Naomi Peden

Financial Counselor
Naomi Peden MMI.

Naomi Peden is a counselor at Money Management International (MMI) who helps consumers navigate financial crises and chart practical paths toward stable housing and long-term financial health. A former mortgage-lending professional, she brings a lender’s eye to budgeting, credit, and underwriting readiness – translating complex requirements into clear, step-by-step action plans for existing and prospective homeowners working towards secure housing.

Naomi’s client work spans debt-to-income triage, navigating setbacks, and homeownership sustainability. She frequently addresses how rising living costs push families to use revolving credit to cover monthly gaps and partners with clients on realistic budgets and repayment plans that prioritize sustainability over quick fixes. In media interviews, she’s highlighted the trend of consumers using credit to supplement income and the importance of acting early – before balances and stress compound – and has described how nonprofit debt management plans can secure dramatically lower rates from double-digit APRs, helping clients regain control without new loan pitfalls.

A trusted advocate for consumers, Naomi regularly shares guidance on communicating with debt collectors – urging individuals to request written validation, verify legitimacy, and protect their rights through proactive engagement. She’s also been featured on MMI’s Long Story $hort podcast, where she discusses how debt counseling can lead to homeownership readiness and lasting financial confidence.

Clients consistently describe Naomi as empathetic, patient, and deeply motivating. Many credit her with transforming fear and uncertainty into clarity and empowerment. As one client wrote, “Naomi was a great help… her go-getter attitude made me understand my possibilities much clearer!” Another shared, “I was overwhelmed and hopeless until I met Naomi. She became my lifeline… she never gave up, advocated for me, and helped me find confidence and hope.” Others praise her as “kind, understanding, and non-judgmental,” noting that she brings not only deep expertise but also humor and humanity to every conversation.

Naomi’s areas of expertise include budgeting, debt management, mortgage readiness, communicating with collectors, and navigating financial stress. Naomi is available in the D.C. area and remotely throughout the United States by contacting Thomas Nitzsche at 404-490-2227.

Latest from Naomi

  • Better Business Bureau A+ rating Better Business Bureau
    MMI is proud to have achieved an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a nonprofit organization focused on promoting and improving marketplace trust. The BBB investigates charges of fraud against both consumers and businesses, sets standards for truthfulness in advertising, and evaluates the trustworthiness of businesses and charities, providing a score from A+ (highest) to F (lowest).
  • Financial Counseling Association of America Financial Counseling Association of America
    MMI is a proud member of the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), a national association representing financial counseling companies that provide consumer credit counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling, debt management, and various financial education services.
  • Trustpilot Trustpilot
    MMI is rated as “Excellent” by reviewers on Trustpilot, a global, online consumer review platform dedicated to openness and transparency. Since 2007, Trustpilot has received over 116 million customer reviews for nearly 500,000 different websites and businesses. See what others are saying about the work we do.
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development - Equal Housing Opportunity Department of Housing and Urban Development
    MMI is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide consumer housing counseling. The mission of HUD is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD provides support services directly and through approved, local agencies like MMI.
  • Council on Accreditation Council On Accreditation
    MMI is proudly accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), an international, independent, nonprofit, human service accrediting organization. COA’s thorough, peer-reviewed accreditation process is designed to ensure that organizations like MMI are providing the highest standard of service and support for clients and employees alike.
  • MMI is a proud member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) National Foundation for Credit Counseling
    MMI is a longstanding member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®), the nation’s largest nonprofit financial counseling organization. Founded in 1951, the NFCC’s mission is to promote financially responsible behavior and help member organizations like MMI deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services.