My ADHD Story

Michael Ross
PCAC AACC APFS

As your ADHD Empowerment and Financial Coach, I want you to feel that our work together has empowered you to change your world and move you from surviving to thriving!

What I offer

As your ADHD coach, my mission and focus is on empowering you to live a fulfilling and balanced life. I understand the challenges you face and offer compassionate, empowering support. With a focus on ADHD-friendly financial guidance, productivity coaching, and personalised strategies, together we can help you turn your ADHD into a source of strength. With 13 years of experience as a Financial Adviser, Specialist ADHD Coach, and Neuroscience Training, coupled with my lived experience with adult-diagnosed ADHD, I bring a wealth of knowledge to help you transition from merely surviving to truly thriving.

My Personal Journey

Receiving an ADHD diagnosis at age 38 was a surprise, but it brought immense relief. It explained the lifelong struggles I faced in fitting in and keeping up with peers in both academia and professional settings. My solution had always been to work harder and longer, which led to repeated burnouts.

Medication following my diagnosis was like flipping a switch in my brain, enhancing my focus but leaving me still disorganised, exhausted, and overwhelmed. My journey to managing ADHD began with the support of ADHD coaches who helped me develop strategies to navigate my condition.

Professional background and Accreditation

I’ve built a successful career as a Financial Adviser, have set up and run two businesses.

I’m an ADHD Coach accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Professional Association for ADHD Coaches (PAAC), and the ADD Coaching Academy (ADDCA). I’m also a Chartered Financial Planner through the Chartered Insurance Institute, having trained extensively in financial planning and client care over many years.

Unlike many short-term training programmes that can be completed in just a few months, I chose a comprehensive and rigorous path that would equip me to help you make the changes you need and deserve. My ADHD coach training involved a full academic year of live, ADHD-specific instruction delivered by ICF Master Coaches who have ADHD themselves and are highly experienced in the field.

This included:

  • A full academic year of live ADHD-specific training
  • Hundreds of hours of coaching experience
  • Hundreds of hours of supervised client coaching
  • In-depth mentor coaching
  • Exams and assessments to demonstrate coaching competence
  • Formal review of recorded sessions to ensure adherence to ICF and PAAC standards
  • A strong emphasis on ethics, neuroscience, and personal transformation

This internationally recognised training equips me to deliver coaching that is not only effective but also safe, ethical, and deeply impactful. I continue to pursue ongoing professional development to stay at the forefront of best practice and ensure that I’m equipped to help you make the changes you need and deserve.

School Challenges

While I excelled in school subjects, I struggled with essay writing and exams. My mind would often go blank, leading to misinterpretation of questions or lengthy, off-topic responses. Overexerting myself resulted in frequent burnouts.

Work Life

Office environments hindered my focus, leading me to prefer remote work. I navigated distractions and workplace bullying by understanding my legal rights and educating employers. Traditional organisational strategies didn’t work for me, so I developed unique approaches and negotiated for reasonable adjustments. Despite these challenges, I built a successful career as a financial adviser.

Personal Life

Managing emotions and daily tasks was difficult. Learning to pause, set boundaries, and ground myself became essential. Emotional overwhelm sometimes affected personal relationships, leading to overthinking. During lockdown, I recognised ADHD traits in one of my children and supported her through her diagnosis, which brought immense joy as I watched her thrive in school.

Commitment to the Neurodivergent Community

My background as a financial adviser, combined with witnessing your transformative journey, fuelled my passion for coaching. I aim to support you, helping you recognise your strengths, overcome obstacles, and lead a fulfilling life.

In addition to my professional background, I am deeply committed to the Neurodivergent community. I speak at events such as the ADHD Advocate ADHD Coaching Summit, Limmud and elsewhere. I have designed and delivered “Secret Life of Money” workshops, focusing on financial education and empowerment for individuals with ADHD. These workshops, conducted in partnership with ADHD charities and featured at national conferences, underscore my dedication to making a positive impact. Future workshop dates will be announced.

Mission

I am committed to empowering people like you, with ADHD to better understand yourself, fostering personal growth, happier relationships, and self-worth in both family and work life. My mission is to ensure that you don’t suffer unnecessarily, guiding you to lead an abundant life where ADHD doesn’t limit your potential.

Ready to take the next step?

Book a free 30-minute discovery session to explore how ADHD coaching could support you. It’s a chance to ask questions, talk about what matters to you, and see if we’re a good fit, no pressure. Book your session here.

Schedule

Ready to schedule a consultation? Let’s connect.

Schedule

Ready to schedule a consultation? Let’s connect.

Upon receiving your request for a consultation, we will promptly send you a link to schedule it.