Candice Bakx-Friesen’s name is well-known throughout southeast Manitoba, and her face is a common sight on Royal LePage signs. But her talents run well beyond selling real estate. She’s also a money coach who operating under her ancillary business, Investor Smarts.
On April 10, Bakx-Friesen will host a panel discussion at Smitty’s in Niverville. The topic: “Real Life Challenges that Entrepreneurs and Their Partners Face.” It’s a subject in which Bakx-Friesen is well-versed. She manages both a real estate business and money coaching business. Her partner works in farming. Together they also own Airbnb rental property.
“My parents were entrepreneurs, and my grandparents, so that’s pretty much all I know,” she says. “When you grow up with it, you see the ins and outs and the stress of growing the business, the stress of downturns in the market. As much as they want to leave it at work, you hear about it at home.”
Bakx-Friesen has invited three entrepreneurial couples to take the hot seat for Monday’s panel discussion. They include Ritchot mayor Chris Ewen and his wife Maranda, Chuck and Amy Allen of Earth and Hide, and insurance brokers Deb and Wayne Esau.
Bakx-Friesen says that the discussions will be of interest to couples who run a business together, those who run separate businesses, and even those where only one person is self-employed.
She anticipates many topics to arise, including how to leave business affairs at work at the end of the day and how not to expect your partner to also be your business coach.
“There are so many different facets to [entrepreneurial partnerships] and I just feel like nobody has these kinds of real conversations.”
The event will be low-key, addressing real-life scenarios. Questions and feedback will be welcome.
Bakx-Friesen intends to use this event as a jumping point for future workshops based on business and money topics. She says that she works with individuals, families, and business owners to better understand challenging aspects of money management. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an interest in finance that goes back many years.
“I’ve been doing money coaching for about eight or ten years,” Bakx-Friesen says. “It’s nice [for my clients] because they can talk to somebody who’s not trying to sell them investments and not trying to sell them insurance. It’s just strictly talking about money and the psychology behind why we spend.”
She meets with clients virtually and also in their homes or places of business.
The April 10 event has limited space, so Bakx-Friesen recommends that people register in advance. There is no cost to the event and food and drinks will be provided.
