Carlisle financial planner branches out to help people with day-to-day budgets

Lindsey Ciarrocca

Business Name: The Exuberant Elephant

Years in business: 4 years

Location: Carlisle

Contact: theexuberantelephant.com

Q: Why did you want to start this kind of business?

A: I started in financial services in 2016 as a financial planner (I still have that business with my husband) but I kept coming across people who needed help with budgeting. That is what truly lights me up and how I found my way into the industry in the first place, so I started this business in 2020 to focus on helping people with their day-to-day expenses.

Q: How did you get your start?

A: It actually all started with a budget. My friend asked me to help her with her money in late 2015. We sat down on a Friday night and combed through her finances. I showed her a few things like how she could pay off her car with the money she was making from her second job before she went to grad school, and she was blown away. She made the comment “I’m so sorry to make you work on a Friday night.” To which I replied, “Are you kidding, I love this stuff.” And that was my lightbulb moment. My degree is in graphic design, and I was still struggling to figure out “what I wanted to be when I grew up” but when I responded to her comment that way, I knew it was something I needed to explore more.

Q: What does your business sell or provide?

A: My entire business exists to empower women and couples to create a more positive relationship with their money so they can use it as a tool to build their businesses, live their greatest life and create positive change in the world. This is mainly done through my proprietary six-month 1:1 coaching program that dives into your relationship with money, in addition to the numbers, because there is so much more to money than just the numbers. I also have a full digital course modeled after this 1:1 program, smaller digital tools and resources, as well as free online content, such as my blog.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you are facing right now?

A: Spreading the word about my digital offerings, in particular, my digital course which is modeled after my 1:1 coaching program but at a fraction of the price of private coaching. (And trying not to work too much because I really love what I do, and I rarely feel like I’m actually working. Plus, I just have so many ideas I want to implement.)

Q: What is your favorite thing to do or place in Cumberland County?

A: I love all of the small businesses in the area and being able to help support each other in our growth. It’s fun to get to know other business owners and make connections in the Carlisle community and beyond. Plus, I love having local resources I can refer clients and friends to.