About kivomitrae

We started kivomitrae because too many people were drowning in financial worry while trying to figure everything out alone. Our approach focuses on practical strategies that actually work in real life.

How We Got Started

Back in 2019, Marcus was working with families who were stressed about money but couldn't find practical help that made sense. Most financial advice felt disconnected from real life – budgets that ignored how people actually spend, or investment strategies that required money they didn't have.

The breakthrough came when we realized that financial stress isn't really about the numbers. It's about feeling out of control and not knowing what to do next. So we built kivomitrae around teaching people how to regain that sense of control, one manageable step at a time.

What makes our approach different is that we focus on reducing the emotional weight of money decisions first. When you're not paralyzed by stress, you can actually think clearly about your options and make choices that work for your specific situation.

Team working together on financial planning strategies

Meet Our Team

We're not your typical financial consultants. Our backgrounds span psychology, education, and real-world business experience. What we share is a commitment to making financial wellness accessible and genuinely helpful.

Marcus Whitman

Co-founder & Lead Educator

Marcus spent fifteen years helping families navigate financial crises before realizing that prevention was more powerful than crisis management. His teaching style combines behavioral psychology with practical money management – he's particularly good at helping people break the cycles that keep them stuck.

Derek Santos

Program Director & Financial Educator

Derek brings a unique perspective from his background in adult education and small business consulting. He designs our learning programs to work for busy people and has a talent for explaining complex concepts in ways that actually stick. His workshops consistently get the highest satisfaction ratings.

Individual consultation session demonstrating personalized financial guidance

Our Methodology

Start With Stress Relief Before diving into budgets or investments, we help people understand why money feels overwhelming and teach concrete techniques for managing financial anxiety.
Build Systems, Not Restrictions Instead of strict budgets that nobody follows, we help create flexible systems that adapt to how you actually live and spend.
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection Small, consistent improvements compound over time. We celebrate incremental wins and help people stay motivated through the inevitable setbacks.
Address Root Causes Financial problems often stem from deeper patterns around decision-making, communication, or stress management. We help identify and change these underlying issues.

Long-term Results

Two years after completing the program, I still use the stress management techniques every time I have to make a big financial decision. The tools became second nature, and I've actually helped several friends work through their own money anxiety using what I learned.

Rachel Thompson

Program participant, 2023 cohort

The biggest change wasn't in my bank account – though that improved too. It was finally feeling like I understood what I was doing with money. I went from avoiding financial conversations to actually enjoying planning for the future. My partner says I'm a completely different person when it comes to money discussions.

James Mitchell

Program participant, 2022 cohort

Group workshop session showing collaborative learning environment

One-on-one coaching session demonstrating personalized support