Meet The Detectives

Money Detective Directors: Detective Heather, Detective Loraine and Detective Lesley. 

Detective: Heather

Heather’s Background

Heather didn’t grow up in an affluent or rich household, but it was through her parent’s example that she learned to respect money. As there was only a limited amount of money in the household, Heather was taught not to waste it, but to use it wisely.

The skill of saving was ingrained in Heather at an early age. Heather has memories of her Mother picking her and her brother up from school every Friday afternoon and going to the bank to deposit part of their pocket money into their savings account. Although Heather didn't have a purpose for what she was saving for, it taught her the power of saving. She saw her bank account grow each week, watched the interest get added each month and this created a valuable lifelong savings habit.

Heather’s parents valued spending time as a family, without blowing the budget. Treats were always something to be cherished and trips to McDonalds were a rarity. However Heather never felt deprived with most weekends spent as a family on an adventure to the beach, park or bush to experience Mother Nature. Heather’s parents also enjoyed travelling and saved for years at a time to take extended holidays overseas. By the time Heather was 16 she had been to the UK, USA and Europe several times over. This was always paid for in cash and never the credit card.

It was these wise money management principals such as paying cash for items, never buying something you couldn’t afford and saving for the important family treats that laid the foundation to Heathers solid money management skills in adulthood.

A High School maths project, where Heather had to research the implications of buying an investment property became the impetus for Heathers love of investing. From here Heather set the goal to purchase her first investment property – which she did at the age of 19 with a massive 52% deposit! Over the years Heather has built up an extensive investment portfolio.

It was through Heathers experiences that she began to talk to other people about how they could also get ahead and started teaching money management skills and showing them their opportunities.

Heather has a wide background in finance – a Diploma of Financial Planning and over 20 years working within the banking and financial services industry including over 6 years in financial wealth coaching. She also has extensive knowledge of money management and investments, gained from her own personal experience of investing in property, shares, managed funds and other asset classes.

Personal Details

Heather lives in Brisbane with her husband and baby daughter Eloise (born March 2010). She is enjoying her new role of motherhood and the challenges that young babies bring. She also enjoys spending time planting trees on their 200 acre property on the Sunshine Coast. Her hobbies when she finds the time include bushwalking, ballroom dancing, rock climbing, yoga, 4wding and playing with her very active cats: Bootsie, Socksie and Beanie.

Career Achievements

During her time at the last Financial Services firm, Heather worked as a Financial Wealth Coach. She successfully coached a large client base on a range of topics including basic money management skills, budgeting, goal setting, debt management, and investing across areas such as property and shares. As an integral part of this company, Heather then became a trainer of new financial coaches to the organisation and later became responsible for managing the National Coaching Division which supported and trained 15 franchises across Australia. The highlight of her career was being promoted to the role of General Manager of this Financial Services firm.

Heather’s Goals and Dreams

Heather’s goal is to help as many people as possible to become aware of their potential and to show people how easy managing money can be. She hopes that through Money Detective financial literacy across the world will improve, and people will be able to remove their stresses and worries about money. As Heather has a passion for giving, she is a regular supporter of a number of charity organisations and her ultimate dream would be to start an orphanage overseas in a third world country.

Heather is a regular contributor to Ezine Articles.  Discover Heather's articles here 

Detective: Loraine

Loraine’s Background

Born in Africa to British parents, Loraine had the spirit of adventure from an early age. As an adult Loraine had the opportunity to travel in her various roles in Australian Embassies across the world. It was through these experiences that her eyes were opened to different cultures and ways of living.

However life, sometimes throws a curve ball; her marriage failed and Loraine found herself back in Australia alone and with a young daughter. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, Loraine took on her new adventure as Mother and sole-bread winner with the same vigour and determination she had always done. Although there were many struggles financially as a single Mother, Loraine worked hard at several ways of increasing her income with a full time job and made the time to raise her precious daughter.

Not only is it impressive that Loraine was able to cover her living expenses on her own, but she was determined to set aside further funds to buy her own home. With this goal firmly in the forefront of her mind, Loraine increased her ways of earning extra money on top of her existing job.  Loraine worked her budget and saved for the deposit on her own home and made this dream a reality. Loraine’s determination and winning attitude can be seen in other aspects of her life.

Loraine has set up and continues to operate a successful bookkeeping business, competes in thoroughbred dog competitions, completed numerous diplomas in financial management and administration and continues to mentor her daughter on the finer points of life.

Loraine hopes through Money Detective she can pass on her own real life experiences and mentor others on how to improve their own financial situation. Loraine is certainly an inspiration to others!

Personal Details

Loraine’s personality is like an Energiser advertisement – she is constantly on the go and you could easily get tired just hearing about her jam packed day! When she has a spare moment you can see Loraine on the dance floor doing the Salsa and Tango.

Career Achievements

Loraine has a long career in administration, organisational management and staff management. She has managed her own book keeping business for the last 10 years, as well as working full time in senior management positions. During her time at the last Financial Services firm, Loraine worked as the Manager of the Administration Divison controlling 15 franchises, and it was during this time she met Heather and Lesley.

Loraine’s dreams are to be financial independent before retiring and to help others in any way she can.

Detective: Lesley

Lesley’s Background

Undertaking a Commerce Degree at university, Lesley assumed that her financial security was assured. However, once entering the work force it was clear that a degree and qualifications didn’t guarantee financial success. Despite the good wages of her more experienced work colleagues, some still struggled from week to week and never seemed to get ahead. Lesley was determined to be different.

Working in the finance industry, Lesley met the successful people and started to learn their ‘secret’ to success. Using her Commerce degree as a foundation, Lesley and her husband Ben started their self-education to understand the keys to financial independence through reading books, magazines, speaking to successful people, attending seminars and trying to absorb as much as possible. Lesley also studied and completed the Diploma of Financial Planning.

For Lesley and Ben, the first step forward with their own personal money situation was putting in place a solid budget, cutting the credit card free and saving hard for their own home. Through sacrifice and determination within a short period of time they we able to reach their dream of building and owning their first home. From here they have continued their journey into wealth creation by building up a number of other investments and assets.

Seeing the financial struggles that most university students, young professionals and married couples go through, it sparked a passion within Lesley to help educate others on getting ahead. Lesley changed direction with her career and joined a financial coaching organisation as a Financial Wealth Coach. It was during this time she met Heather. Lesley was very successful in fulfilling her responsibility of coaching and mentoring her own portfolio of clients in all areas of budgeting, debt reduction, saving, goal setting and investing.

Lesley has recently entered a new phase in her life; being a mum! Lesley and Ben are the proud parents of a little boy who was born mid March 2009. They looks forward to facing the new challenges of raising children.

Through Money Detective Lesley hopes that more people can be educated on how to get ahead financially and get the core fundamentals of money management under control.

Personal Details

Lesley lives in Emerald, Qld with her husband Ben and new bundle of joy Samuel. Lesley enjoys playing touch football, being involved in their local church and being creative with craft.

Career Achievements

Lesley has obtained experience in a wide range of areas in the financial services industry, having worked as an Accountant, Financial Planner, Mortgage Broker and Financial Wealth Coach. Due to Lesley's success as a Financial Wealth Coach in her previous employment, she was quickly earmarked for promotion within this organisation and moved into the role of Coach Support Manager to work alongside Heather teaching the new Financial Wealth Coaches. This role provided technical support to coaches across 15 franchises, and entailed training and mentoring them on providing a quality service to their clients.

Lesley’s Goals and Dreams

Lesley’s goal is for Money Detective to be an industry leader in helping and educating people on how to get ahead financially. Personally Lesley has aspirations to be a good steward with her money by passing on her experiences to others and being generous to charities.