As someone who never really understood the value of financial advice or the value of a personal relationship with a financial adviser, I am now a complete advocate!

I was referred to Lisa by quite a few people when I started to research the idea of pursing financial advice (which just tells me she has positively impacted many more people than me!). They said she was 'one of the best' and my direct experience with her has been nothing short of this. In the complex, challenging and high-stakes world of 'life and money' decisions, having Lisa's help to build my plan and realise the first phase of its benefits was one of the best decisions I've made. I still retell the story about how my financial planner was the second person I called after successfully bidding on my dream home at auction! Lisa makes things easy; she cuts out the complexity by making sense of things in a way that I just 'get'. Our discussions are about life and how to make the most of it. She is authentically interested in me and my family; she understands me and knows what is important to me. I absolutely trust her and I know she has my best interests at heart. I always feel like I can ask for the same thing to be explained multiple times (which happens often!) and changing my mind (which also happens often!) is met with a multitude of options and possibilities. Do I tell my friends and family about my positive experience of having a financial adviser? Yes! And in the same breath I recommend Lisa so they can feel as good about life and financial security in the same way I do.

Lisa Barber has been working as the financial adviser for both myself and my Mum over the past two years.

I first met Lisa when I was looking at some different directions for my own career. In talking with me she was incredibly open and encouraging. I was impressed by her passion and vision for financial planning and her knowledge of the industry. She represented everything I imagined the financial planning industry could be. I was so impressed that I asked her to provide me with some financial planning advice. Based on the quality of this work I also asked her to help me in managing the financial affairs of my Mum, which I had been undertaking since my Dad's death. In dealing with my Mum, Lisa was particularly helpful. Mum had never managed finances and she had had some poor experiences with financial advisers throughout her and Dad's life. However, Lisa immediately put Mum at ease in the way she asked questions, actively listened and responded thoughtfully and respectfully to her needs and hopes. She patiently guided both myself and my Mum through the information and options. The options presented were relevant, simple and she worked to ensure the process and paperwork wasn't too overwhelming. She keeps in contact at the right times and is always so responsive to our many questions. I can't recommend Lisa enough in terms of her professionalism and expertise. More importantly, she has the ability to really listen to what you are seeking to achieve, translate it into financial goals and find solutions that work for you.

I have been burying my head in the sand for some time now regarding my finances.

Considering I have worked for banks and financial planning organisations, the irony is not lost on me! I'd always worried that because I have debt, that there was no point in seeing a planner until I had addressed that. So I've drifted along for many years, spending and accumulating, but not really getting to that wealth-creation nirvana I'd always assumed I would. Approaching my 42nd birthday, I decided that I needed to do something about it. I met Lisa through my sister and was so impressed with her down-to-earth attitude. I've carried a great deal of worry and shame around with me regarding my financial position, and she was able to clean the slate for me. She has truly partnered with me to step me through all the things I need to do to abolish my debt, and then begin on the journey for building a solid financial future and retirement. What I loved was that our discussions were focused on my emotional attitudes to money and building up my confidence to fully face my position, and get things sorted out. Within the space of two months, I am a new person. I took away a list of actions from my first meeting, and she followed up to ensure I was moving along. I became a finance demon! I open my mail. I access my bank accounts online every day. I know exactly how much money I have in my account. Lisa set up a hub for me, so that I pay myself an allowance, and the rest pays what it needs to and starts building my savings. Lisa has revolutionised the way I view money, and how I can provide for myself. It was an absolute pleasure meeting up with her every couple of weeks, and moving through the budgeting, the planning, the actions and then the implementation of my new financial life. I feel empowered for the first time in my life about my finances. Lisa is therefore not your typical planner. She is a quasi life coach and business partner. I thoroughly recommend anyone choose Lisa as their financial planner, particularly if you are a woman who is looking for more clarity and control over your finances.

Since attending, I am now more alert with what, where and how I spend my money, I've since made a plan with whatever I'm doing prior to having anything done, as before I just didn't care and took it as it came. I have since consolidated all of my super's into one, sought financial advice and have more talks with my partner regarding our finances.

- Doris Mamea

I started putting serious thoughts on savings for retirement, realised the importance of investments in different asset classes, as the returns from term deposits alone aren't enough to get through retirement.

- Katherine Ho

Through the sessions I have learnt to control my impulsive spending. I also have an idea on what is essential for estate planning. The most beneficial learning for me was to find out the real value of my share portfolio which was used as a deposit to assist in the purchase of my first home. Something I never thought I would be able to do.

- Nicole Fraser

The series has made me realise all the important things in life and has taught me ways of creating wealth. Having a budget is a very good way to see where my money is been spent and will help me save for the future.

- Esther Chan

Being considered a 'high income' family can still be tough when you need to pay a mortgage. We thought we were managing pretty well, but we had missed a few key issues, 1. Being under insured for income protection, and previously not considering trauma insurance 2. Not having a will to cover issues relating to the kids if something untoward happened as a family with young kids you soon realise that work is the last consideration in a crisis, but if you are not setup for that, it becomes a stress and burden at a time when you need it the least.

- Karen Barker

After quitting smoking I have managed to put that money a side that I use to spend on cigarette packets into my savings and plan to reward myself with this extra money without impacting my other saving account.

- Linda Toma

I have learnt to live off real money and not credit. I now have more control over my financial situation as I purchase with my own money and keep account of where it is being spent.

- Jonel Lavender

When I first heard Lisa talk, I was mesmerised and wanted to write down everything. I loved learning about how to create a budget and how to set up a cash management hub with the above and below the line strategy. Everything made sense to me and I felt so inspired after the meeting that I immediately started to make changes to my finances.

- Saleen Leung