Meet Melissa
After 25+ years in financial services, I’ve learned that the best conversations about money are warm, honest, and grounded in real life. Let me share my story with you.
My Story
My career in financial services began over 25 years ago. I’ve worked at some of Australia’s largest financial institutions—Sunsuper, Suncorp, and Westpac—where I gained deep expertise in pensions, investment strategy, and financial planning.
But somewhere along the way, I noticed something important: the people who struggled most with money weren’t the ones who lacked financial knowledge. They were the ones carrying shame, anxiety, or disconnection around money itself.
I saw brilliant, capable women who felt paralysed by financial decisions. I saw people earning good incomes but feeling no sense of security or control. I realised that solving money problems requires more than spreadsheets and product knowledge. It requires clarity, empathy, and permission to start exactly where you are.
That’s why I founded Talking Money. I wanted to create a space for real conversations about money—not just budgets and spreadsheets, but the beliefs and behaviours underneath it all. I wanted to bring my expertise together with warmth, honesty, and a genuine understanding of what it feels like to have a complicated relationship with money.
Today, I’m a Certified Financial Planner who specialises in helping women clear their money blocks, build simple systems that actually work, and make confident decisions that support the life they want. Because money should feel clear, not complicated. Supportive, not stressful. And something you can be proud of handling.
My Credentials
Combining formal expertise with genuine empathy, I bring 25+ years of financial services experience and professional credentials to every conversation.
Certified Financial Planner
A comprehensive qualification demonstrating expertise in financial planning principles, tax, investment, and client-centred advice.
Bachelor of Commerce
Formal training in accounting, finance, and economics, providing the academic foundation for my professional practice.
Diploma of Financial Planning
Specialised qualification in financial planning methodologies and professional standards for delivering financial advice.
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Money is emotional
Understanding your relationship with money is just as important as understanding budgets. -
Clarity beats complexity
Simple systems you actually use beat perfect systems you abandon. -
Everyone deserves support
You don’t need to earn a certain amount or have a certain status to deserve help building wealth and confidence. -
Your pace matters
Financial wellness isn’t a race. Sustainable change happens when you move at a pace that feels right for you. -
Expertise + warmth
Professional knowledge is essential, but delivered with genuine care and patience, it becomes truly transformative. -
You get to decide
I’m here to guide you with information and perspective, but your values and choices always come first.
How I Work
Online Course
Self-paced learning designed to shift your money mindset and build practical habits that stick. Work through it at your own rhythm.
Retreats
Immersive experiences where you’ll reconnect, reset, and rewrite your relationship with money in a supportive, intimate environment.
1:1 Coaching
Personalised coaching sessions tailored to your unique situation, values, and goals. Work directly with me to create lasting change.
Outside of Work
I’m based in Brisbane with my family, and I’m someone who values balance, movement, and good food. You’ll find me walking along South Bank, exploring local coffee roasters, or in the kitchen trying a new recipe.
I believe that financial wellness is part of overall wellness. When you feel good in your body, connected to your values, and supported by your community, everything else—including your relationship with money—flows more easily.
My kids keep me grounded, and they’re teaching me daily about what really matters. They remind me that no amount of money is worth trading presence, joy, and genuine connection for.
How I Show Up
Warmth
You’ll be met with genuine kindness, patience, and the understanding that money conversations can feel vulnerable.
Clarity
I explain things in straightforward language, removing jargon so you can understand exactly what’s happening with your money.
Expertise
25+ years of experience and professional credentials mean you’re working with someone who truly knows their field.
Realness
No pretence, no judgement. I’ll tell you what I actually think, and I’ll meet you exactly where you are right now.
Practical Focus
We’re not just talking—we’re building systems, making decisions, and creating change you can see and feel.
Your Pace
There’s no rush, no pressure, and no one-size-fits-all approach. Your timeline and comfort level always matter.
Ready to Work Together?
Whether you’re drawn to self-paced learning, a transformative retreat, or personalised 1:1 coaching, I’d love to support you on your journey.