Straight answers to the questions people ask us most, before and after booking. If yours is not here, the contact page reaches a person who will answer it — usually the same day.

About the service

What exactly is Balancrix? Balancrix is a budget planning service. A real planner works with you — in a session by video call or in person — to understand your income and expenses, helps you build a written budget plan in plain English, and supports you afterward if you choose a membership. We are a planning service, not a financial firm: we do not sell investments, manage money, prepare taxes or give legal advice.

Is this financial advice? No. What we provide is educational planning help: a process and a written plan for your income and expenses. We are careful to stay inside that boundary and to say so clearly. Please read the important disclaimer for the full statement.

Who is Balancrix for? Households — individuals, couples and families — and small businesses that want a clear operating budget. Most clients are regular people with regular incomes who simply want to stop guessing about their money. You do not need to be good with numbers or bring perfect records.

Do I need to be in Portland? No. Sessions are held by secure video call across the United States. In-person sessions are available in Portland, Oregon, when schedules allow.

Is Balancrix a licensed financial service? No, and we are careful never to imply that we are. We are an educational planning service. We do not hold a license to sell securities or insurance, and we do not need one for what we do — because what we do is help you plan a budget, not sell or manage financial products. If your situation needs a licensed professional, we will tell you.

Sessions and process

What happens in the intro session? A 45-minute conversation. Your planner asks about your income, your regular costs and what you are planning toward; you share as much or as little as you like. You leave with clear notes and an honest recommendation — which may be a full plan with us, or simply good next steps you can take on your own.

How long does a full plan take? The planning session itself is 90 minutes. Your written plan arrives within five business days, followed by a short review session to confirm it reads correctly. Most clients go from intro to a finished plan in about two weeks, and faster if needed.

What do I need to prepare? Nothing for the intro session. For the planning session, the most useful thing is a rough picture of your monthly income and your main costs — recent statements or a few notes are plenty. We work with estimates happily; the plan can be refined later.

Will you ask for access to my bank accounts? Never. We do not need access to your accounts, we will never ask for passwords, and we do not move money on your behalf. Your plan is built from what you tell us, and you stay in full control of your own accounts.

What if I am behind on bills or carrying debt? You are welcome exactly as you are, and we will meet you without judgment. We help you build a plan that starts from reality — including realistic amounts for paying down what you owe. We do not negotiate with creditors, settle debts or promise that any plan will erase debt; that kind of help needs a different, regulated kind of provider, and we will say so.

Plans and pricing

How much does it cost? The personal plan is a one-time $149. The membership is $39 per month. The business partner plan is $299 per month with setup included in the first month. All prices are in US dollars, and the details are on the pricing page.

Are there hidden fees? No. The price you see is what you pay: no setup fees, no per-session fees, no charge for worksheets or plan updates. Discounts are available for students, retirees, households on public assistance and nonprofits — see the pricing page.

Can I cancel the membership? Yes, anytime, in one message to [email protected]. You can also pause for a month during a busy season and resume later without penalty. No cancellation fees, ever.

What is the 14-day guarantee? If you complete a paid session and feel the service was not worth it, or your written plan does not arrive as promised, contact us within 14 days and we refund the full amount. The complete terms are in the refund policy.

Privacy and records

What do you do with what I share in sessions? Only what is needed to serve you. We keep a confidential summary of your plan so future sessions have context; we never sell your information, and we never share it for advertising. The full details are in the privacy policy.

Are sessions recorded? Only if you ask for a recording of your own session. We do not record sessions by default, and we never share recordings.

Can I get a copy of my plan or my records? Yes — your plan is yours. Ask anytime, and we will send you a copy of everything we hold about you, or delete it if you prefer, as described in the privacy policy.

Practicalities

What if I need to reschedule? Life happens. Reschedule free of charge up to 24 hours before a session through the link in your confirmation email, or by writing to [email protected]. Late cancellations and missed sessions are covered in the terms of service.

Do you work with couples who disagree about money? Yes — this is one of the most common reasons families come to us. The planning session gives both partners an equal voice, and the written plan becomes the agreement you both signed, which makes the next argument about the plan rather than about each other.

Do you help with business and personal budgets together? Yes. Many small business owners use the business partner plan for the company and the personal plan for the household, so owner pay connects cleanly to the family budget. Ask when you book and we will coordinate the same planner for both.

How do I get started? Book through the contact page, call +1 (503) 555-0174, or write to [email protected]. We answer every inquiry within one business day, and intro sessions are usually available within the same week.