Built on Real Conversations About Money

We started tavenikaro because financial advice felt broken—too complicated, too distant, too focused on selling products instead of solving problems.

Since 2019, we've been working with individuals and families across the Mid North Coast, helping them make sense of their financial situations. Not through jargon or cookie-cutter plans, but through honest conversations about what actually matters to them.

Team collaboration session in Port Macquarie office

How We Got Here

The idea came from watching too many people struggle with basic financial decisions—not because they weren't smart enough, but because the information out there was either oversimplified or impossibly dense.

We figured there had to be space for something in between. A place where someone could learn about superannuation without falling asleep. Where investing didn't require a finance degree to understand. Where you could ask "stupid questions" without feeling judged.

So we built it. Started small with a few workshops in Port Macquarie, then expanded to one-on-one guidance, then online resources. The core idea stayed the same: explain things clearly, admit when something's uncertain, and never pretend there's a magic solution.

What Drives Our Work

These aren't corporate values we put on posters. They're the principles that shape how we actually operate day-to-day.

Clarity Over Complexity

Finance is already complicated enough. We strip away the unnecessary jargon and explain concepts in plain language. If we can't make something clear, we keep working until we can—or we admit we're still figuring it out ourselves.

Context Matters

A strategy that works for a 28-year-old freelancer won't work for a 52-year-old business owner. We spend time understanding individual circumstances before suggesting anything, because generic advice is rarely useful advice.

Education First

Our goal isn't to create dependency. We want people to understand their options well enough to make informed decisions themselves. Sometimes that means they don't need our services anymore—and that's perfectly fine with us.

Honest Limitations

We can't predict market movements. We can't guarantee specific outcomes. We can't solve every financial challenge. What we can do is provide informed perspectives, help weigh options, and walk through decisions methodically.

Who Does the Work

We're a small team based in Port Macquarie. Most of us stumbled into finance from other backgrounds—teaching, journalism, small business—which probably explains why we're so focused on making things understandable.

Between us, we've got qualifications in financial planning, accounting, and adult education. But the real learning happens through the hundreds of conversations we've had with clients over the years.

tavenikaro office workspace in Port Macquarie
Henrik Sørensen profile photo

Henrik Sørensen

Financial Planning Lead

Spent fifteen years in corporate banking before realizing he'd rather help individuals than institutions. Specializes in retirement planning and explaining superannuation without inducing comas. Lives for surf sessions before work.

Marta Kovač profile photo

Marta Kovač

Education Programs Director

Former high school economics teacher who got tired of textbooks that made finance boring. Designs our workshops and courses with a focus on real scenarios. Has strong opinions about spreadsheet organization.

Client consultation session reviewing financial documents Financial planning materials and resources

How We Actually Work

  • We start every engagement with questions, not solutions. Understanding the situation matters more than jumping to recommendations.
  • We explain our reasoning. If we suggest something, we walk through why—including potential downsides or alternatives we considered.
  • We don't work on commission. Our advice isn't influenced by which products pay referral fees, because we don't accept them.
  • We encourage second opinions. Seriously. Getting input from multiple sources usually leads to better decisions.
  • We stay in touch, but not annoyingly. Check-ins happen when circumstances change or when there's actually something worth discussing.
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