Shell's Bio

Hi, I’m Shell Tain and I'm a money coach.

I started coaching in 2000, after years in the field of accounting. My work experiences ranged from co-owning a small market radio station, to a shopping center manager; from the CFO of a computer software company, to the controller of a multi-million dollar medical equipment firm. And just for a change of pace, I spent several years in the creative world of interior design.

Outside of work, I spent many years working with youth. The particular group that I worked with used a model of youth led programming with adults as support, advisors, and confidants. This and other experiences in personal growth work and team leading gave me a love for leading workshops and trainings that support and encourage new ways of thinking.

My relationship with money started early. I received my allowance only if my little ledger book balanced. The columns were titled INCOME and OUT GO. It didn’t matter to my parents what I spent the money on, as long as my ledger book was balanced. No wonder I ended up in accounting! My dad was terrible with money himself, but he wanted things to be different for me. He borrowed money from me and paid me back with interest. He taught me to track it, account for it and work it to my best advantage. When I wanted a sewing machine he said he’d pay half if I saved for the other half. When the time came to buy the machine, I told him I wanted to pay a bit more than half so I would have owning interest. He was thrilled.

All this familiarity with money made the mechanics of it easy for me. But, as an accountant, people were frequently bringing money problems and concerns to me. I became fascinated and intrigued by all the stuff people made up about their money. The nuts and bolts accounting part seemed pretty straight-forward to me. Yet, the difficulties and complexities surrounding most people’s money beliefs seemed to me to be restricting their lives.

I went into life coaching because I wanted to help people have bigger, fuller lives. Once I had finished my basic training it was time to choose my specialty. It occurred to me that I had always been coaching people around money issues anyway, even before I knew what I was doing was coaching. So the choice to become a money centric life coach was a natural one for me. And now my career actually supports a life long passion, helping individuals, couples, groups and corporate teams change their habits and beliefs surrounding money.

I trained with the Coaches Training Institute, and have both the accreditations of cpcc (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach) from them and a pcc (Professional Certified Coach) accreditation from the International Coach Federation. Part of my continuing coaching education included the ORSC (Organizational and Relationship Systems Coaching) series with Marita Fridjhon and Faith Fuller of the Center for Right Relationship. I continue to improve and enhance my coaching skills on a regular basis by seeking new information and experiences to apply to how we deal with our money perspectives.

My friends often describe me as bright, adventurous, courageous, trustworthy, diligent, and even downright silly. I have a deaf dog and three cats. I’ve been in relationships, and lived alone. I’ve lived on both coasts, in six states and Canada. I love knitting, movies, music and art. I delight in sewing, reading and in hiking the myriad of trails in the Portland area. When I was a kid, I spent most summers in Wyoming, and the rest of life in Hollywood, California. I transitioned from the country to the city, the simple to the sophisticated, steak to sushi, Elvis to Enya. With all those contrasts I learned that there really are very few absolutes.

My life has been, and continues to be, an adventure in many ways. I am willing to take risks, stand up for what I believe in, and to be there for others.