A Gentle Note Before We Begin

It’s not about “what’s wrong with you,” but “what’s happened to you.” (Gabor Maté) 

In society, we’re often led to believe that financial challenges are solely personal—rooted in individual responsibility and self-discipline. This perspective can quickly lead to feelings of blame and shame around money. 

This is an invitation to shift to a more compassionate view. Beliefs about money are deeply rooted, the result of a rich tapestry of life experiences, family patterns, cultural expectations, and even echoes of generational trauma.

In business, there’s often pressure to "put on the CEO hat" and leave emotions aside. However, these ingrained beliefs and responses often shape our financial choices in subtle ways, even when we’re not fully aware of them. By approaching these patterns with curiosity and self-compassion, you can gain valuable insight into how they influence your financial journey. This awareness lets you move forward with intention, choosing patterns that support your dreams while gently releasing those that don’t.

It’s worth acknowledging the broader systems we all live within dominated by capitalism and consumerism which thrive on scarcity and 'never enoughness', which shapes our beliefs and behaviours around money in powerful ways. While these forces influence us all, we have the capacity to respond to them with greater awareness.

If exploring your results brings up any complex feelings, know that this is a completely natural response. Feel free to take a moment to pause, feel the ground beneath you, and take a deep breath.

You’re not alone on this journey!

With empathy and empowerment,

Harriet x

 Your financial archetype is…

THE LION! 

🦁 The Bold Risk-Taker – Confidently Embraces Financial Challenges for Growth

Does this sound familiar?

As a Lion, you thrive on bold moves and high-stakes opportunities. You’re energised by the prospect of growth and believe that taking calculated risks is essential to building a successful business.

This may manifest as: Investing in big campaigns, expanding rapidly into new markets, or hiring resources/people aggressively to scale quickly.

Examples of your financial behaviour might include: This appetite for growth often means you’re comfortable making fast decisions, even if they involve some level of uncertainty. You may also be prone to spontaneous spending, enjoying the thrill of seeing your vision come to life.

Strengths/Benefits of the Lion Archetype

• Fearless Investment in Growth: Lions aren’t afraid to put money into areas that could expand their business, whether through marketing, training, or new products, helping to drive substantial growth over time.
• Quick Decision-Making on Financial Opportunities: Your confidence allows you to make fast financial decisions, capitalising on timely opportunities without hesitation.
• Willingness to Take Calculated Financial Risks: You are comfortable taking on financial risks that align with their goals, such as strategic borrowing or reinvesting profits, which can lead to significant returns and business expansion.

Your willingness to embrace risk enables you to seize opportunities that others might hesitate to pursue. This boldness gives you a competitive advantage, as it allows you to innovate, explore new markets, and potentially enjoy faster growth than more cautious counterparts.

You’re resilient in the face of setbacks and have a natural confidence that can propel your business forward.

 

Potential Downsides/Areas for Growth

• Overspending on Ambitious Goals: Lions’ drive for growth can sometimes lead to impulsive spending, pushing budgets to the limit and creating cash flow strain.
• Financial Instability Due to High Risk Tolerance: Their comfort with risk-taking can lead to periods of financial instability, especially if returns on investments don’t meet expectations.
• Neglecting Financial Safety Nets: Lions may focus more on growth than on building financial reserves, leaving the business vulnerable during slower periods or unexpected downturns.

While your adventurous spirit drives growth, it can sometimes lead to impulsive decisions or overspending. In your enthusiasm, you may overlook potential downsides, leading to a lack of financial stability.

There’s a risk of overcommitting resources or taking on too much at once, which could strain your business’s foundation or lead to burnout.

Three Practical Money Tips To Move Forward

Here are three actionable steps to help you channel your bold energy into sustainable financial growth.

Each tip is designed to keep you aligned with your long-term vision while giving you the freedom to make confident, calculated choices.

1. Implement a 24-Hour Waiting Period for Investments:

Before committing to large financial decisions, give yourself a day to reflect. This cooling-off period allows you to assess whether the investment/purchase aligns with your goals and mitigates impulsive spending.

2. Automate Your Banking to Balance Bold Moves with Stability:

Set up an automated banking system that allocates a portion of each income stream into dedicated “pots.” Designate percentages for essential areas, such as taxes and emergency savings, to secure your financial foundation. Create additional pots for “splurges” on exciting new ideas or celebrating wins, so you can take calculated risks without compromising your safety net.

3. Practice a Regular Review of Long-Term Financial Goals:

Schedule in quarterly reviews of your long-term financial goals, ideally with the guidance of a trusted financial advisor or mentor. They can offer valuable insights, helping you assess whether each bold investment aligns with your overarching strategy. This collaborative check-in keeps your growth on track, balancing your adventurous spirit with a strategic outlook to ensure that every decision supports sustainable success.

Money Mantra

“I channel my confidence into smart investments that build resilient financial foundations"

Reflections

Jot down your thoughts on your quiz results and report:

• What really resonates?
• Did you get any surprises or revelations?
• Is there anything you disagree with in the results?
• What's one thing you can let go off?
• What's one thing you can start doing?

 Explore the results for the other archetypes

When you completed the quiz, you would have seen a percentage score for each archetype right away. In this pilot phase, however, we’re only able to retrieve your highest-scoring archetype for later reference, so we can’t access the full percentage breakdown again.

If you can remember or took a screenshot—perfect! You can now explore the reports for other archetypes you scored highly in below:

🐢 The Turtle: The Cautious Money Avoider

🦉 The Owl: The Meticulous Money Planner

🦌 The Deer: The Hesitant Observer

🐿️ The Squirrel: The Savvy Saver

🦎 The Chameleon: The Flexible Adapter

Thanks so much for getting curious 🧭

We’d love to hear your thoughts—just a few quick questions to help us make this even better and create resources that really work for you!

🔗Complete this quick follow-up questionnaire🔗

 

Hi👋, I’m Harriet!

A Radical Fractional CFO, ICAEW Chartered Accountant, Trauma of Money Certified™ Practitioner, and Executive Business Coach. I support purpose-driven founders, SMEs, and startups who are changing the world for the better.

After years in the corporate world, I became disillusioned with serving 'faceless entities' and wanted my work to create real impact. So in 2020, I founded Below The Line Finance to go back to supporting founders who want their finances to fuel their creativity and mission - not limit them.

“For too long, creative people have been led to believe they’re just ‘bad with money,’ and I am here to change that!

Financial fears and anxieties are real and valid, and I honour that in my work, inviting a holistic, trauma-informed approach where finance becomes an enabler rather than a blocker.”

Money With Soul

I challenge the lie we all heard at school: that you could either be “kind, creative, and poor” OR “good with numbers and successful.” This narrative keeps brilliant people playing small, and I’m here to help rewrite that story.

Our financial outcomes are deeply influenced by our beliefs about money - whether it’s fear, shame, or past experiences. Traditional finance ignores these emotional drivers, but I’ve seen the transformative power of working through them. My approach combines logical, strategic expertise with compassion and intuition.

Together, we’ll build a financial foundation where you can be uniquely you—creative, ethical, and financially empowered.

The Good Life 🌱

From my meadow-side office in Somerset, surrounded by retired racehorses, ponies, and my gaggle of dogs, I help founders build sustainable, profitable businesses that stay true to their values.

Through 1:1 consultations, courses, retainers, mentorships, and workshops, I bring a human touch to finance, showing that ethical profits and positive impact can thrive alongside fun, creativity and solid strategy.

Resources to Support Your Journey

Follow for Insights: Find me on Instagram @belowthelinefinance for values-driven finance tips.

Listen In: My podcast Voice Notes From Your CFO Bestie explores the human side to practical money management in business.

 Get Number Savvy: Finance training platform that pairs practical advice with emotional depth, helping you make aligned, impactful decisions.

Receive 1:1 Support: Money Awakening Intensive 

"You're finances can both feel good and do good - so let's make it happen!"

P.S. Watch your inbox for resources to turn finance into a positive, empowering force in your business journey!