The JOY Broadcast — "The Joy of Money Matters" with Amy Goodall-Smith

Host: Ali Mortimer (The JOY Coach)
Guest: Amy Goodall-Smith, Chartered Financial Planner
Date: December 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The JOY Broadcast, hosted by life consultant and JOY coach Ali Mortimer, focuses on overcoming fear and anxiety around money. Ali welcomes long-time friend and accomplished financial planner Amy Goodall-Smith for a candid, uplifting conversation about how to find joy, peace, and confidence in managing your finances. The episode is especially timely as it airs around New Year’s, a time when money worries often spike. Together, Ali and Amy discuss strategies for financial wellbeing, the emotional side of money, and practical steps listeners can take, regardless of their financial situation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Amy and Why Money Worries Are Universal

[00:49–03:15]

• Ali introduces Amy, highlighting her impressive credentials and wealth of financial experience.
• Amy shares her journey from an interest in investments to running her own wealth management practice.
• Amy remarks humorously that her job is essentially: "drinking coffee, eating biscuits, and chatting to people all day long...I just get to spread a bit of money joy everywhere." (Amy, 03:10)

2. Money Anxiety and Lack of Strategy

[03:21–05:56]

• Most people have no clear strategy around their finances. Their actions are often reactive, based on anecdotal advice or common trends (e.g., opening new accounts for bonuses, following friends).
• Amy’s advice: Pause, take stock of where you are, what you want, and create a goal-oriented plan.
• A simple, person-centric approach removes jargon and complexity.

"Take all the fear, all the noise, all the jargon, make it really simple. It really does. It can be really simple and it’s about simplifying things completely for people."
– Amy Goodall-Smith, 05:20

3. The Biggest Fear: Lack of Financial Knowledge & Emotional Triggers

[06:09–10:52]

• Amy sees the most common fear as lack of knowledge—people don’t know where to get trustworthy information, and personal financial situations are unique.
• Emotional triggers around money stem from upbringing, societal norms, or wanting to replicate or avoid parents’ habits.
• Financial decisions are often emotionally driven, connected to security, independence, and past experience.
• Amy’s research found most people's financial "strategy" comes from parents, friends, or public figures like Martin Lewis, but these sources aren’t tailored.
• The Financial Conduct Authority is working on making advice more accessible.

"Everybody, my needs are different to your needs, Ali. I might live next door to you, have the same number of children, go to the same school...but because of your emotions, your feeling, your attitude to risk...our strategies could be completely different."
– Amy Goodall-Smith, 06:46

4. The Emotional and Practical Importance of Talking About Money

[10:52–12:11], [23:14–24:03]

• Shame and secrecy around money lead to misunderstandings and prevent effective planning.
• Talking about money at home—especially with children—can provide financial education and emotional security.
• Cultural taboos around discussing money need to be broken; it's as important to discuss as topics like mental health or menopause.

"We say 'cold hard cash', don’t we? But it is the emotions that we bring or apply to money, and everybody’s emotions around money are so, so different."
– Ali Mortimer, 07:57

5. Amy’s Triangle: Visualizing Your Wealth for Simplicity

[12:11–19:40]

• Amy uses a triangle model with clients to clarify their financial needs at any stage of life:

  • Apex (Top, Smallest): Short-term needs.
    Emergency cash—easily accessible funds for unexpected expenses in the next 2-3 years.
  • Middle: Medium-term needs.
    ISAs and investments for goals 5-10 years away (e.g., moving house, helping children).
  • Base (Largest): Long-term needs.
    Retirement planning—building a pot that provides income potentially for decades.
  • Foundation (Below Triangle): Protection.
    Legal safeguards: will, powers of attorney, and insurance to handle the unexpected.

• Notable quote and visualization:

"The triangle fits for all of these [life stages]...if you draw a triangle, that represents your wealth. The very tip is your short-term needs...the middle is for your medium term...and the big section at the bottom is for creating an income in retirement."
– Amy Goodall-Smith, 12:54–15:34

6. Protection Is Non-Negotiable

[15:35–18:49]

• The foundation to any financial plan: have a valid will, powers of attorney, and insurance.
• Even among responsible adults, these are often missing, unsigned, or outdated.

"If you've got young children, you haven't got a will, there's no one designated to have your kids. They could go into care until that is sorted out."
– Amy Goodall-Smith, 16:39

• Key questions: What happens if you get sick, lose capacity, or pass away? Do your loved ones have financial protection?

7. Advice for Those Who Struggle to Save

[19:40–22:18]

• Many people live "cash-rich" (spending everything they earn), sometimes dependent on credit.
• Amy stresses that there should be no shame in debt—even professionals face it.
• The antidote is conversation, realistic appraisal, and seeking help rather than struggling alone.

"First thing is: no shame...Even me, as a financial advisor, have got into—oh my gosh, have I got into this model. You know, because we do. We pay for childcare, whatever it is."
– Amy Goodall-Smith, 21:00

• Practical tip: If expenses exceed income, only two options—reduce outgoings or increase income.

8. Financial Wellbeing Touches Every Area of Life

[22:18–23:54]

• Financial worries don’t just affect bank balances; they undermine physical and mental health.
• Ali shares personal context—money may seem like the biggest worry, but relative to health or loss, it's one we can control by strategy and support.

9. Information Overload: The Need for Simplicity and Tailored Advice

[25:17–26:23]

• The world is full of overwhelming financial advice and products; most are not tailored to individuals’ true needs.
• Amy and Ali both emphasize finding a trusted guide or at least a clear, personalized strategy is life-changing.

"There is so much information...But as you say, every single individual is so different...So simplify it by finding—it's overwhelm. There's too much information."
– Ali Mortimer, 25:17

10. Freedom, Choice, and Joy—The Ultimate Purpose of Money

[26:24–27:24]

• Financial strategy isn't just about numbers— it's about having options, freedom from anxiety, and the ability to live a joyful life based on personal values.
• Amy’s company strapline: "Peace of mind is the greatest wealth you can have."

11. How to Get Started and Connect with Amy

[27:51–28:56]

• Amy’s practice, Goodall Smith Wealth Management, offers both local and remote (Zoom/Teams) support.
• Her team is built on shared care and values.
• Find Amy and her team on Instagram and via their website.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I just get to spread a bit of money joy everywhere."
  – Amy Goodall-Smith, 03:10

• "Any commitment to a goal—unless you really commit to it and write it down—you’re never going to achieve it, are you? I think it’s the same with money."
  – Amy Goodall-Smith, 05:20

• "The more we share, the more informed people are to make better decisions and have then better outcomes, and ultimately that will bring people peace and calm around money." – Amy Goodall-Smith, 10:48

• "First thing is no shame...we have all, including me, been there." – Amy Goodall-Smith, 21:00

• "Peace of mind is the greatest wealth you can have." – Amy Goodall-Smith, 27:07

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:49: Amy’s introduction and background
• 03:21: The reality of money management—fear and lack of strategy
• 06:09: The biggest fear: lack of knowledge
• 12:11: The triangle model for financial planning explained
• 15:35: Why protection (wills, insurance) is foundational
• 19:40: Handling the struggles with saving and living paycheque-to-paycheque
• 22:18: Why financial wellbeing impacts life beyond money
• 25:17: The problem of information overload and value of advisor or tailored plan
• 27:07: Final wisdom—peace of mind and financial freedom go hand in hand
• 27:51: How to find and work with Amy

Conclusion

Ali and Amy offer a warm, understanding, and empowering dialogue about money—breaking down barriers of fear and shame to reveal simple, actionable steps anyone can take. Whether you’re beginning your financial journey or feeling stuck, the message is clear: talk about money, set goals, make a plan, and seek help when needed. Joy and peace of mind are achievable—even in your finances.

Find Amy Goodall-Smith on Instagram or at Goodall Smith Wealth Management.
Amy's mission is to spread "money joy," and, as Ali sums up, “The ripple of joy starts with you.”