Her Life, Her Practice, Her Way

As Tara closes out the first season of Her Life, Her Practice, Her Way , she reflects on what these conversations have revealed—about the profession, about the women in it, and about herself. Through powerful themes like mentorship, meaningful work, and the desire to build a life that feels aligned, Tara shares what stood out the most from her conversations with this inaugural season of female fin...

Joanne Burke didn’t start her career in financial planning. She began in tax at KPMG, working with ultra-high-net-worth families and developing deep technical expertise. But over time she realized that what interested her most wasn’t just the numbers—it was the conversations about what people actually wanted their lives to look like. That realization led Joanne to build Birch Street Advisors , whe...

What happens when you get crystal clear about your impact — and equally clear about what is enough for you? In this episode, Tara sits down with Oakland-based CFP®, Ella Taylor to explore environmental sustainability, systemic investing, philanthropy, and designing a life that truly fits. Ella’s mission is bold: move as much capital as possible toward positive impact for our planet and the people...

Melissa Yano didn’t get into financial planning because it was some lifelong dream. She got into it because she thought she needed it as a young single mom. Growing up, money was a source of stress and wasn’t talked about. It wasn’t something that was taught but she thought it was something she should learn so she started taking the financial planning classes and kept going. She enrolled in a CFP...

In this episode, Tara talks with Kim Abmeyer , founding equity partner of Ascentis Wealth and Ascentis Asset Management , about responsibility, growth, and the importance of women supporting one another in financial services. Kim shares how she grew into the role of advisor over time—initially not wanting to be an advisor—and why that early hesitation may be one of her greatest strengths today. Sh...

What happens when fear becomes a signal to pay attention to, rather than a stop sign? In this episode, Tara sits down with Amy Irvine to talk about the courage it takes to build a financial planning practice that truly fits your life. Amy shares how loss became a wake-up call, why she walked away from a traditional AUM model, and what she learned when she realized she had planned for failure—but n...

Operations coach and business owner Kristen Lux shares her journey from working in restaurants to systems / operations consulting and coaching. She talks about what it’s really like to run a business with her husband, and why entrepreneurship is personal development on steroids. We talk ADHD, boundaries, couples counseling, and why being good at this work starts with being a good human. Episode Hi...

Michelle Gass shares how four different careers led her to the work she was truly meant for. In this conversation, she reflects on discovering life planning, building a team that genuinely hums, and creating a practice that finally feels like home. _______________ In this conversation, I had the true pleasure of sitting down with Michelle Underwood Gass —with Paradigm Advisors . Michelle’s path ma...

Part two with Shanna Due is an honest look at the comfort we find in being supported—and how we can offer that same presence to ourself and others. This episode — the second part of my conversation with Shanna Due — is all about what it feels like to carry people through some of the biggest, most emotional and uncertain decisions of their lives. One of the things I love most about Shanna is her na...

I first met Shanna Due through The Society of Advice and later had the chance to work with her more closely in an accountability group she leads. She’s smart, genuine, and deeply intentional about how she designs both her life and her practice. In this first part of our conversation, Shanna shares her path from growing up with financial insecurity to building Due Financial and helping families mak...

From reading books at bars to becoming a nationally ranked ballroom dancer, Dr. Amy Leis has built her extraordinary life and career on one simple mantra: “Keep Saying Yes.” A PhD in educational psychology who became a financial advisor, Amy now runs two businesses—Juno Wealth Management and a study-skills coaching practice—while teaching, mentoring, and inspiring others to invest in themselves. A...

Some stories remind you that courage doesn’t always look like confidence—it often looks like saying yes before you’re fully ready. In this episode, Jen Hushion shares how a leap of faith took her from Toronto to Prague, where she talked her way into a financial reporting job she knew nothing about… and then another leap that led her to New York, love, and an entirely new life. From a creative writ...

Carl Richards never set out to become the “Sketch Guy” for the New York Times . In fact, he thought he was applying to be a security guard when he stumbled into a job in securities . From that mix-up to the simple whiteboard sketches that eventually changed how we talk about money, Carl’s story is one of beautiful accidents, paying attention, and following the sparks that make life meaningful. In...

Abbie Danko’s path into financial advising is anything but typical. Just before graduating with degrees in psychology and religious studies, she faced the devastating loss of her mom—and made the brave decision not to dive into a full-time job right away. Instead, she gave herself the space to grieve and chart her own course. Although her father, Brett Danko, is a well-known financial planning edu...

Sarah Carr has lived many lives in one. Betrothed at 14 to a much older man, she survived sexual abuse and the weight of purity culture, endured the loss of two brothers, and walked through the grief of divorce. Her story is undeniably tough—yet she radiates hope and positivity. Today, as a single mother raising neurodiverse children who don’t fit neatly into the traditional school system, Sarah h...

In this uplifting and deeply personal episode of Her Life, Her Practice, Her Way , I sit down with my friend and fellow financial advisor, Kristin Stutz , to explore her remarkable journey from salon owner to cancer survivor to thriving financial planner. Kristin’s story is about resilience, reinvention, and the courage to design a life and career filled with meaning, connection, and joy. Her pers...

Angela Dorsey went from reading Money magazine in her childhood bedroom to building a business ( Dorsey Wealth Management ) she loves—trusting her gut and taking one brave step at a time. In this conversation, we talk about how she left a steady Human Resources corporate career in compensation to create a practice centered on purpose, intuition, and real connection. Angela shares how she defines s...

In this heartfelt and thoughtful episode of Her Life, Her Practice, Her Way , Tara sits down with Larissa Costello, founder of Protea Wealth Management , to explore the winding path that led her from South Africa to Australia to the U.S.—and from stay-at-home mom to passionate financial advisor. With warmth, honesty, and clarity, Larissa shares how her deeply human approach to advising is grounded...

In this inspiring and down-to-earth conversation, I talk with Linda Rogers , founder of Planning Within Reach , about building a practice — and a life — rooted in authenticity, intention, and impact. With her tagline “ Plant, Grow, Harvest ” , Linda beautifully weaves together her love of gardening, sustainability, and financial planning. We talk about how she got into this business and grown her...

In this heartfelt and engaging episode, Tara sits down with Kathryn Kubiak-Rizzone, a former physical therapist turned financial planner and founder of About Time Financial Planning . Kathryn shares her inspiring journey from healthcare to financial advising, weaving in stories of motherhood, identity, intentionality, and purpose. Her thoughtful approach to financial planning is grounded in values...

In this inspiring episode of  Her Life, Her Practice, Her Way , host Tara Bansal sits down with Certified Financial Planner(TM) and coach  Liz Hand , co-owner of  Pleasant Wealth . Together, they explore how financial advising can be reshaped through intuition, creativity, and emotional intelligence—especially by women forging their own paths. ✨ Episode Highlights: Liz’s roots: Growing up Mennoni...

In this powerful premiere episode, host Tara Conti Bansal turns the mic on herself, sharing her deeply personal and professional journey. From chemical engineering to financial planning, divorce to healing, and entrepreneurship to coaching, Tara opens up about the winding path that shaped her—and why she believes female financial advisors are uniquely positioned to lead and serve in meaningful way...