I'm in a bit of a dilemma.

In January 2006 Diana and I took a class called Financial Peace University. For 13 weeks watched a video every week on a different money topic and then had a group discussion about the topic. While Diana accepted the premise and agreed to do the program, it was something that I embraced. I am passionate about our plan.

I was thrilled, because I never had the level of trust and dialog with my first wife required to undertake such a program. Thankfully, Diana and I work well together on it. She tempers my tightness and I temper her spending desires. And we've worked well doing it together without causing anger or hurt feelings.

I've always enjoyed personal finance. I've enjoyed helping people I work with understand things like insurance, 4o1-k programs or other deferred comp programs, saving for furture purposes.........I think you get the picture.

The company that puts together Financial Peace University is run by man by the name of Dave Ramsey. The company also has a program that teaches people to become a Dave Ramsey Certified Counselor. As a Dave Ramsey Certified Counselor, you become an independent business to teach people in a one on one situation to create a spending plan, have financial goals and if a couple learn to play well together in the financial sandbox. The cost to become a Certified Counselor is $3750.00. The result in addition to learing to coach people is to leverage the Dave Ramsey name to create a market for your services on a fee basis.

Now to the dilemma. While $3750 isn't a huge amount of money, it still represents a large enough sum that I would hate to invest it and not get a return. Ramsey's company is upfront that this is not going to be something most people won't be able to quit their day jobs to do. I really would like to do this. I have a huge desire to take the training and taking the teachings to assist others. What I don't want to do is spend $3750 and not get off the ground.

Diana has been encouraging, but honestly, I would not a happy person if she spent that amount of money and got little in return from it. And when asked what her feelings would be if that happened to me, she would be forgiving, but not like to see that amount of money "go to waste". She knows how much I love doing this program. She knows how much fun I've had doing the FPU classes at church and the thrill I get when others see the light and embrace it.

But I've had a history of following my passions but not be able to leverage them into a income source. Have you ever had mentors scratch their heads and say you're doing all the right things, but the opportunities never seem to break your way? You begin to get gun shy about your ability to connect with people.

I called Ramsey's company and asked if they "scholarshipped" people in the program. They didn't seem too keen on the idea. The rep said Dave has done it before, but it was out of call to his talk show and the caller seemed to be worthy.

I really want to do this. I really want to teach others. I really want to take something that I can work at when I retire. Something that has dignity, helps others and lays a foundation for the future of those people.

Ideas?