How We Got Here
Started in early 2018 with just two people and a whiteboard covered in messy calculations. Back then, most small business owners in Adelaide were using spreadsheets that hadn't been updated since 2012. We thought there had to be a better way to help folks plan their finances without drowning in numbers.
Get in TouchOur Journey So Far
From a cramped office above a coffee shop to teaching hundreds of people better financial planning. It's been quite the ride.
The Beginning
Two finance consultants met at a local business workshop in Adelaide. We realized everyone was asking the same questions about budgeting and forecasting, but getting wildly different advice. That conversation lasted four hours and ended with a decision to start teaching practical financial planning.
Remote Pivot
When everything moved online, we weren't ready. Honestly, our first three webinars were technical disasters. But we learned fast. By mid-2020, we'd developed a teaching approach that actually worked remotely, focusing on interactive exercises rather than endless slides.
Curriculum Overhaul
Our original course material wasn't cutting it anymore. Business owners needed more than theory – they wanted real scenarios they could relate to. Spent six months rebuilding everything from scratch with input from actual small business owners across South Australia.
Expansion Phase
Brought on three more instructors and launched advanced forecasting modules. We're now teaching quarterly workshops at various business centers throughout Adelaide, covering everything from basic budgeting principles to multi-year financial projections.
Who Teaches These Courses
Real people with actual business backgrounds. Not just academics or consultants who've never had to make payroll or worry about quarterly taxes. Our instructors have managed budgets, made mistakes, and learned from them.
Malcolm Thornberg
Lead InstructorSpent twelve years managing finances for a mid-sized manufacturing company before shifting to education. Prefers using real-world examples over textbook scenarios because numbers make more sense when they're attached to actual decisions.
Rupert Finch
Budget StrategyFormer small business owner who sold his retail operation in 2021. Now focuses on helping others avoid the financial planning mistakes he made during his first five years. Direct teaching style that doesn't waste time on jargon.
Common Questions We Answer
People usually have similar concerns when they first reach out. Here's what we typically discuss.
Is this suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. We start with fundamentals and don't assume you know financial terminology. Our foundational course begins with basic income and expense tracking before moving into forecasting. Most participants have never created a formal budget before joining.
What if I can't attend live sessions?
All sessions are recorded and available within 24 hours. You'll also get access to practice worksheets and can submit questions via email. While live participation is ideal for discussion, recorded sessions work fine for many of our participants with irregular schedules.
When do courses start?
We run quarterly cohorts starting in late September 2025 and January 2026. Each cohort runs for eight weeks with one session per week. You'll receive detailed schedules after enrollment so you can plan accordingly.
Do you provide ongoing support after completion?
You'll have access to our discussion forum for twelve months after finishing. Many participants return with specific questions as they implement what they've learned. We also host optional quarterly check-in sessions for alumni.
What Actually Happens
Beyond the course descriptions and schedules, here's what the learning process looks like in practice.
Hands-On Sessions
We spend most of our time working through actual scenarios. You'll create budgets, test different forecasting models, and adjust plans based on changing variables. The goal is building confidence through practice rather than memorizing formulas.
Group Work
You'll collaborate with other participants on case studies drawn from real businesses. This peer learning component often generates insights that individual work misses. Plus, it's helpful to see how others approach the same financial challenges.
Personal Feedback
Each participant submits weekly assignments based on their own business or hypothetical scenarios. Instructors provide detailed feedback on your approach, highlighting both what's working and areas that need adjustment. It's how we ensure the material connects to your specific situation.