Caroline Shortt on Designing Homes, Building a Business and Making Thoughtful Financial Decisions
A Taste of Financial Planning
We sat down with architect Caroline Shortt for a conversation that covered far more ground than we expected. Caroline shares her journey from early entrepreneurial experiences to building her own practice, Barc Architects, and the work she now does designing beautifully considered homes for her clients. We also touched on her love of Italy, including the appeal of trulli in Puglia, something that sits more in the realm of future dreams than current projects. Along the way, we explored how those design decisions often sit alongside much bigger questions. How far to push things. How to balance...
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Mike Hesketh: Perspective, Pressure and What Financial Independence Really Means
A Taste of Financial Planning
In this episode of A Taste of Financial Planning, we’re joined by Mike Hesketh. Mike’s career has taken an unusual path, from training as a dentist and serving in the Royal Navy alongside the Royal Marines, through to building and selling a successful dental practice, and now working with practice owners through . But this conversation goes far beyond career milestones. We explore how early experiences shape our attitudes towards money, how different types of pressure influence decision-making, and what financial independence really means when it stops being theoretical and becomes real....
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Abraham Okusanya: Early Money, Big Decisions, and Building Something Over Time
A Taste of Financial Planning
We’re joined at the table by Abraham Okusanya. Abraham grew up in Nigeria before getting a scholarship to study in the UK, a turning point that changed the course of his life. Today, he runs a business responsible for managing over £13bn of client assets. But this conversation doesn’t follow a straight line from A to B. We start much earlier. With childhood memories of money, sitting around the table with family, sometimes not quite enough to go round, and what that teaches you about earning, spending and valuing it. From there, the conversation moves through very different moments in...
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A Taste of Financial Planning - Paul Mills - Reinventing Your Career in Midlife
A Taste of Financial Planning
What happens when you walk away from a successful career and start again in mid-life? In this episode of A Taste of Financial Planning, Dennis cooks a Turkish feast while we sit down with marketing leader and entrepreneur Paul Mills. After years in senior corporate marketing roles, Paul chose to leave the security of employment and build his own business, working with companies as a fractional marketing leader and strategic adviser. Over dinner we talk about the realities of that transition, including: • the mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur • the financial realities of building...
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A Taste of Financial Planning - Emma Gray - Grief, Preparation and Growing Life Around Loss
A Taste of Financial Planning
What happens when the person who planned everything for you dies at 38? In this episode of A Taste of Financial Planning, we sit down with Emma Gray, founder of Rainbow Hunting, former wills and probate solicitor, and widow. Over Dennis’s Japanese black cod with miso, we talk about grief, preparation, and the emotional handrails that matter when life changes overnight. We explore: What grief really feels like, physically as well as emotionally The “sadmin” no one prepares you for Why powers of attorney are not just for later life The balance between living fully now and planning...
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A Taste of Financial Planning - Lee Spencer - The Rowing Marine
A Taste of Financial Planning
Lunch with Lee Spencer: Rowing Oceans, Climbing Mountains, and Finding Purpose In the first episode of A Taste of Financial Planning, hosts Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele sit down for lunch with former Royal Marine, world record-breaking ocean rower and author, Lee Spencer. Over a Caribbean-inspired lunch and a bold glass of Syrah, Lee shares the remarkable story of how he became The Rowing Marine. From a life-changing injury to crossing the Atlantic solo, climbing Kilimanjaro with his daughter, and even testing kit for NASA. The conversation moves between resilience, purpose, loss and of...
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Holly Mackay: Making Financial Advice More Human
A Taste of Financial Planning
“You are good enough. You do know enough. You just need to start.” For the final episode in our summer series, we’re joined by the brilliant and refreshingly honest Holly Mackay, CEO of , to talk about the real barriers to financial confidence — and why money is never just about the numbers. We dive into: – Why women still feel “rubbish with money” – The behavioural edge female investors may have (even if they don’t know it) – Why “just doing nothing” might be the best investment strategy – The power of empathy in advice – And how to make financial planning...
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Health is Wealth: The Other Side of Retirement Planning
A Taste of Financial Planning
In our second special summer episode of The Century Plan, we step outside the world of finance, but only just. Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele are joined by Toby Swallow, a former world champion powerlifter turned strength coach, who now calls himself a health pension planner. His mission? Helping people build the physical reserves they’ll need for a longer, more independent life. We explore the powerful parallels between financial and physical planning, from building long-term reserves to avoiding crisis-driven decisions. Toby shares personal insights, practical steps, and a clear...
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The Soul of Wealth with Daniel Crosby Ph.D
A Taste of Financial Planning
In the first of our summer specials, we’re joined by Dr. Daniel Crosby - psychologist, behavioural finance expert, and author of The Soul of Wealth. Daniel’s work invites us to rethink wealth not as a number, but as something deeply connected to our values, our behaviour, and our vision of a meaningful life. We explore: Why we often know the right thing to do with money, but still don’t do it The hidden power of “Enough is a decision” Why women often outperform men as investors How the PERMA model helps us plan for fulfilment, not just freedom The small wins that make...
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What's Holding You Back?
A Taste of Financial Planning
In this season finale of The Century Plan, we wrap up our exploration of what often holds people back from engaging in financial planning. Throughout this season, we've tackled several common barriers and uncovered ways to overcome them. Here are some key factors we discussed: Difficulty connecting with our future selves: Many people struggle to envision their future and prioritise present desires over long-term goals. Perfectionism: The fear of making the "wrong" decision or not having all the perfect information can prevent action. Lack of time: We explored whether people truly don't...
info_outlineHow much time do you think you spend doing nothing?
A recent Duolingo poll revealed that UK adults spend an average of 26 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 doing... well, nothing! That’s about 12 hours a week. Think about it—moments like:
Watching TV
Waiting for the kettle to boil
Waiting for a delivery
Scrolling aimlessly online
In this season of The Century Plan podcast, we’re exploring what's really holding us back. One of the most common reasons people give for not focusing on their financial planning is a lack of time.
But in our latest episode, we challenge that idea and take a closer look at how we actually spend our time. Is it really about not having enough hours in the day—or something else?
Join us as Dennis Hall breaks down how to make time for your financial planning and shares practical tips to help you get started, no matter how busy life feels.
Listen now and discover how to take control of your financial future in just a few small steps.
Useful information
Host: Dennis Hall
Host: Sarah Steele
Contact us: ask@yellowtail.co.uk