Meet Crystal Rigley Janis, Founder of Dreamz on Fire
Crystal Rigley Janis is the founder of Dreamz on Fire, a financial coaching practice dedicated to helping people turn money confusion into money confidence. After more than a decade of teaching and promoting financial education, including seven years as a high school teacher, Crystal now helps adults and individuals develop practical money skills, build better financial habits, and take meaningful steps toward their goals.
Her mission is simple: financial education should empower people to create a life they love, not leave them feeling overwhelmed by money.
Whether you're learning to manage your finances for the first time, navigating a major life transition, or ready to feel more confident about your financial future, Crystal believes you deserve guidance that makes sense for your real life.
Crystal's Story: Why Financial Education Matters
Crystal's passion for personal finance began with her own experience. Like many people, she entered adulthood with a college degree, but without the practical financial knowledge she needed to navigate everyday life. The transition from college to adulthood was challenging, and she discovered firsthand how difficult it can be to make financial decisions without the right tools and guidance.
That experience sparked a mission: to help others avoid the same struggles and gain the financial knowledge she wished she had learned earlier.
In 2009, Crystal became a high school teacher, determined to bring practical financial education into the classroom. She began incorporating personal finance lessons into her AP Macroeconomics classes, reaching more than 240 students annually.
But she wanted to do more than introduce students to financial concepts. She wanted to prepare them for the realities of adulthood.
From the Classroom to Financial Coaching
In 2019, Crystal developed Personal Finance: Dream, Plan, Execute, Thrive, a year-long elective course that combined personal finance, goal-setting, and career exploration. The course reflected her belief that students need more than academic knowledge to build a successful future; they also need the practical skills to make informed financial decisions.
Her work attracted recognition beyond the classroom. ABC News featured Crystal and her students alongside California's State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Berkeleyside covered her efforts to make personal finance a graduation requirement, and Sisa-In Magazine in South Korea profiled her work in financial literacy education.
These experiences reinforced her belief that accessible financial education can make a meaningful difference in people's lives.
In 2024, Crystal stepped away from the classroom to expand her impact beyond high school students. She brought her teaching experience and practical approach to a broader audience through financial coaching, helping people at different stages of life build confidence and take greater control of their finances.
Today, her work also allows her to volunteer in her daughter's first-grade classroom while continuing to pursue her passion for empowering others. Read more about Crystal's journey.
The Purpose Behind Dreamz on Fire
Dreamz on Fire grew from Crystal's belief that everyone deserves access to practical financial education, regardless of their age or background.
Too many people enter adulthood without learning how to manage money confidently. Others find themselves facing new financial responsibilities, changing careers, growing families, or other life transitions without a clear plan. The resulting stress can make it difficult to move forward.
Dreamz on Fire exists to help close that gap.
Through personalized financial coaching, Crystal helps clients understand their money, develop practical systems, and take consistent action toward their goals. The focus isn't on following generic rules or achieving someone else's definition of success. It's about building an approach that fits your circumstances, priorities, and vision for the future.
At Dreamz on Fire, money is more than dollars and cents. It's a tool that can help you make informed choices, create opportunities, support the people you love, and work toward the life you want.
Who Can Work With Dreamz on Fire?
Dreamz on Fire supports people who are ready to develop a healthier, more confident relationship with money.
Crystal works with individuals who:
Want to build a strong financial foundation: Learn practical money skills and develop habits that support your goals.
Feel overwhelmed by their finances: Replace avoidance and confusion with a clearer understanding of your money and your next steps.
Are navigating a major life transition: Reassess your financial priorities as you move through changes in your career, relationships, family, or responsibilities.
Want to grow their career and salary confidence: Connect financial goals with career planning and the decisions that shape your future.
Need accountability and personalized guidance: Work with a coach who helps you turn intentions into practical, manageable actions through group coaching or one-to-one support.
Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to improve the financial systems you already have, the goal is to help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Crystal's Approach: Practical Guidance, Without Judgment
Crystal understands that money can be a sensitive subject. Everyone has a different background, different responsibilities, and different experiences with financial decisions.
That's why her approach combines practical education, personalized strategies, and accountability.
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, Crystal works with clients to understand their circumstances, identify their priorities, and develop realistic steps toward their goals. She helps them shift the way they think about money, build useful financial habits, and follow through on the changes they want to make.
With Dreamz on Fire, you don't have to know everything before you begin. You just need to be ready to take the next step.
Your Financial Goals Deserve a Plan
You don't have to keep feeling uncertain about money or wait until you have everything figured out to make a change.
With Crystal Rigley Janis and Dreamz on Fire, you can begin building the knowledge, habits, and confidence to make financial decisions that support the life you want.
Ready to take the first step?
Book a free discovery call with Crystal to discuss your goals, explore your needs, and discover a potential starting point for your financial journey.
Or explore the programs offered by Dreamz on Fire to find an approach that aligns with your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dreamz on Fire
1. Who is Crystal Rigley Janis?
Crystal Rigley Janis is the founder of Dreamz on Fire and a financial coach with a background in high school economics teaching and financial literacy education. After spending years helping students understand personal finance, she expanded her work to support adults who want to improve their financial skills and confidence.
2. What is Dreamz on Fire?
Dreamz on Fire is a financial coaching practice founded by Crystal Rigley Janis. It helps individuals develop practical money skills, build financial habits, and work toward personal financial goals through tailored guidance and accountability.
3. Why did Crystal Rigley Janis start Dreamz on Fire?
Crystal's mission was shaped by her own experience entering adulthood without sufficient financial knowledge. After seeing how a lack of financial education can make everyday decisions challenging, she dedicated her career to helping others gain the knowledge and confidence to manage money more effectively.
4. What makes Dreamz on Fire different from general financial advice?
Dreamz on Fire emphasizes personalized coaching rather than relying solely on generic tips or financial rules. Crystal works with clients to understand their individual circumstances, identify their priorities, and develop practical steps that fit their lives.
5. Who can benefit from financial coaching with Dreamz on Fire?
Adults who want to improve their money management skills, people navigating major life changes, individuals seeking greater financial confidence, and those who need support and accountability can benefit from financial coaching. The right approach depends on each person's circumstances and goals.
6. Does Crystal Rigley Janis have experience teaching financial literacy?
Yes. Crystal began teaching high school in 2009 and incorporated personal finance lessons into her AP Macroeconomics classes. In 2019, she developed Personal Finance: Dream, Plan, Execute, Thrive, a year-long elective combining financial skills, goal-setting, and career exploration. See where she has been featured.
7. Can Dreamz on Fire help me if I feel overwhelmed by money?
Dreamz on Fire is designed to help people who want to replace financial confusion with a clearer plan. Through personalized coaching, clients can work on understanding their finances, setting priorities, developing practical habits, and taking manageable steps toward their goals.
8. How do I get started with Dreamz on Fire?
You can start by booking a free discovery call with Crystal Rigley Janis. The conversation is an opportunity to discuss your financial goals, share what you're looking for help with, and explore a suitable next step.
9. Does Dreamz on Fire offer personalized financial coaching?
Yes. Dreamz on Fire focuses on coaching that considers each client's goals, income, circumstances, and priorities. The aim is to help clients develop realistic financial systems and maintain accountability as they work toward their goals.
10. Is financial coaching only for people who are struggling financially?
No. Financial coaching can also help people who want to become more organized, make informed financial decisions, prepare for life changes, or align their money habits with their long-term goals. You don't need to wait until you feel overwhelmed to start improving your financial confidence.