Best Advice Podcast

Best Advice Podcast
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What's the Best Advice you've ever gotten?

  1. 6d ago

    Financial planning is all about relationships - Amanda Balcombe

    What if the thing that makes someone great at financial advice has less to do with numbers—and more to do with how safe people feel sitting across the table from them? When Amanda Balcombe first entered financial planning, her boss gave her a piece of advice that would shape not only that career, but the one that came after it: "Financial planning is all about relationships." At the time, Amanda expected the job to be about strategy, numbers and technical knowledge. What she quickly discovered was that none of those things mattered if a client didn't trust you enough to open up. Building rapport, asking better questions and making people feel seen became the real foundation of her work—and eventually one of the skills she carried into a completely new chapter. In this episode, Amanda reflects on the shift from high-performing financial adviser to health and mental fitness coach, and the burnout experience that forced her to ask a much bigger question: what do I actually want the next part of my working life to look like? Her answer led her back to something she'd always cared about—helping people change their lives—but through stress, wellbeing and behaviour rather than money. The conversation goes deep into what burnout actually looks like. Perfectionism. People pleasing. High achievement. Negative self-talk. The belief that you always need to keep pushing. Amanda explains why burnout often creeps up slowly, why recovery has to happen before you hit breaking point, and how small "micro recovery" breaks throughout the day can rebuild the bandwidth we need to be present with the people around us. There's also a refreshing rejection of all-or-nothing thinking. The wheels will fall off. Habits will slip. Life will interrupt the plan. The goal isn't perfection—it's learning to reset faster, respond with a little more self-compassion, and keep moving. Small shifts compound, whether you're talking about money, health or the person you're trying to become. Amanda leaves the conversation with another piece of advice that neatly brings everything full circle: "Be interested, not interesting." Make it about the person in front of you. Listen. Connect. And remember that while stress and pressure aren't going anywhere, we have far more control over how we respond to them than we sometimes realise. Connect with Amanda - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-balcombe-2b0179102/

  2. Aug 27

    You've got one mouth and two ears — use them in that ratio - Lee Forde

    What if becoming a better adviser had less to do with knowing more—and more to do with listening better? For Lee Forde, one of the earliest lessons that stuck was also one of the simplest: "You've got one mouth and two ears, so use them in that ratio." It's a philosophy that has shaped the way Lee works with clients, colleagues and the profession more broadly. Listen first. Ask questions. Learn from people who know more than you. And don't assume that because you've got an answer, it's necessarily the answer the person in front of you needs. In this episode, Lee reflects on the mentor who taught him that lesson the hard way by asking him to sell a VHS player—only to stop him halfway through and point out that he'd explained every feature without once asking what the customer actually wanted. Decades later, Lee still uses the same principle with clients: understand what matters to them, explain things in their language, then ask them to tell it back to you in their own words. That commitment to being understood runs through the whole conversation. Lee talks about serving clients who aren't comfortable with technology, working with people for whom English isn't their first language, drawing pictures when words aren't enough, and why efficiency is meaningless if it leaves the person you're supposed to be helping behind. There's also a deeply personal thread about empathy. Lee shares how raising a non-verbal son with autism has changed the way he thinks about communication, patience and understanding—and why sometimes the biggest mistake professionals make is expecting everyone else to communicate, learn or process information the same way they do. From active listening and old-school client service to digital exclusion, specialisation and knowing when to ask someone else for help, Lee's message is refreshingly uncomplicated: do what you're good at, seek help with what you're not, and always put the client first. Because after all these years, helping someone who's stuck still gives him goosebumps—and as long as that keeps happening, he knows he's in the right profession. Connect with Lee here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fordefinancialplanning/ 1 Plan Website - https://www.1planfp.com.au/

  3. Aug 20

    What are they not saying? - Fran Hoo

    What if the most important part of a conversation is the thing nobody is actually saying? For Fran Hoo, that question came from her husband—and it's advice she admits she didn't particularly want to hear at the time: "What are they not saying?" It's a deceptively simple question, but it captures a lot of what has shaped Fran's career. From risk and compliance to consulting, governance, innovation and now the rapidly changing world of AI, she's built a reputation for finding a way forward rather than simply explaining why something can't be done. In this episode, Fran explores why risk and governance shouldn't be the people who say no, but the people who help make ambitious ideas possible. Her approach is less about putting technology in charge and more about starting with the human problem: what are we actually trying to achieve, does technology solve it, and—most importantly—will it actually help? That philosophy becomes particularly interesting when the conversation turns to AI. Fran talks about why she deliberately thinks about the "dark side" of technology, the dangers of allowing technology to define our behaviour, and why the best solutions are often the ones designed around the specific needs of the people using them rather than whatever happens to be fashionable. There's also a surprisingly personal thread running through the conversation: why she trusts her gut, how growing up with constraints taught her to work things through rather than wait for the perfect solution, and the importance of remembering that your job is a small part of your career, and your career is a small part of your life. And perhaps the most useful advice Fran leaves us with isn't about AI at all. Don't try to plan the next twenty years. Think about the next five. Things will change, and that's not a problem—it's the point. A thoughtful conversation about curiosity, trust, technology and the value of asking the question hiding underneath the question. Connect with Fran - https://www.linkedin.com/in/francine-hoo-7a054b4a/

  4. Aug 13

    If no one dies and no one goes to prison, just do it - Jacinda Patty

    What if the worst thing that could happen is... a bruised ego? For Jacinda Patty, one of the most useful pieces of advice she's received came from a client with a wonderfully blunt way of cutting through overthinking: "If no one dies and no one goes to prison, just do it." It's become something of a personal mantra for Jacinda as she continues to push herself into uncomfortable territory—from launching her first Command Your Presence event to saying the things she thinks need to be said, even when there's a chance they won't land exactly as intended. In this episode, Jacinda—coach, performer and founder of Command Your Presence—explores why sometimes the biggest thing holding us back isn't failure, it's our ego. She talks about using the phrase as a "pattern interrupt" when clients, friends or even she herself get caught in a spiral, and why a quick reality check can be enough to change direction. But there's another piece of advice from much earlier in Jacinda's life that may explain where all of this comes from. At 18, a dance school director told her, "I might as well be looking at that white wall because it's more interesting than your face." Brutal? Absolutely. Useful? As it turned out, enormously. It taught Jacinda that technical ability isn't enough—you have to connect with the person watching. From there, the conversation moves into the art of presence: why preparation matters, why great presenters don't just deliver information but create a feeling, and how to recognise whether someone actually wants your advice before launching into it. Jacinda's three Ps—be prepared, be personal, be present—might sound simple, but they're at the heart of how she helps people move from merely presenting to genuinely connecting. And there's plenty of Jacinda along the way: "shock, surprise and delight", the difference between performing at an audience and feeding off it, why sometimes your friends don't want your advice—they just want to vent—and the importance of knowing when to stop talking and simply ask, "How can I help?" A lively conversation about ego, courage, communication and the wonderfully liberating realisation that sometimes... you just need to get over yourself and give it a go. Connect with Jacinda here - https://au.linkedin.com/in/jacinda-patty-a22aa388

  5. Aug 6

    Look after the people and the money will look after itself - Mark Hedderman

    For Irish adviser and second-generation business owner Mark Hedderman, the best advice he ever received came from his father: Look after the people and the money will look after itself. In this episode, Mark explains how that simple philosophy has shaped a family business that's redefining what financial advice can be. Rather than focusing solely on investment returns, his team has built a model around wealth care—combining financial, health and social wellbeing to help clients live richer lives, not just accumulate greater wealth. The conversation explores why the strongest client relationships aren't built through constant selling, but through listening, trust and genuine care. Mark shares why his firm deliberately works with fewer clients, gives people time to make decisions, and believes the greatest measure of success isn't assets under management—it's the quality of the lives their clients lead. Along the way, he discusses helping families prepare for difficult conversations before a crisis occurs, why financial advisers should think more like "professional best friends" than product experts, what he's learned from advisers around the world, and why AI may transform technical advice—but will never replace genuine human connection. Part philosophy, part blueprint for the future of advice, this is a conversation about putting people before products—and discovering that, in the long run, that's the most valuable investment of all. Connect with Mark here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hedderman-cfp%C2%AE-85278645/

  6. Jul 30

    Don't do it for someone else's reasons - Peter Worn

    What if the biggest business mistakes aren't the ones you make—but the ones you make trying to solve somebody else's problems? For Peter Worn, one piece of advice from his father has quietly shaped every major decision he's made over the past decade: Don't ever do anything for someone else's reasons. In this episode, Peter—co-founder of Finura, board director and one of the advice profession's most thoughtful commentators—explains why that simple principle has helped him navigate partnerships, commercial decisions and the constant pressure to chase opportunities that look exciting but don't align with his values. Because the hardest decisions in business often aren't about saying yes—they're about knowing when to say no. The conversation ranges from building businesses with purpose to leading teams through uncertainty, but it keeps returning to one central theme: clarity. Knowing what matters. Choosing long-term relationships over short-term wins. And recognising that the strongest partnerships are built on shared values—not just shared revenue. Along the way, Peter reflects on the lessons of watching his father's business rise and fall, why starting a business is as much a mental challenge as a commercial one, the surprising value of coaches who tell you what you don't want to hear, and the stoic mindset that has carried him through anxiety, setbacks and uncertainty: nothing is ever as good—or as bad—as it seems. Part philosophy, part business masterclass, this is a conversation about making decisions you can live with—even when the outcome is uncertain. Because when your reasons are clear, everything else becomes much easier to navigate. Connect with Peter here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterworn/

  7. Jul 23

    Fear means go - Adele Martin

    What if the feeling you're trying hardest to avoid is actually pointing you in the right direction? When Adele Martin found herself trapped in a business that looked perfect on paper but felt completely wrong, her coach gave her a piece of advice that seemed almost reckless: hand in your notice before you have a plan. It was terrifying. It was uncomfortable. And it changed everything. Fear means go. In this episode, Adele—former financial planner, founder of the Financial Adviser Scale Squad and business coach—shares why some of the biggest breakthroughs in life happen the moment you stop waiting for certainty. From launching her own business to helping hundreds of advisers grow theirs, she's learned that momentum almost always comes before confidence. The conversation is packed with practical wisdom, but it's the mindset behind it that stands out. Why coaches ask questions instead of giving answers. Why perfection is the enemy of progress. Why the goals that matter most are the ones that fit your version of success—not someone else's highlight reel. And why the best investment you can ever make isn't in a new CRM or marketing strategy, but in understanding yourself. There are plenty of memorable detours too: the university lecturer who told her she'd never succeed in finance, the business lessons learned while raising young children during lockdown, and the simple habit that keeps her clients moving forward every week—celebrate the wins before you focus on what's broken. Whether you're building a business, changing careers or standing on the edge of a decision that feels bigger than you, Adele's message is a powerful one: if it scares you because it matters, that's probably your cue to take the first step. Connect with Adele here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adelemartin/

  8. Jul 16

    Growing older is a privilege - Trish Gregory

    What if every birthday wasn't a reminder that time is running out... but proof that you've been lucky enough to keep living? For Trish Gregory, that perspective came from two moments she'd never forget: losing a young cousin far too soon, and listening to her grandmother explain that growing old isn't something to fear—it's something many people never get the chance to experience. Since then, she's worn every new wrinkle and every birthday as a badge of honour. Growing older is a privilege. In this episode, Trish—financial adviser, insurance specialist and passionate advocate for women in advice—shares how that mindset has shaped everything from her career decisions to the way she raises her children. It's a conversation about perspective, values and learning to zoom out when life feels overwhelming. Because today's problems often become tomorrow's stories. She reflects on why finding an employer that shares your values matters more than chasing the perfect job, how niching into insurance allowed her to have a deeper impact on clients, and why some of the best financial advice has very little to do with investments at all. It's about helping people protect the lives they've worked so hard to build. There's also a brilliant discussion about showing up—for your profession, for your community, and for the people coming after you. From taking a baby to industry conferences, to helping create scholarships for women in advice, to encouraging newcomers to simply walk into the room and start a conversation, Trish makes a compelling case that careers are built one connection at a time. Warm, generous and quietly inspiring, it's a reminder that success isn't just measured by what you accumulate—it's measured by the people you help, the perspective you gain, and the privilege of getting another year to do both. Connect with Trish here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trish-gregory-finance/

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What's the Best Advice you've ever gotten?

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  • Creator
    Best Advice Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Best Advice Podcast
  • Show Website
    Best Advice Podcast