About

Goodbye financial services, hello fun. I am loving my new career as an author and illustrator.

When my editor / publicist first saw my financial services website and viewed one of my videos, she simply made the observation that I don’t like what I’m doing. “If you did,” she said, “you’d be really excited about it.”

The penny dropped. She was right. The passion had gone. Although I was an industry innovator, the work that had become second nature and mundane. I was a knowledgaeable and caring adviser for 20 years and more recently loved being the exam guy to whom advisers flocked for help to pass their national adviser exam. I realise there are no more challenges for me there. It’s time for a change!

However, before I close that chapter of my life, my aim is to leave a legacy of valuable financial self-help books. The first book I am currently writing is a ‘whole person’ retirement guide in which I combine my financial expertise with my lived retirement experience so far. It examines the real needs of ageing people, and suggests how the ‘not so golden years’ can be improved. It also highlights the yawning advice gaps in an industry that successive overzealous and short-sighted governments continue to cripple.

The challenge I am relishing above all others is writing legacy stories for my grandchildren. I am creating something of value that I once would never have thought possible. My writing holy grail is a series of fantasy adventure stories for pre-teens. I am a great believer in the dream of a peaceful world. I strongly object to war and violence in any form, regarless of how righteous the proponents may feel. So I write to my own ethical framework of peace.

In short, my stories are action packed yet wholesome. There is no blood, no exploding heads, no killing. My lead characters are bold young superheroes, girls and boys, who are encouraged to follow their dreams. They are imbued with decency, kindness and compassion. They are self-reliant and think their way through problems. They rescue rather than destroy. Villains are outsmarted, not vaporised. Some even get a second chance to do good. All of my stories contain guidance and metaphors for life. They are intertwined with loving and supportive family relationships, especially grandparental relationships.

I simply cannot wait to get out of bed each morning to write; to give the gift of words and stories to the grandchildren of the world. My dream is that our future leaders who are currently pre-teens might ‘read and lead’ their way to building a tolerant, respectful and peaceful world.