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 OWL! 

🦉 The Meticulous Money Planner – You Find Comfort in Organisation and Control

Does this sound familiar?

As an Owl, when it comes to money, you are a a careful planner who thrives on organisation and detail.

This may manifest as: keeping detailed budgets and financial projections, analysing potential risks before making any money move.

 Examples of your financial behaviour might include: spending hours perfecting spreadsheets, tracking every £, researching all the options, keeping tight controls over spending. Decision paralysis.

Strengths/Benefits of the Owl Archetype

• Long Term Focus: You excel at planning for future financial goals and expenses.
• Intentional Spending: You are disciplined with spending, ensuring each £ has a clear purpose.
• Detailed Rationale for Decisions: You have strong budgeting skills, creating a well-structured financial plans from which to make decisions.

Your structured approach ensures a high level of financial control and clarity, which can be invaluable for avoiding costly mistakes.

By carefully tracking and analysing every detail, you’re well-prepared for most financial situations and can make informed decisions based on solid data. This focus on precision can help you maximise profitability and optimise resources.

Potential Downsides/Areas for Growth for Owls

• Inability to make decisions: Overthinking financial choices can lead you to 'analysis paralysis'.
• Discomfort in the short to mid term: Being overly future-focused may make it difficult for you to focus on financial achievements now.
• Difficulty enjoying the present: Your risk aversion might prevent spending on small, enjoyable investments that could boost morale or improve efficiency.

While your attention to detail is valuable, it can sometimes lead to “analysis paralysis,” where you spend so much time planning that you delay important decisions.

This perfectionism can cause missed opportunities and make it hard to adapt quickly. Being overly cautious about budgets may also prevent you from taking "healthy" risks now and enjoying your money.

Three Practical Money Tips To Move Forward

Challenge yourself to balance future goals with your present needs/wants by setting aside resources for both strategic growth and personal rewards - with room for flexibility.

1. Establish a “Good Enough” Decision Threshold:

Set a financial decision rule - such as researching options for no more than a week - before making a choice. This reduces overthinking and allows you to act while still being cautious and intentional.

2. Allocate Funds for Development & Joy:

Set aside a small budget for financial or business training programs that improve your skills. This will keep you advance without feeling that you’re taking on too much risk and to gain comfort in investing in the now (with low stakes). Keep a spending pot for little rewards too!

3. Create a Short-Term Savings Goal:

Identify a financial goal that can be achieved within a few months, like saving for a little bit of kit or a marketing push.

Focusing on short-term gains helps you enjoy more immediate results without compromising long-term planning.

Money Mantra

“I trust my decisions and allow money to flow with ease and purpose.”

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 Deer: The Hesitant Observer

🐿️ The Squirrel: The Savvy Saver

🦁 The Lion: The Bold Risk-Taker

🦎 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!