Hello Rask Community!
I’m Tahli, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as a new Senior Financial Adviser on the team. Fun fact: Before joining Rask, I was a long-time listener of the podcast—especially the investment series, which I obsessed over when I was starting my own first-ever investment portfolio. It was my go-to for general education and tips, and now I get to be part of the team bringing you that same valuable content. Talk about full circle!
How I got into Advice
Growing up in regional Victoria, I had a front-row seat to the financial rollercoaster that was my parents’ experience with money. While I recognise that, in many ways, I grew up with privilege, money was still a source of stress and uncertainty in our household. From a young age, I had a deep-seated desire to be independent—to be the kind of person who confidently knew what an offset account was (spoiler: I did not). So, when I moved to Melbourne for university, I was determined to “make it” on my own and not rely on anyone else to stay afloat.
But let’s be real—that was much easier said than done.
We didn’t learn about personal finance at school, which feels like a major oversight given how crucial it is to, well… existing as an adult. I had no clue how credit cards worked, what budgeting actually looked like in practice, or how to make my money stretch further than a fortnight. I remember walking into my first university accounting tutorial and realising a lot of my classmates had already studied accounting in their HSC. Meanwhile, I was still figuring out what “debit” and “credit” actually meant. Where I grew up, completing an Accounting subject wasn’t even an option. It was a real eye-opener—one that made me feel like I was already behind before I had even started.
Then, I started noticing something else. A lot of my classmates carried themselves with a quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) confidence when it came to their careers. Many had parents in corporate roles or owned successful businesses, and as a result, they had this seemingly effortless understanding of what their path might look like. Meanwhile, I was over here, just trying to decode the mysteries of HECS debt. It wasn’t that I wasn’t capable—I just hadn’t been exposed to the same conversations, knowledge, or opportunities. And honestly? That was intimidating.
Still, I pushed through. I wanted to prove to myself that I could succeed on my own terms.
At first, that led me to the fitness industry. I had incredible mentors who helped me progress into a head office role that, on paper, was perfect. I had a fantastic team, and I loved working with studio managers and owners—helping them grow their businesses, improve performance, and develop personally. But something always felt like it was missing.
I’ve always been a bit of a numbers nerd. The more time I spent analysing P&Ls (Profit and Losses) and talking to studio managers about their financials, the more I realised two things: (1) most of them did not enjoy these conversations nearly as much as I did, and (2) I might be in the wrong industry.
At the same time, I had been chipping away at a business degree. Moving from a small coastal town to Melbourne had already broadened my world, and my studies were exposing me to industries and concepts I had never considered. I found myself completely engrossed in my economics and finance subjects—finally, something clicked. The only issue? I had no idea how to turn that interest into an actual career.
So, I did what any self-respecting 20-something does when they’re unsure about their future: I took an online career quiz.
And, as it turns out, there was a career that perfectly married my love for finance with my passion for helping people—financial planning!
Not long after that lightbulb moment, COVID hit. The fitness industry took an absolute hit, and I decided this was my chance to pivot. I hit the books again, enrolled in a postgraduate course in financial planning, and started reaching out to advisers on LinkedIn. I was ready to get stuck in immediately, but my first interview with a financial planning firm was a bit of a reality check. They kindly pointed out that I needed a bit more education under my belt before jumping in, which, in hindsight, was very fair advice.
But if there’s one thing I am, it’s persistent (some might say stubborn, but let’s go with persistent). I kept applying for jobs, even though I had zero direct experience in financial services. Eventually, I landed a role with a female-owned finance brokerage. The founder and director of the firm were incredibly supportive, helping me build a network in the industry while I continued studying. That experience was invaluable, and after some time in an associate role, I finally landed my dream job in financial planning. And let me tell you—I haven’t looked back since.
My “why”
Through this entire journey, I’ve come to understand just how powerful financial literacy is. Money impacts every single part of our lives—our security, our choices, our future. Yet so many people feel completely out of control when it comes to managing their finances. That power imbalance is something I think about constantly.
For women in particular, financial literacy is transformative. It gives us the ability to make independent decisions, take control of our futures, and build lives on our own terms. Women face unique financial challenges—the gender pay gap, longer life expectancy, career breaks for caregiving, and societal expectations. Understanding money isn’t just about numbers; it’s about confidence, security, and freedom.
That’s why, when I sit down with clients, my focus isn’t just on financial strategies—it’s on empowerment. My goal is to involve them in the process, to help them feel in control, and to give them the tools to make confident financial decisions. Because at the end of the day, financial planning isn’t just about wealth—it’s about creating the life you want and making sure money is a tool that works for you, not against you.
And if my career quizzes were right (which, let’s be honest, they weren’t always), I think I landed in exactly the right place.
Keep an eye out for me on Rask Advice. Owen has challenged me to make a series around Financial Advice, so you will be seeing plenty of me to come!
