Money Secrets

Fi Johnston

Financial and business strategies for purpose-led entrepreneurs. Hosted by Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, CFO, and impact-driven business advisor. This podcast helps small business owners make more money without working harder. Each week, Fi shares practical financial strategy and interviews successful small business owners about cash flow planning, pricing strategy, revenue generation, and money mindset. Learn how to grow your business, boost profitability, and build a company that creates real impact without sacrificing your time or your values. Topics covered include: ~ Money management and cash flow planning ~ Pricing strategy and revenue generation ~ Money psychology and mindset ~ Business growth and profitability ~ Financial strategy for small business owners ~ Purpose-driven, impact-focused business New episodes weekly. Subscribe now and start making more money without working harder.

  1. 1d ago

    Anti-beige marketing and branding - Interview with designer Kate Forsyth (EP#95)

    When you’re not afraid to be yourself: Building the Peach-opoly world with Kate Forsyth  What does it actually take to turn a crazy campaign idea into a life-sized game board with four completely different worlds? Meet Kate Forsyth, founder of Good Day Club, interiors and events designer, and the set designer of Peach-opoly.  Kate worked alongside Fi and creative director Stef Hanson to bring the four Peach-opoly worlds: Money Psychology, Money Making, Money Management and Impact Making to life, transforming ideas on paper into colourful, layered sets that helped tell the story of each episode. From a money psychology corner, to a supermarket where you could buy your next hire, an immersive impact making installation and a functioning-ish bakery, Kate created spaces that didn't just look good - they had a purpose and a story to tell. Kate also spontaneously became part of the cast, throwing flour, juggling dough and giving us a truly unhinged baker performance in the Money Making world. Her inspo: the Swedish Chef. In this episode, Fi and Kate go behind the scenes of Peach-opoly and talk about creativity, colour, world-building, trusting the people you hire and why the best brands aren't afraid to look and feel like themselves. What you'll hear in this episode:  How Kate turned the Peach-opoly concept into four very different physical worlds.  Good set design isn't just about making something look good, it needs to tell a story.  What happens when you give creative people the brief, the budget and then trust them.  How Kate uses colour, texture and physical spaces to make brands memorable.  Knowing who you are as a business makes creative decisions so much easier.  The story behind Peach-opoly's supermarket, psychologist's office, impact making installation and bakery.  How Kate went from set designer to spontaneous actress (and dough juggler) on shoot day.  Playing it safe makes your brand forgettable. Kate's money lesson: plan for the future, back yourself and stop agonising over decisions. Take a look at Peach-opoly. Check out Kate Forsyth and Good Day Club. ________________________________________________________________________ In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast, dives into the conversations we need to have about money. Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses can change the world, but only if we're making money and managing it well. ________________________________________________________________________ We're excited to hear from you with questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Say hi: hello@peachbm.com.au If you're excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here. ________________________________________________________________________  This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

    Anti-beige marketing and branding - Interview with designer Kate Forsyth (EP#95)
  2. Oct 27

    How to manage your money as an agency owner - interview with Megan Winter (EP#94)

    How to manage your money as an agency owner - with Megan Winter  Making money is one skill. Knowing what to do with it is another. Meet Megan Winter, founder of Good Kind Media, Meta ads expert and the star of episode 2 of the Peach-opoly series. Like so many marketers and agency owners, Megan is great at earning revenue. It's how to spend and manage money that feels harder. When you have the right system to manage your money and someone to help you make great decisions (Fi!) managing, organising and spending money becomes so much easier.  What you'll hear in this episode: Making money and managing money require different skills. Choose your hard. If you're going to be a business owner, you need to make good decisions that push you towards your goals. Not run a hobby.  Specialise how you make money. Diversify how you invest it. Employees or contractors? There's no right or wrong answer, only what suits your business model and your leadership style.  Why Megan chooses specialist contractors for Good Kind Media. Having a system to manage your money (Profit First) means you'll always have money for things when you need it. Including paying the ATO on time. Forecasting and planning can create more freedom, not less. Take a look at Peach-opoly. Check out Megan Winter and Good Kind Media.  ________________________________________________________________________ In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast, dives into the conversations we need to have about money. Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses can change the world, but only if we're making money and managing it well. ________________________________________________________________________ We're excited to hear from you with questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Say hi: hello@peachbm.com.au If you're excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here. ________________________________________________________________________  This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

    How to manage your money as an agency owner - interview with Megan Winter (EP#94)
  3. Oct 22

    Peach-opoly: What do I actually do? (EP#93)

    Peach-opoly | Episode 5  | What do I actually do? Chartered Accountant. Business coach. Spreadsheet lover.  But that’s not the whole story. For the final episode of our Peach-opoly series, we’re turning the attention back to Fi and the reason we created this campaign. Fi realised there was a gap between how people perceived her work and what she actually does. After years of working closely with established 5, 6, 7 and even 8-figure founders, her marketing wasn’t showing the full picture. So Peach-opoly became an opportunity to change that. In this episode, Fi takes us behind the scenes of that repositioning and explains what being a business and finance strategist really looks like; from hiring and pricing to cash flow, marketing, offers, team, positioning and making the big decisions that move a business forward. She also gets into a big part of her approach that sets her apart: Fi gives advice. Sometimes the answer isn't already inside you. Sometimes it's sitting in the numbers, the strategy and the information in front of you and you need someone beside you to help make the call and take action. And because no campaign happens without a whole lot of people behind it, Fi wraps up by giving some love to the incredible team, creatives and businesses who helped bring the weird and wonderful world of Peach-opoly to life. 🎧 Hit play for one last trip around the Peach-opoly board and come behind the scenes of the campaign with Fi.  What you'll hear in this episode:  Why Fi created the Peach-opoly campaign in the first place The positioning problem she realised she needed to fix What a business and finance strategist actually does How business, finance and marketing strategy are connected Fi believes good advice sometimes means actually telling clients what she recommends How Fi ended up filming without shoes 👟😂 The team and business owners who bought Peach-opoly to life What’s next in the Money Secrets Peach-opoly series Take a look at Peach-opoly. ________________________________________________________________________ In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast, dives into the conversations we need to have about money. Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses can change the world, but only if we're making money and managing it well. ________________________________________________________________________ We're excited to hear from you with questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Say hi: hello@peachbm.com.au If you're excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here. ________________________________________________________________________  This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

    Peach-opoly: What do I actually do? (EP#93)
  4. Oct 21

    Peach-opoly: Impact Making with Rich from Mount Olive Zero (EP#92)

    Peach-opoly | Episode 4  | Can you make a bigger impact? Doing good and making good money can’t go hand in hand… right? Wrong. Meet Richard Seymour from Mount Zero Olives, one of Fi’s longest-standing clients and the next player to take his turn on the Peach-opoly board. Fi and Rich have worked together for almost 15 years, across marketing, business strategy, finances and plenty of growth. But what makes Mount Zero particularly special is that impact is baked into the business. It’s not a side project, marketing spin or something they’ve tacked on because sustainability became trendy.  When Rich rolls the Peach-opoly dice, he lands in the Impact Making zone, where Fi asks a pretty big question: Can Mount Zero make an even bigger impact? From the way their produce is grown, packaged and transported to electric vehicles, solar power, team culture and an inclusive bonus structure, Mount Zero has spent years making conscious choices about the kind of business they want to be. So Fi’s challenge isn’t to start creating impact. It’s to take what they’re already doing and measure it.  The next move? Exploring B Corp certification and putting Mount Zero’s impact under the microscope to see where they’re doing well, where they can improve and how their business strategy and finances can support the journey. Fi zooms out from Mount Zero to explore what impact making can look like in your small business. Whether that’s through your products and services, your team, your industry, your community or the causes you care about.  Being profitable and creating positive change aren't competing goals. As Fi puts it: income IS impact. 🎧 Hit play and come behind the scenes of Peach-opoly with Fi and Rich.  What you'll hear in this episode: Meet Peach-opoly player Richard Seymour from Mount Zero Olives Impact shouldn't be a side quest in your business How Mount Zero has built sustainability into its entire supply chain Why Fi believes income is impact Mount Zero's next challenge: working towards B Corp certification How to decide what kind of impact your business wants to create Why declaring, measuring and talking about your impact matters Examples of the different ways small businesses can create meaningful change  Take a look at Peach-opoly. ________________________________________________________________________ In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast, dives into the conversations we need to have about money. Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses can change the world, but only if we're making money and managing it well. ________________________________________________________________________ We're excited to hear from you with questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Say hi: hello@peachbm.com.au If you're excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here. ________________________________________________________________________  This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

    Peach-opoly: Impact Making with Rich from Mount Olive Zero (EP#92)
  5. Oct 19

    Peach-opoly: Money Making with Jodi and Aaron Neary of The Ranch Adventure Park (EP#91)

    Peach-opoly | Episode 3  | Too many offers?  More offers = more money… right? Actually, no. Meet Jodi and Az from The Ranch Adventure Park, the next players on the Peach-opoly board. The Ranch is a family-run Mornington Peninsula business offering school camps and horse riding to accommodation, weddings, corporate events, pony rides and more.When Jodi and Az roll the Peach-opoly dice, they land on a business problem that might feel VERY familiar: you have too many offers.  The Ranch has successfully built multiple income streams over the years, but with a stretched team and ambitions to keep growing, Fi asks one deceptively simple question: What do you want to be known for? Their answer? Adventure. And that becomes the starting point for a much bigger conversation about simplifying your business without automatically saying goodbye to revenue. Fi challenges the common advice that every business should constantly diversify its income streams. While diversification absolutely has its place, too many offers can spread your marketing, team, energy and delivery too thin. Instead, focusing your energy on one incredible part of the business can make your marketing more targeted, your delivery more efficient and, ultimately, your business more profitable. For The Ranch, that means putting adventure at the centre and allowing their many experiences to sit underneath that bigger idea, rather than trying to separately market every horse ride, school camp, wedding, stay and activity. Because when someone lands on your business for the first time, 15 different ways to work with you doesn't mean more opportunity; it can mean 15 different decisions standing between them and actually buying. 🎧 Hit play and come behind the scenes of Peach-opoly with Fi, Jodie and Az.  What you'll hear in this episode: More revenue streams don't automatically mean a stronger business The question “What do you want to be known for?” and how it leads your strategy Too many offers dilutes your marketing and stretches your team Simplifying doesn't mean saying no to revenue Packaging and streamlining your offers makes selling easier Being known for ONE clear thing makes your business easier to recommend A simpler business model creates more potential for profitability, efficiency and creativity Take a look at Peach-opoly. ________________________________________________________________________ In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast, dives into the conversations we need to have about money. Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses can change the world, but only if we're making money and managing it well. ________________________________________________________________________ We're excited to hear from you with questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Say hi: hello@peachbm.com.au If you're excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here. ________________________________________________________________________  This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

    Peach-opoly: Money Making with Jodi and Aaron Neary of The Ranch Adventure Park (EP#91)
  6. Oct 15

    Peach-opoly: Money Management with Megan Winter of Good Kind Media (EP#90)

    Peach-opoly | Episode 2  | Your Next Hire The money is coming in. The clients are there. Business is growing. But where should the money go next? Meet Megan Winter, founder of Good Kind Media, Meta ads expert and the next player to take her turn on the Peach-opoly board. Megan is great at bringing money into her business. Revenue is strong, there’s a steady flow of leads and she has money available to invest. The tricky part? Deciding what to spend it on, particularly after making financial decisions in the past that haven't worked out as planned.  So when Megan lands on “Your Next Hire”, Fi takes her shopping (literally) to work out where her money will have the biggest impact. The answer? More support with client delivery. But that brings up another question: employee or contractor? Megan has repeatedly been told she should hire employees. Fi has a different perspective. Rather than making the decision based purely on which option looks cheaper on paper, she argues that the right team structure needs to suit the founder, their leadership style and the way their business actually operates. In this episode of the Peach-opoly series, Fi unpacks the financial and practical considerations behind hiring employees versus contractors, why comparing their annual costs doesn't necessarily tell the whole story, and how having a solid money management system can make big investment decisions much easier. Fi also takes us into Profit First, the money management system she uses with Good Money Club and one-on-one clients to help businesses understand what they can afford, where their money needs to go and whether the business is truly profitable 🎧 Tune in to meet Megan, hear where she lands on the Peach-opoly board and learn how to think about your next hire and your next big business investment.  What you'll hear in this episode: Meet Peach-opoly player Megan Winter, founder of Good Kind Media Making money and knowing how to spend it are very different business skills The employee vs contractor question and why cost isn't the only consideration Your team structure should suit your business model and the way you operate as a founder The differences between hiring a generalist versus a specialist who will drive the work The practical costs and considerations that come with employees and contractors You need good contracts and to understand your obligations when working with contractors Profit First can make business spending decisions clearer and faster How your bank balance can help you see whether your business is profitable The decision Megan made for her next hire Take a look at Peach-opoly. ________________________________________________________________________ In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast, dives into the conversations we need to have about money. Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses can change the world, but only if we're making money and managing it well. ________________________________________________________________________ We're excited to hear from you with questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Say hi: hello@peachbm.com.au If you're excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here. ________________________________________________________________________  This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

    Peach-opoly: Money Management with Megan Winter of Good Kind Media (EP#90)
  7. Oct 14

    Peach-opoly: Money Psychology with Ella Rowe of Elvies Studios (EP#89)

    Peach-opoly | Episode 1  | A 60-hour working week  She’s fully booked. She’s in demand. She’s working incredibly hard. But the money isn’t math-ing. Meet Ella Rowe, a world-class curly and coily hairdresser, single mum and the first player to take her turn on the Peach-opoly board. Ella loves what she does, but like so many specialist service providers, she’s caught between wanting to make more money, be affordable for her clients and having no hours left to give. In this episode of the Peach-opoly series, Fi unpacks the money psychology sitting underneath this very real business problem and why working harder isn't the answer. Because being affordable is not your job. Fi explores what happens when talented, in-demand business owners price themselves around being accessible, keeping clients happy and wanting to be liked. The result? You need to work more to make money, and your clients get the exhausted version of you, not your best work. The solution isn't just about putting your prices up. Fi explains how our thoughts about money influence our feelings, behaviours and then our results, and why changing your pricing can starts in your mind. 🎧 Tune in to meet Ella, hear her Peach-opoly story and ask yourself: am I charging a premium price for the premium work I provide?  What you'll hear in this episode: Meet Peach-opoly's first player, Ella Rowe Being fully booked doesn't mean your business is financially well The cost of trying to be affordable Why charging less means working more How your thoughts about pricing influence your feelings, behaviours and results Why wanting to be affordable is actually about wanting your clients to like you Why higher prices facilitate you doing the best work of your life The questions Fi wants you to ask yourself about your own pricing A behind-the-scenes taste of bringing Ella's Peach-opoly character to life Take a look at Peach-opoly. ________________________________________________________________________ In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast, dives into the conversations we need to have about money. Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses can change the world, but only if we're making money and managing it well. ________________________________________________________________________ We're excited to hear from you with questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Say hi: hello@peachbm.com.au If you're excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here. ________________________________________________________________________  This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

    Peach-opoly: Money Psychology with Ella Rowe of Elvies Studios (EP#89)
  8. Oct 13

    Welcome to Peach-opoly: The game of small business (EP#88)

    Welcome to Peach-opoly: We built a life-sized board game | Episode 0 Meet Peach-opoly, Fi’s biggest, boldest and most fun brand campaign yet. Earlier this year, Fi realised there was a gap between how she was perceived and the work she was actually doing. She’d become known for working with micro brands and very small businesses, when in reality her client list also includes established businesses with teams of 10, 30 and 50+, businesses she’s helped make some pretty epic changes to their revenue, teams and profit. There was something else, too: had her marketing become a little… boring? Fi is very nurturing. She’s also fast, direct, strategic and, in her words, at least funny-adjacent. She wanted a campaign that showed people what it actually feels like to work with her - something fun, entertaining and completely out of the box.  Enter campaign creative director, Good Money Club member, collaborator and friend, Stef Hanson, who came back with an idea Fi definitely wasn’t expecting: a life-sized board game designed around the game of business. And Peach-opoly was born. In this special episode of Money Secrets, Fi takes you behind the scenes of why she created the campaign, and how one idea turned into an epic production involving a whole team of people. 🎧 Tune in to hear Episode 0 of Peach-opoly and get your first taste of the world Fi and the team have spent six months bringing to life.  What you'll hear in this episode: Fi realised her positioning no longer reflected the scope of her work Peach-opoly is a brand awareness campaign, and what that actually is Fi wanted to show a bolder and more playful side of her brand Why business can be competitive, strategic and played to win How real client challenges became part of the Peach-opoly concept What went into bringing the campaign to life How Stef Hanson turned Fi’s brief into the idea for a life-sized business board game Take a look at Peach-opoly. ________________________________________________________________________ In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast, dives into the conversations we need to have about money. Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses can change the world, but only if we're making money and managing it well. ________________________________________________________________________ We're excited to hear from you with questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Say hi: hello@peachbm.com.au If you're excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here. ________________________________________________________________________  This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

    Welcome to Peach-opoly: The game of small business (EP#88)

About

Financial and business strategies for purpose-led entrepreneurs. Hosted by Fi Johnston, Chartered Accountant, CFO, and impact-driven business advisor. This podcast helps small business owners make more money without working harder. Each week, Fi shares practical financial strategy and interviews successful small business owners about cash flow planning, pricing strategy, revenue generation, and money mindset. Learn how to grow your business, boost profitability, and build a company that creates real impact without sacrificing your time or your values. Topics covered include: ~ Money management and cash flow planning ~ Pricing strategy and revenue generation ~ Money psychology and mindset ~ Business growth and profitability ~ Financial strategy for small business owners ~ Purpose-driven, impact-focused business New episodes weekly. Subscribe now and start making more money without working harder.

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