About Matias Castano 

Matias is a Bilingual Financial Literacy Counselor with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a minor in Communication. His favorite class to teach is Re$tart, whether in Spanish or English, especially the Communication & Legacy piece. He spends his free time talking to Jesus and about Jesus to others, playing Football (soccer), hiking, reading the Bible, and finding the best pizza spots around town.

Favorite budgeting and tracking method and why: A custom spreadsheet I originally stole from Tina and then made my own. It’s something I can adjust/edit if needed, but also it has enough consistency that it keeps me aligned.

Favorite financial literacy topic: Saving Strategies or Budgeting/Tracking. For Saving Strategies... sacrifice now (delayed gratification) and live more freely later! For B/T... it’s the action behind the words (planning/preparation), or else your plans are in vain!

Favorite "small" financial habit: Meal prepping rice/pasta base with chicken, veggies (whatever is available at Birch) and sauce (tomato/alfredo/pesto/etc.). It gives me peace and I save a lot of money making the same simple food in bulk, even though it’s very similar every day/week.
What do you refuse to spend money on: Convenience. I’d rather experience the discomfort of daily tasks, than removing the friction that makes me human. Now, I wouldn’t go to the extreme because, for convenience’s sake, I drive a car to and from work instead of walking.

What does a first meeting with me look like?

• I like to start by building trust and figuring out your story, so that we can understand your goals.
• Then I like to understand how you best communicate, so that I can take the most impactful approach to sharing information with you. I want to serve you well.
• Later I like to gauge how ready you are for change, and given that you’re here at Birch, I figure you’re at least contemplating it, which is a good place to start.
• Lastly, I like to see if you are willing to take responsibility for your financial situation. You might not be at fault with some or all things that have happened to you, but you must be ready to move forward regardless.
• Overall, you’ll find clarity and practical application through counseling, that’ll propel your family’s financial health forward.

What does a financial counseling meeting with me NOT look like?

• Complacency or laziness
• Blaming others or scapegoating
• Non direct communication or avoidance
• No follow through on commitments or expectations made

What is my favorite part of my job?

When families take the knowledge they are given and implement it in their life. This is where they create greater headway towards their goals, but also where they begin to own their progress, slowly becoming great stewards along the way.

What is my least favorite part of my job?

Having to give families ultimatums and them not picking the option that is clearly the better route. Basically when families say they want to become financially stable, but their actions don’t match their words.

When someone who doesn't know what a financial counselor does asks me about my job, I say:

I help families discover their economic potential so they can reach their financial goals embedded in their values. I spend time listening and understanding to gain a greater grasp of how each family functions, and with that knowledge, push them towards the hope that exists in the work of their hands.