Financial coach, business advisor, thought leader talks money 2025

By Joycelyne Fadojutimi

David Houston has a real Texas-sounding name. He and his wife Rebecca met in true Lone Star fashion at a Texas-OU football game. The couple describe their adult children Smith, Lowrey, and Forrest as “unique and independent,” and the pride they have in their kiddoes is obvious and backed up by the family’s success.

David’s father Brew Houston was a local automobile dealer and community leader. Mom Patricia was a willing volunteer for many causes along with being a leader in local school-related affairs and a restauranteur. They taught David that unselfish giving to the community is the noblest of objectives, and that the sole limitations people are held up by are the ones they place upon themselves. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, preparing for a very productive life following his 1985 graduation.

“I chose this college because of the Texas Longhorns football team and Austin looked like a fun, cool town,” he says. “I loved Earl Campbell and the Austin vibe.”

Houston carved out a phenomenally successful career in retail auto sales that lasted almost forty years before changing horses two years ago. He is now a financial coach, small business consultant and public speaker. He has travelled very fruitfully down this long and winding road.

“I attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a degree in Economics. I chose this college because of the Texas Longhorns football team and Austin looked like a fun, cool town. I wish I had a deeper, more academic answer. But I don’t. I loved Earl Campbell and the Austin vibe!”

David Houston

After completing his education, he returned to Longview and went to work at his father’s dealership Brew Pontiac-Honda, spending the next twenty-six years as a new car salesman. After he sold the dealership in 2012, he devoted his time to a separate, used car lot, doing very well with it, too, until 2020, when the COVID epidemic adversely impacted prices and the availability of inventory. Casting a bout for a new vocational direction he came across a program called Financial Coach Master Training that is sponsored by the Dave Ramsey/Ramsey Solutions Organization.

“I became a Ramsey Preferred Financial Coach in 2022 and have loved every minute of it,” he says. “Given that I have almost forty years [of] owning, operating, building and selling two very successful small businesses, my role as a small business consultant comes naturally.”

His first career led smoothly into this second one as his experience and skill in business planning, financial analysis, customer service, hiring, recruiting, and retaining a strong employee base were already well-developed when he started his new direction. He honed his public speaking ability by addressing audiences at Longview Chamber of Commerce events, local churches, and various small businesses. He even teaches a course called Foundations in Personal Finance and Foundations in Entrepreneurship at the high school level. Despite his long apprenticeship in small business, it took Houston awhile to learn how to manage his personal finances.

“When I was forty-eight years old I had little in savings, a mountain of debt and was pretty sure I was spending substantially more than I was making,” he says. “I showed the information to my wife and said, ‘We have a problem.'”

They enrolled in a course their church was sponsoring called Financial Peace University. Working as partners in their personal economics improved both their bank statement and marriage in tandem. By September 2022 they were completely debt-free. They saw God’s hand in their fiscal liberation.

“I realized that if I could help others manage their personal finances in a way that helped them achieve their goals, I would be fulfilling my mission in life and doing what God put me on this Earth to do,” he says.

By enabling clients to escape the dead-end routine of living paycheck to paycheck through helping them focus on and improve their habits, behavior, and mindsets, he assures them of a secure monetary future. He assists learn vital lessons on creating rainy day funds, debt elimination, retirement, financing college for their children, paying off mortgages early and in general how to live comfortably and securely.

“I realized that if I could help others manage their personal finances in a way, they helped them achieve their goals I would be fulfilling my mission in life and doing what God put me on this Earth to do.”

David Houston

Besides instructing customers in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, Houston teaches high school and college students and younger adults lessons on practical, common-sense money management. This crucial information is not offered in public schools. He spends most of his time in personal consultation with his clients both locally and across the nation.

“About half my business is done face-to-face, kneecap-to-kneecap, and the other half is done virtually,” he says. “If someone reaches out to inquire about financial coaching I offer them a complimentary consultation.”

He clarifies to his clients how to achieve their dreams, hopes and goals, the challenges they face and how to devise plans to overcome obstacles and realize their desired outcomes. He loves injecting hope and changing lives for the better through encouragement, guidance, and outcome-based solutions.

“I take all comers, provided they have the willingness to put in the work,” he says.

According to Houston, “I help people develop and follow a step-by-step plan that frees them from the stress and anxiety of living paycheck to paycheck. I help people create a rainy-day fund, eliminate debt, save for retirement, pay for their kids’ college, pay their house off early and put themselves in a position to live and give like no one else.”

He makes it clear that anyone wishing to be a financial coach needs a servant’s heart. It is essential to be dedicated to helping others as a number one priority. Also, he looks upon his career as part of his service to his Lord and Personal Savior Jesus Christ.

It is important to note Houston’s beliefs: “I believe in God, and I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior. I believe that all things are possible through Christ,” he says. “My faith has sustained me in good times and bad times. I am still learning how to be a good Christian, and I will never stop on that journey.”

David Houston somehow manages to find time for his invaluable, unselfish career despite being constantly active in a long list of community service capacities. He has served in various capacities with Longview Community Ministries, Junior Achievement, Salvation Army, Newgate Mission, Highway 80 Rescue Mission, United Way, Boy Scouts, AMBUCS, Longview Boys’ Baseball, Good Shepherd Foundation, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Longview Economic Development Corporation, Operation True North, Angel Tree, Asbury House, the East Texas Food Bank. He has spent more than thirty-five years working with the Trinity School of Texas, and throughout these years has participated in multiple city task forces.

Houston dotes on his wife, “I enjoy spending time with my wife, Rebecca, because she is the most amazing, wonderful person in the world.” His hobbies include playing golf, reading, and travelling.

Last but not the least, the opportunity to instruct young people about personal finance is one of the crowning moments of his work. Hence, he embraces Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

“Given that I have almost forty years owning, operating, building, and selling two phenomenally successful small businesses, my role as a small business consultant comes naturally. I have strong experience and expertise in business planning, financial analysis, customer service as well as hiring, recruiting, and retaining a strong employee base. I am also an accomplished public speaker about personal finance.”

David Houston