Financial Planning Resources

Claire’s journey: from nurse to nutritional therapist

Claire Thomas didn’t start her career in nutrition. She worked as a paediatric intensive care nurse until a life-altering diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome forced her to leave her job. At one point, Claire was told she might never recover.

Rather than resigning herself to a life of limitation, Claire embarked on a journey of discovery—exploring the power of nutrition, mindset, and lifestyle changes. Over time, she saw remarkable improvements in her health.

“I started putting the principles into place and seeing improvements in my health,” Claire shared. “Bit by bit, I did other things… counselling, kinesiology, the lightning process. It all added up until I felt, in 2018, that I had recovered from chronic fatigue syndrome.”

Claire’s recovery sparked a passion for helping others avoid the same feeling of hopelessness she experienced. In 2019, she left the NHS and trained as a nutritional therapist, setting up her practice, Nourish to Soar, to empower women struggling with exhaustion, burnout, and fatigue.

What health and wealth have in common

At first glance, health and wealth may seem unrelated. But as Claire and Dennis discussed, the principles of planning are strikingly similar.

Dennis pointed out: “People used to think they’d die in their late 60s or early 70s when I first started financial planning. Now, life expectancy is much higher, but with that comes a longer retirement and, unfortunately, more years of ill health for many people. So, just as we encourage financial clients to plan for the long term, we also need to think about how to support our health in the years to come.”

Claire agreed, emphasising that small, consistent actions today – whether for financial or physical well-being – compound over time to produce significant results.

“It’s like compound interest,” Claire explained. “The earlier you start investing in your body – just like saving money – the greater the benefits you’ll reap later in life.”

Breaking the ‘quick fix’ mentality

A persistent myth in health planning is the idea of a “quick fix.”

Claire noted that many people approach health with a focus on extreme diets or short-term fixes, such as “eat less and move more,” without addressing the underlying causes of their challenges.

“People might go into calorie deficit and push themselves with high-intensity workouts, but they’re just adding stress to their bodies. Without proper fuel or balance, that stress impacts sleep, hormone production, and even weight regulation. Instead of fixing the problem, it creates a cascade of issues.”

The solution, Claire says, is a personalised and sustainable approach. Just as no two financial plans are the same, every individual’s nutritional needs differ. “We start small—one manageable change at a time—and build from there,” she said.

Starting small: building health and wealth habits

Both Claire and Dennis emphasised that the key to long-term success is starting small.

For Claire’s clients, that might mean focusing on balanced blood sugar levels by ensuring meals include protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and vegetables. “Sometimes people don’t realise how much their eating habits are impacting their energy levels,” she explained. “A simple food diary often reveals gaps or imbalances people didn’t know existed.”

For Dennis’s financial clients, the equivalent might be setting up a direct debit to save a small amount each month. “It’s not about overhauling your entire lifestyle overnight,” Dennis said. “It’s about consistency—those small, incremental changes that compound over time.”

The role of vision and accountability

Both Claire and Dennis stressed the importance of looking ahead and envisioning the future.

Claire helps her clients think about their health 10, 20, or even 30 years down the line. “I ask people to imagine their ideal life in retirement,” she said. “Do they want to be active, traveling, spending time with grandchildren? Then we work backward to identify the steps they can take today to make that vision a reality.”

Accountability is another critical factor. In financial planning, we hold regular reviews. Similarly, Clare schedules check-ins with clients to track progress and make adjustments.

Ageing well: nutrition’s role in later life

One of the most compelling parts of the discussion was Claire’s advice for staying healthier as we age. With people living longer, many are facing more years of ill health in retirement, often due to lifestyle factors that could have been addressed earlier.

Claire outlined her five key pillars for long-term health:

1. Nutrition – Focus on balance and variety, including plenty of vegetables, whole foods, and healthy fats.
2. Movement – Incorporate regular physical activity, but avoid overdoing high-intensity workouts that can add stress.
3. Mindset – Cultivate a positive, forward-thinking outlook.
4. Sleep – Prioritise quality rest by avoiding alcohol, large meals, or screens too close to bedtime.
5. Stress management – Identify and address sources of stress through mindfulness, breathing exercises, or counselling.

Whether it’s your financial situation or your physical health, the actions you take today shape the future you’ll experience. Both require discipline, consistency, and a willingness to think long-term.

As Claire put it, “The question to ask yourself is: What will my future self thank me for?”

Unlocking positive change: using neuro-linguistic programming tools to overcome barriers

Claire highlighted a fascinating aspect of her work as a nutritional therapist: addressing the mental blocks and limiting beliefs that stop clients from making healthier choices. Many of her clients know what they should do but struggle to act on it. By listening carefully to the language they use – like saying, “I can’t cook” or “I hate vegetables” – Claire encourages them to shift their mindset. Reframing these thoughts into empowering alternatives like “I get to cook” or “I get to nourish my body” helps clients adopt small, achievable steps toward better habits.

Dennis Hall drew a strong parallel with financial planning, where behaviour and beliefs also play a critical role. Many people hold themselves back with thoughts like, “I’m not an investor” or “I don’t understand the stock market.” Shifting these narratives, while taking small, manageable steps, can make financial goals feel less intimidating.

The discussion also explored broader trends that impact both fields, such as past advice that turned out to be harmful. Claire pointed to the demonisation of fat and the rise of processed foods in the ’70s and ’80s, which we now know contributed to long-term health issues. Dennis compared this to risk-profiling in financial planning, which once seemed sensible but may have inadvertently led people to take insufficient risk, resulting in suboptimal outcomes later in life. Both fields emphasise the need to remain critical of trends and adaptable to new evidence.

Fasting, epigenetics, and understanding our choices

On the topic of fasting, Claire recommended a cautious, personalised approach. While a 12-hour fast can support gut health and repair, more extreme practices, like three-day water fasts, require preparation and are not suitable for everyone. Factors like individual tolerance, blood sugar stability, and even the hormonal fluctuations of women at different points in their menstrual cycle must be considered. Her advice: start small, listen to your body, and seek expert guidance if needed.

Epigenetics, a relatively new area of study, also came into focus. Claire shared the findings of the Dutch Hunger Study, where children born during a famine developed a predisposition to conditions like obesity and diabetes due to changes in gene expression passed down from their parents. However, she emphasised that while genetics play a role, lifestyle choices – such as diet, exercise, and sleep – can influence how genes are expressed.

Dennis connected these insights to the value of expert advice in financial planning. Just as Claire uses genetic testing data to create practical, tailored nutrition plans, financial planners analyse their clients’ data to build strategies that work for them. In both fields, experts help clients cut through overwhelming amounts of information and focus on achievable steps that lead to long-term success.

Why do we struggle to begin?

Reflecting on what holds people back, Claire identified two key barriers: denial and overwhelm. Many people adopt a mindset of “It won’t happen to me” when it comes to health issues, just as others avoid addressing their finances. At the same time, the sheer volume of information online—whether about the latest diet or investment trend—can leave people paralysed.

Her advice? Go back to basics. Start small. Allow yourself to take manageable steps without expecting perfection. As she said, “You’ve got a lifetime to invest, improve, and make changes.” A bad day doesn’t mean failure; it’s an opportunity to start fresh tomorrow.

Dennis echoed this sentiment, observing that both financial and health journeys benefit from honesty, accountability, and a structured plan. Tools like food diaries or budgeting exercises, while imperfect, help people become more aware of their habits. With expert guidance, clients can avoid the “scattergun” approach and focus on meaningful, sustainable changes.

Ultimately, as Claire noted, there’s often more than one right answer in health, just as there is in financial planning. The key is to work with someone who understands where you are now and can help you move forward – one step at a time.