Meet Tonya, the heart and soul behind Everyday Money Matters, LLC. With an impressive career spanning over three decades in the field of personal financial education, Tonya hails from the Alabama River Region and has come full circle in her commitment to serving her community.

Tonya’s journey began in ’93, helping injured Alabama loggers with their benefits. Later, as an active-duty military spouse stationed in Germany, she assumed the role of Potential Loss Account Specialist for Military Banking in Europe, earning the nickname “the repo lady” for her responsibilities. It was during this time that Tonya’s passion for helping others understand their finances came to the forefront. A local Army Commander sought her assistance in addressing the soldiers mishandling of their personal finances, leading to the initiation of personal financial education workshops for the army post. Her dedication to financial education has never wavered since. She is now known as the “money lady”.

Following her European tenure, Tonya ventured into nonprofit leadership, serving as the Executive Director of HOPE, Inc, where she expanded the program’s reach from one community to three states. Her innovative Magic Mobility Camps and Lending Equipment Library Program for families and children with disabilities earned recognition in Exceptional Parent, Inc Magazine. During this period, she worked closely with families struggling to balance their children’s needs and family budgets.

In addition to helping countless clients, Tonya is a proud “former” (because he’s retired) military spouse of 27+ years and a mom of two AMAZING kids. In her downtime, she’s a travel enthusiast, always eager to learn from new cultures and people.

Tonya’s academic background includes an undergraduate degree in Social Psychology-BS with honors from Park University and a Master of Human Service Counseling in Marriage and Family Therapy from Liberty University. She holds an Accredited Financial Counseling (AFC®) certification from the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE), is a Military Qualified Financial Planner (MQFP®) and an IRS Registered Tax Preparer. She is an active member of the Financial Therapy Association, AFCPE, Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Region Spouse FINRA Foundation Fellows Ambassador, VP of the Pike Road High School Show Choir Boosters, and a member of the Pike Road Arts Council.

Tonya’s approach to working with clients is rooted in genuineness and the acknowledgment that different tools yield different results. She encourages open-mindedness and embraces hard conversations as essential steps towards clients’ financial goals. She knows that personal growth often begins with a fresh perspective.

So, if you’re looking for financial guidance with a personal touch, Tonya’s your go-to expert!