YNAB is a separate subscription and isn't included in coaching prices. YNAB offers a free trial, and college students can get a free year through YNAB's college program.

Will you see my bank logins?

No. We work in your YNAB budget together over a screen share. Some clients choose to add me to their plan during coaching using YNAB Together, but that's optional. Even then, I never have access to your bank username or password.

Is this financial or tax advice?

No. I coach budgeting with YNAB. I don't sell investments or prepare taxes, and I work alongside your accountant or financial advisor, not instead of them.

Can my spouse or partner join?

Yes, and I recommend it. A budget works best when everyone who spends from it helped build it.

How can parents be involved?

Parents are welcome to book and pay for their student's coaching, and to join the free intro call. The sessions themselves are one-on-one with your student, on purpose: the goal is for them to own their budget and their decisions. They're always free to share what they build with you.

When are sessions?

Sessions are over video, so you can join from anywhere. Daytime and evening times are available.

Can I cancel Ongoing Support?

Yes. It's month to month, and you can cancel anytime.

How does booking work?

Pick a time on the booking page. Free intro calls are confirmed right away, and paid sessions are paid securely through Stripe. You'll get a confirmation email with your Google Meet link.

What if I need to reschedule or cancel?

Your confirmation email has a link to reschedule or cancel, up to 24 hours before your session. Rescheduling is always free. If you cancel a single session, I refund it less Stripe's card processing fee (about 3%). A cancelled Starter Pack session goes back into your pack to book again.

Questions first?

Not ready to book? Tell me a little about where things stand, and I'll reply within one business day. What you share stays between us.

Helpful to include: whether you already use YNAB, whether a business is part of the picture, and the one money decision or goal that's on your mind.

Prefer email? Reach me directly at david@ynab.coach.