NICOLA HYNES - ASSOCIATE

As a kid, maths and sport were my favourite subjects. I loved the concrete aspect of working with numbers and problem solving seemed to come naturally to me.

One thing that never made sense to me was that I spent hours at school learning complex algebra and trigonometry but never learnt how to lodge a tax return, how superannuation worked, how to invest or even budget. When I started working part-time, I read a few personal finance books and realised I wanted to learn more than just the basics of money.

I never imagined I'd end up working in the financial services industry as I was initially drawn to healthcare professions. I liked helping people and was a little bit afraid of working in an office because I like a good chat! I discovered financial planning by accident, and after speaking to a few advisers, realised the combination of working with numbers whilst having interesting conversations with clients about their work, hobbies and families was a natural fit for me.

To me, true wealth consists of not just money but also intangible things like time, health, relationships, travel and leisure. Getting to know clients on their money journey is so rewarding. I love seeing changes in both the 'understanding numbers' as well as the emotional 'feeling at ease' aspects. I’m excited to have a great team of people to learn from as I continue my training to become a financial adviser.