Most people don’t come and see me because it’s January and they’ve decided this is the year they’ll finally get organised.

It usually starts much more quietly than that.

Often it’s over the Christmas break. People have a bit of space. They’re not rushing off to work. Conversations happen that don’t usually fit into everyday life. And somewhere in those conversations, they realise something needs to change.

Not necessarily everything. Just something.

Sometimes it’s finances. Sometimes it’s connected to finances but really about something else. Health. Work. Family. What the next few years might actually look like.

People often tell me they’ve been thinking about getting financial advice or doing some retirement planning, but they don’t quite know where to start.

That reflection doesn’t always come from a neat place. I’ve seen it come from a health diagnosis. An inheritance people weren’t expecting. Or simply the realisation that putting money in the bank isn’t going to get them where they thought it would.

Whatever the trigger is, it creates momentum. And that motivation matters. My role isn’t to rush people through it, but to help them hold onto it long enough to do something useful with it.

Financial planning doesn’t start with numbers for me. It starts with a conversation. Usually a long one.

We talk about what’s bothering them. What feels unsettled. What they’re worried about, even if they haven’t quite put words to it yet. Everyone has a relationship with money, whether they think about it or not. That relationship comes from what we’ve seen growing up, what we’ve learned the hard way, and what’s happened along the way.

Those patterns matter more than people realise.

One of the questions I get asked very early on is, “How much am I going to earn?” And I understand why people ask it. But it’s almost never the right place to start.

Before you can talk about returns or investments, you need to understand what the money actually needs to do. Some people need flexibility. Some need certainty. Some need to know they can take a holiday next year without worrying. Others want to know they’ll be okay if something unexpected happens.

Plans need to be built around life. Not the other way around.

And life doesn’t behave. Things change. Markets change. Health changes. Priorities change. A good plan allows for that. It doesn’t assume everything will go to plan. It adapts when it doesn’t.

A lot of the people I see are in midlife. It’s a complicated stage. Still supporting children. Starting to support parents. Thinking about retirement, but not quite there yet. Finances sit right in the middle of it all.

Others come in earlier. Still with a mortgage. Unsure whether they should be paying it down faster or investing at the same time. There isn’t a single right answer. It depends on structure, tax, risk, and what gives people the most peace of mind.

Sometimes the biggest changes aren’t dramatic at all. They’re practical. Making things automatic. Separating money for different purposes. Taking the pressure off willpower and building simple systems instead. Those small changes can create a surprising amount of calm.

Then there’s another stage people don’t expect. After years of saving hard, some struggle to spend. Or to give. Not because they don’t want to, but because they’re worried about getting it wrong.

Those conversations matter too. Spending and giving can be part of long-term wellbeing when they’re done thoughtfully. When people understand the boundaries, it often brings a sense of ease around money.

Most people aren’t trying to become experts in this. They want to know their decisions make sense, that the plan stacks up, and that someone experienced is paying attention as life changes.

That’s usually what brings the relief.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. We start exactly where you’re at.

If you’d like to talk things through, you’re welcome to get in touch however it feels easiest for you.

We can start with a conversation and see where you’re at. No pressure.