Personal Financial Coaching
Build Financial Confidence and Knowledge
Over 60 farmers (land & sea), fishermen, and industry workers have already benefitted from MAMP’s no-cost and confidential Personal Financial Coaching Program. You’re invited to join their ranks in a comfortable, judgment-free space where you can explore and learn through open financial conversations.
100% of MAMP Personal Financial Coaching Program participants
recommend this experience to other Maine producers and harvesters
During one-hour Zoom sessions (up to 4 hours of personalized guidance), participants explore essential financial concepts, money management strategies, and effective budgeting techniques. Our program pairs you with a dedicated financial coach, Allison Bishop, CPA, and focuses on curiosity, growth, and proactive discovery rather than traditional buyer-seller interactions. You’ll gain knowledge in your areas of interest, which may include budgeting and spending plans, growing savings, managing debt, building your credit score, and investing and retirement planning.
The MAMP Financial Coaching Program is designed to:
- Assist individuals & families in agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing to gain confidence in and understanding of basic financial concepts and practices.
- Provide a resource and expertise-seeking model around money management, planning, and budgeting.
- Create intentional and low-barrier opportunities to discuss and explore an often taboo and uncomfortable subject: money!
- Provide a different experience: working proactively with a financial coach in an environment that focuses on curiosity, learning, and growing understanding – instead of the norm: transactions with financial professionals only as a borrower, buyer, or seller.
- Build transferable skills and knowledge in personal financial management that can flow into aspects of your farm or fishing business.
Your Journey, Our Support
Your time and thoughtfulness in (a) attending a brief intake with MAMP Staff and scheduled sessions with Allison, the Financial Coach, (b) completing three brief surveys, and (c) one Financial Coaching Intake Form – provided by Allison — for this no-cost program ($800 value).
“My experience with MAMP Financial Coaching has been incredibly valuable, particularly in the areas of retirement and savings planning… we thoroughly explored [our] finances; I really appreciated the balance between structure and flexibility in the sessions.” ~ 2025 Program Participant
Registration
Registration Eligibility: land & sea farmers, fishermen, and industry workers (Limited to 20 individuals or families).
Enrollment/Application Period: August 15, 2026 to January 15, 2027
*Please note: If the program is at capacity or the deadline for the enrollment/ application period has passed, please submit an application (below). You will be added to a waitlist, and MAMP Staff will notify you as soon as program slots become available!
Personal Financial Coaching Sessions are Available: October 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027
“I really enjoyed working with Allison. She was very approachable and considerate of our needs and desires in working on our finances.” ~ 2025 Program Participant
About Allison Bishop, CPA
With twenty-five years of experience as a Certified Public Accountant, Allison specializes in aligning financial decisions with personal values. Graduating from the College of William & Mary in 1997 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, she spent nearly a decade working in public accounting, litigation consulting, and forensic accounting in Washington, DC.
More recently, Allison has contributed expertise to Portland, Maine’s local accounting firms, focusing primarily on individual tax returns. Driven by a passion for personal finance ignited by a childhood shaped by healthy financial discussions, she now focuses on guiding individuals towards financial wellness. She actively serves as a FINRA Dispute Resolution Arbitrator.
For More Information
Do you have questions? Contact the Maine Agricultural Mediation Program (MAMP) at maineagmediation@maine.edu or Program Director Lucy Wess at 207.974.9637.
For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Lucy Wess at lucille.wess@maine.edu, or 207.974.9637.