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💸 The financials of going freelance: advice from a personal finance coach

💸 The financials of going freelance: advice from a personal finance coach

An interview with award-winning, self-employed, UAE-based chief financial officer Carol Glynn

Katy Gillett's avatar
Katy Gillett
May 20, 2025
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💸 The financials of going freelance: advice from a personal finance coach
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Whether you’re just starting out or a decade into freelance life, you’ve probably had moments where you’ve felt financially overwhelmed. No guaranteed salary, fluctuating income, unpredictable clients, chasing payments - it can be a lot to navigate, especially if, like many of us, you weren’t taught how to manage money growing up.

So I spoke to Carol Glynn, an award-winning finance coach and mentor, and a self-employed CFO, who really gets the ups, downs and in-betweens of freelance life. Based in the UAE, Carol specialises in helping small businesses and solo operators build sustainable, profitable systems around their finances.

Carol Glynn offers financial services exclusively to freelancers and solo operators. Pic from Carol

I got to know Carol because I took one of her personal finance courses and learned so many valuable skills about budgeting, keeping track of my spending, and investing in exchange-traded funds. She’s a great and empathetic teacher who’s passionate about empowering freelancers to take charge of their finances.

In this post, she shares no-nonsense advice on everything from preparing financially before going freelance to what you should do if a client isn’t paying on time. We also talk UAE-specific challenges, why so many freelancers underpay themselves, and how separating your business and personal money could be the best thing you ever do for your stress levels.

It’s an empowering, myth-busting conversation - and if you’ve been feeling a bit foggy about money lately, I hope it brings some clarity.

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