In the first episode of A Taste of Financial Planning, hosts Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele sit down for lunch with former Royal Marine, world record-breaking ocean rower and author, Lee Spencer.

Over a Caribbean-inspired lunch and a bold glass of Syrah, Lee shares the remarkable story of how he became The Rowing Marine. From a life-changing injury to crossing the Atlantic solo, climbing Kilimanjaro with his daughter, and even testing kit for NASA.

The conversation moves between resilience, purpose, loss and of course, money. Lee talks candidly about growing up in Dagenham, his family's financial struggles, and how those experiences shaped his views on security, success and satisfaction.

There's honesty, humour and debate as Dennis and Lee discuss what money is really for: chasing wild dreams, building a legacy, or simply feeling free.

Dennis served a Caribbean-inspired menu, starting with a rum-based cocktail. The main course featured beef short rib cooked sous vide for 40 hours, glazed with rum, sugar, soy and lime zest, and served with coconut plantain purée, sweet potato and steamed broccoli.

Dessert: Rum, coconut and lime posset with toasted coconut flakes
Wine pairing: Porseleinberg Syrah 2023 — rich, spicy and a perfect match for the bold flavours

• Growing up with money worries and how early habits form

• Camaraderie and discipline in the Royal Marines

• Record-breaking adventures and learning from adversity

• Whether money is for living or leaving a legacy

• How planning for the future helps you live more fully in the present

• Debt, lessons from parents, and generational attitudes to money

• Happiness, purpose, and the things money can't buy

Lee's book: https://amzn.eu/d/0ebu7dHU

Host: Dennis Hall

Host: Sarah Steele

Contact us: ask@yellowtail.co.uk

ABOUT YELLOWTAIL

Founded by Dennis Hall, Yellowtail are the trusted financial planners who advise individuals & families across the UK. Yellowtail's experts provide the clarity, control and confidence to guide you through financial planning, estate planning, pension transfers and investment management directing your journey towards a prosperous retirement and financial peace of mind.

"You are good enough. You do know enough. You just need to start."

For the final episode in our summer series, we're joined by the brilliant and refreshingly honest Holly Mackay, CEO of Boring Money, to talk about the real barriers to financial confidence — and why money is never just about the numbers.

We dive into:
– Why women still feel "rubbish with money"
– The behavioural edge female investors may have (even if they don't know it)
– Why "just doing nothing" might be the best investment strategy
– The power of empathy in advice
– And how to make financial planning feel less like a private club

Holly also shares her own story — from $8.50/hour unit pricing in Australia to becoming one of the most trusted voices in UK consumer finance. It's candid, funny, and deeply human.

Whether you're a financial professional, a reluctant investor, or simply someone trying to make better decisions for a longer life — this one's for you.

Don't forget to follow or subscribe — and let us know your favourite moment from the episode.

Host: Dennis Hall

Host: Sarah Steele

Learn more about Holly's work at boringmoney.co.uk

Contact us: ask@yellowtail.co.uk

Produced by Yellowtail Financial Planning

ABOUT YELLOWTAIL

Founded by Dennis Hall, Yellowtail are the trusted financial planners who advise individuals & families across the UK. Yellowtail's experts provide the clarity, control and confidence to guide you through financial planning, estate planning, pension transfers and investment management directing your journey towards a prosperous retirement and financial peace of mind.

In our second special summer episode of The Century Plan, we step outside the world of finance, but only just.

Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele are joined by Toby Swallow, a former world champion powerlifter turned strength coach, who now calls himself a health pension planner. His mission? Helping people build the physical reserves they'll need for a longer, more independent life.

We explore the powerful parallels between financial and physical planning, from building long-term reserves to avoiding crisis-driven decisions. Toby shares personal insights, practical steps, and a clear message: wealth alone won't protect you from frailty.

Whether you're planning for retirement, already there, or working with clients who are, this episode will challenge how you think about health, wealth, and what it really means to prepare for the future.

In this episode:

• Toby's journey from powerlifting champion to health coach

• What it means to build your "health pension"

• The connection between VO2 max, bone density, and longevity

• Why functional fitness matters more than aesthetics

• How to start building physical reserves — at any age

• The cost of waiting until it's too late

"Just because you look fit doesn't mean you're ready for what ageing brings. We plan financially, why not physically?"

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more conversations on long-term thinking, financial wellbeing, and living a life that matters.

Host: Dennis Hall

Host: Sarah Steele

Contact us: ask@yellowtail.co.uk

Follow Toby on LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/toby-swallow/

ABOUT YELLOWTAIL

Founded by Dennis Hall, Yellowtail are the trusted financial planners who advise individuals & families across the UK. Yellowtail's experts provide the clarity, control and confidence to guide you through financial planning, estate planning, pension transfers and investment management directing your journey towards a prosperous retirement and financial peace of mind.