Real People Behind Your Financial Clarity
We're not your typical financial advisors. We've spent years sitting across from everyday Australians who felt overwhelmed by spreadsheets and confused by banking jargon. Our team gets it—budgeting shouldn't require a finance degree.
Meet the Team
We started phorentavial because we saw too many people avoiding their finances out of pure frustration. Each of us brings something different to the table, but we share one belief: personal budgeting should feel achievable, not intimidating.
Maeve Gilchrist
Co-founder & Budget Strategy Lead
Maeve spent eight years in retail banking before realizing most customers left more confused than when they arrived. She's built our approach around plain language and practical steps. Outside work, she's renovating a 1970s cottage in Canberra—learning firsthand how budgets stretch and adapt.
Petra Lundqvist
Financial Education Director
Petra joined us in 2023 after teaching financial literacy workshops across regional Australia. She's the one who convinced us to ditch complicated charts and focus on what actually helps people change their habits. Her secret weapon? Breaking down money decisions into simple yes-or-no questions.
How We Actually Work With You
We're not about cookie-cutter solutions or one-size-fits-all templates. Every person's financial situation has its own quirks—and that's exactly what makes our work interesting.
Start Where You Are
No judgment, no pressure. We begin by understanding your current situation—including the messy bits. Most people underestimate some expenses and forget others entirely. That's normal.
Build Something You'll Use
Fancy systems fail if they're too complicated. We help you create a budget that fits how you actually live—not some idealized version. It needs to work on busy Tuesdays, not just Sunday afternoons.
Adjust as Life Changes
Your budget should flex when things shift. New job, growing family, unexpected repairs—we show you how to adapt without starting from scratch each time.
What Drives Our Work
These aren't just nice words on our website. They guide how we design every tool, write every guide, and approach every conversation with clients.
Honest Conversations
Money stress is real. We talk openly about challenges without pretending everything's easy. Some months are harder than others—and your budget should acknowledge that.
Practical Over Perfect
A good-enough budget you actually follow beats a perfect one you ignore. We focus on systems that work in real life, not just on paper.
Learning That Sticks
Our goal isn't to make you dependent on us forever. We teach you the thinking behind the decisions, so you can handle new situations on your own.