The Wealthy Barber Podcast #39 — Shannon Lee Simmons: Financial Planning for Everyday Canadians
Jan 13, 2026
Shannon Lee Simmons, a Certified Financial Planner® and founder of the New School of Finance, delves into financial planning for everyday Canadians. She discusses her innovative work in fee-only financial planning and the unique Barter Babes project. Shannon explores the importance of actionable financial advice and modular planning, offering insight into budgeting and cashflow management. She also addresses rising housing costs, the concept of financial dysmorphia influenced by social media, and the role of parents in financially supporting adult children.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Bartering Launchpad
- Shannon bartered financial planning for goods and services for one year, advising 300 women instead of charging fees.
- The experiment launched New School of Finance and generated word-of-mouth growth.
Choose Fee-Only For Unbiased Advice
- Pay a fee-only planner for unbiased time and advice rather than commission-driven product sales.
- Expect pricing by project or hourly fee and no conflict from product commissions.
Modular Planning Makes Plans Actionable
- Modular financial planning focuses on short-term timelines and cashflow rather than only 40-year projections.
- Cashflow snapshots make long-term plans actionable by showing monthly saving capacity.
