Uncensored Money Season Eight: Why I’m shutting down a 7 figure (annually) program in my business

Melissa Browne: Ex-Accountant, Ex-Financial Advisor, Ex-Working Till I Drop, Now Serial Entrepreneur & Author, Financial Wellness Advocate, Living a Life by Design | 30/04/2026

Show Notes

After more than a decade, 6,000+ women and many of their partners, and more financial transformations than we can count, Mel is closing the My Financial Adulting Plan. For good.

Yes, she’s closing rather than selling her continuing her 7 figure business.

You might think she’s crazy (she does a little too, that’s OK.)

But in this episode, Lawsie turns the microphone around and asks Mel the questions everyone has been too polite to ask. Why? What did it cost her personally to keep going? Was there a moment she almost changed her mind? And what does she hope the 6,000+ women who've been through MFAP actually walk away with?

This is an honest, unscripted conversation between two people who built something together and are figuring out in real time what it means to close it. No sales script. No polished answers. Just Mel and Lawsie the way you love them.

If MFAP has ever been on your radar, there are two rounds left. This conversation is the best reason to stop waiting. You can check out MFAP here: https://www.melissabrowne.com.au/financialadulting

For more tips and resources, visit us at melissabrowne.com.au, on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok @MelBrowne.Money or send us an email at hello@melissabrowne.com.au.

Links mentioned in the episode are below

My Financial Adulting Plan at https://www.melissabrowne.com.au/financialadulting

Finally, if you love this episode please make sure you subscribe, share it with a friend and leave us a review.

Transcription

Lawsie: So we need to talk about MFAP.

Mel: Straight into it. No warm up. No take me for a date beforehand. Just straight into it.

Lawsie: DRAINING!

Straight in and for those following along that don't know what MFAP is, My Financial Adulting Plan ⁓ So take me back to the beginning. What were you actually trying to solve when you built MFAP?

Mel: Well, look, I guess it was a selfish thing and a non selfish thing. So one was I had been a financial advisor and accountant for... 20-something years or almost 20 years and I am super introverted and also and I doubt I don't think I realized that at the time all I knew was when I saw a whole day of Appointments and it was a running joke in the office like if there was a whole day of appointments You all would be like she's gonna start canceling something because I would look at it and feel Physically ill like my god, that's just gonna take up so much petrol tickets like just this I remember the overwhelming of seeing those days going, ⁓ I can't. Whereas you probably look at that and go, yay, humans!

Lawsie: Yay!

Mel: So it was part, I knew I had to do something different. I had a compressed nervous at the time, so that kind of forced the decision. Probably, I think if I didn't have that, I wouldn't have made that decision quite as quickly. Or for you to come in and say, hey, I think I've got 12 months left, was like, shit, I need to do something different. But I had, the problem I was trying to solve was part the one-on-ones for me, because I just couldn't do it anymore.

But also, you know, we were having to charge people thousands of dollars to do financial plans and to help them. Even when it was tax, you know, I could charge someone a lazy couple of hundred bucks to do their tax return. But if they wanted more, if they wanted help with their business or their finances, suddenly it just became expensive. And I had written books, podcasting kind of really wasn't a thing. Back in the day but it certainly was by the time I started in fat but I just wanted.

The problem was trying to solve was how can we at scale offer something cheaper, but still whether getting enough value where they're not just listening to a podcast, they're not just listening to reading a book. We are taking them through what we used to do for them and teaching them how to do that for themselves. COVID had just had not come along quite yet. So I didn't know we were all just going to be forced onto screens. So I think the timing of it was good.

But the problem was genuinely, advice is too expensive. How can we teach more people how to do this for themselves?

Lawsie: Yeah. And help more people that can't afford the advice as well. Yeah.

Mel: Yeah, yeah, all the while protecting the little introvert's energy.

Lawsie: Yeah. And then when did you know that it was working? Like was there a moment for you where you're like, yes, yes, MFAP is the thing.

Mel: So I tried courses before, so I had when I put out more money for shoes, I had like a little baby online version of that course. And what I used to be great at is creating stuff and not selling, because like most women, I don't like sales. And same with Unfuck Your Finances. I did a financial detox course. And same thing, I was like, if I make it, people will find it think I sent a lazy email to my database and that was it. Like that was it. And I think when I, and obviously I discovered Tina Tower, who was how I knew about this whole online course world thing. And where I knew that this is it, this is working, was the second round where it was more than just get people onto it and give them a free spot. I think this second round had something like 40 people on it. And I was like, whoa.

Oh, okay. This could be interesting. And then when it did six figures, like when I think 12 months later, was at, it was at a hundred, a round was a hundred K. I was like, oh, I think maybe this is something. But it was also when people that were in the program and Clare who works for us now was in one of the very first rounds, I gifted her a spot in the course.

When she was come people like her were coming to me and going well this is life-changing more people need to know about this like they were so enthusiastic about

Lawsie:  Raving fans.

Mel:  Yeah, that then because I don't want to do stuff and put it out there and go, well, too bad, so sad. Hope it works for you. Like I want it to work. I want it to be helpful. So the twin part of fun and for me, you know, I'm all about profit and purpose. It's got to make money, but I've got to I've got to make real change with people. And when I saw that in the very early days, that's when I got really excited.

Lawsie: Yeah, you're like yippee, both boxes are being ticked. And so why are you closing it? And we want the real answer, not the here's my scripted, polished, responsive, I'm closing it because of XYZ. Why are you really closing it?

Mel:  Yeah! So two reasons again. So one is I think, well for me personally, I've found myself back in this situation where I am doing something that I don't wanna be doing. ⁓ And I was talking to someone just today where they, said, I just want this space to be more creative. I want this space to create more products that I just know people need. Like I just want more space.

And I want to be able to help more people. Like my heart is absolutely to help more. And I genuinely believe MFAP is a vehicle that can do its best work. Like eight weeks, give me people an intensive time, take them through that financial plan that we used to do for people. Like weekly one-on-ones, sorry, weekly live Q &A is to really help answer those questions that you've got. Accountability groups with you, a work room with two hours worth, You can just turn up and do it with you. Like it's just, I genuinely still believe it's the best thing. That's the best way that you can ⁓ learn how to do your money better. But I don't want to do it at that pace anymore. And if we're doing for a year, which profit and purpose for you is the sweet spot for me. It just like I'm having to do a...

You and I were talking this week, like our nights are just taken off with master classes and live Q &As and accountability groups and more. And I don't have the space to be creative and my team doesn't. Like I've got great people in my team from you to Bella to Clare and you're all currently...preparing for launches all the time and like if I could get you to do something else like that would be financially transformative to more people. part of it is I see us both me personally I am getting a little bit burnt out with how with what I am doing and the amount that I'm having to expend but also I think that we are not as a business despite me knowing this is such a beautiful way to do it I just feel like not for us like not for us anymore so yeah that that's probably the messy answer that

Lawsie: Yeah.

Mel: And then the ridiculous thing is it still brings in seven figures. It's still, and I should sell it. Like I should sell this business. could, it's got a membership behind it. I could easily sell it for seven figures, easily. Like without even, it wouldn't be hard. And yet I don't, I still have things that I want to do.

And the things that I want to do is what's next. I want to, again, create something that serves me better, that doesn't, ⁓ that where I don't feel quite as burnt out and exhausted by the end of the year because we give so much, where my team feel really fulfilled because of the work they're able to do. But also,

With the world that we're in at the moment, like $1,000 is a lot of money and not a lot of money at the same time. Like when you compare it to $4,000, which is the minimum that you would be spending to get a plan done with a financial advisor, $997 is a smaller amount. But for many people, it's still an insurmountable amount.

And I'm a Western Sydney chick. My heart is to help people that can't afford MFAP. And yes, we give them scholarships into MFAP of three lots of $33. And we do all that sort of stuff. But also we have to cap our numbers inside MFAP to be able to help the people that we want to help. So it becomes this kind of... Yeah this thing where it just isn't quite working and it can't help at the scale that I want it to. So yeah that's that's why I'm closing it because

Lawsie: Yeah.

Mel:  It has done such a beautiful job for so long. It was the right thing for so long. But with how I want to help people and how I want to show up next, I kind of want to do my doctorate before I'm 60. I've been talking about this forever. I can't do that and be doing MFAP. Like the research that I want to do. I just can't do both. But also that number of women that I want to help. I can't do it through MFAP. So, yeah.

Lawsie: Yeah, and was there still, I think you've alluded to it a little bit, but was there still part of you that was like, I want to keep it going.

Mel: Absolutely. And I think it's part of it. You we we receive you and I receive DMs. We receive emails. I'm stopped in the street often with women that say you have transformed me. Can I just tell you a story like the number of times that someone says to me, can I just tell you a story that I just go ⁓ like.

That's why we do it. Like at ⁓ the Dare to be Wealthy book launch, there were so many women that you and I met that were like, can we just tell you a story? Like that's why I was reluctant to shut it down. ⁓ But also it's freaking like I am financially well off, right? But it's this is still I have three mouths to feed, actually five mouths to feed in my business. And I want to keep feeding those humans.

But also, this is a seven figure program. Like this makes seven figures a year. Most sensible people wouldn't shut that down. They'd sell it or they'd keep it going in some way while they built something else. Like I'm an idiot. But I don't believe I can do this thing I want to do without going, that's it. Like, that's enough. It's kind of like trying to keep too bloat like if it would be like trying to date two men like i can i can barely deal with my husband never mind having someone else like you've got to be only on one so that's how i feel about it

Lawsie: Yeah. But it's also just because, you know, like some people would go, if it's not broken, don't fix it. But I would also go just because something's working, you shouldn't have to keep it when it's also then coming at a personal cost to you as well as like, you know, the financial cost of it as well. But yeah, there's many elements to it.

Mel: Yeah. Yeah. But I guess if I was to turn it around to you, like what? He was like, no. Like, what was the what was your reaction when I told you? Because I think I had.

Lawsie: No, this is this. I'm talking, asking you the questions.

Mel: I was just starting, cause I'd had a conversation with Tina earlier this year and she'd kind of said, maybe just consider dropping the price. And I was like, I think that dishonours all the people that have been in the program, but also that doesn't, ⁓ it's still too much on me and it's still much on you. it's, you know, full launches a year is so much on our team. So I think I was like, But let's just, if we're gonna change it, let's freakin' change it. And I think when you and I were going down to Melbourne, and I was like, aw, stop be thinking about something. And I just kind of started to tell you what I was thinking. Like, what was your initial reaction?

Lawsie: Yeah, I think because like we knew that something wasn't right. Like yes, in terms of the program and the changes and all of the things that it makes to so many women, I'm giving us gold stars, you know, I love to dish out a gold star. So I think there's that. But

Mel: That's it. You're hot mocha. So that's a massive. Yeah.

Lawsie: It was not working in sense in for all the reasons that you were saying, like on a personal and a business level, it wasn't working. So we'd obviously been having conversations around that. So it wasn't a complete surprise, but it was.

It's a big change. And I mean, I'm all for a big change. So again, let's put that out there. So I'm like, oh, cool, new adventure. This is exciting. But it's one that is, it does make me nervous. And this is, you know, looking at it, this is the accountant background, all the things you go for all the reasons you said, like it is still profitable. It's still doing all these things and it's still delivering that purpose and doing those things.

Mel: Yeah, you love a big change. Yeah. Yeah, wildly profitable.

Lawsie: But yeah, I was surprised for you to take the punt. It would be almost more likely for me to go, what about if we did this and throw this, you know, idea in and then for you to go no, and then to sort of see your excitement, I guess, since then as you're building. And if anything, I'm probably a little bit more nervous about it. ⁓ So it's quite an interesting sort of role reversal in terms of how we normally would be but I was also like, good for you. Like, I think I've pushed you and asked you so many questions over the years around why you're doing this. Why you don't need to all of these things like what because we're very different in terms of what we're aiming for and what we are doing and things like that. ⁓ but I think like something had to change and I think, you know, knowing you as a friend. ⁓ And as an employee, ⁓ like stuff had to change. It was not, it was no longer sustainable. And yes, then of course, you know, expand that to the rest of the team and for the business as well. But it was, yeah, I guess to summarize, was like, when you did it and it is still just, I think it is still that element of surprise that you're doing it. But I obviously a hundred percent supported and know all the reasons why and we know that it's the right thing and it's the thing that needs to happen but yeah it's still it's an interesting interesting time as they say.

Mel: That is an interesting, no, chance. But I think it's also that thing where, I could get rid of everyone, just run it myself, drop it back to three launches, and that would actually solve the problem, a lot of the problems. ⁓ And I could just have one of my team in the, ⁓ probably, ⁓ Erian or Nove like could very easily manage it. It would give me the profit that I want. I could probably do that for the next five or six years, be super happy and at that point shut it down. But I don't and I actually went through that process to go why aren't I seriously considering that? But every time I thought about that it was that whole but I'm not done yet. Like it's there are more...

Lawsie:  And you're still capping the impact that you can have. If you're looking at it going, you've got your profit hat and your purpose hat. Yes, you can satisfy your profit hat, but it's not satisfying the purpose hat in terms of being able to reach and do more things in more people.

Mel: Still capping the impact. Yes. Yeah. And it sounds really ridiculous probably to someone listening for someone to say a seven figure business with that impact on people, you would feel like you were going through the motions, but I would like I just would. And I think that's where for me it is knowing that I genuinely still believe MFAP is a vehicle that makes that radical change that it's simply not right for us anymore. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Lawsie: And I guess like, you know, over 6,000 people have gone through MFAP When you think about that and what the community's actually learned, what comes to mind for you.

Mel: I individual people and also the massive result. So like we've done a couple of surveys of our community. The last one was in 2023, I think 2024. And some of the results were that we know 1.33 million repaid on credit cards, 210 cards canceled, 8.8 million in savings, like 64 properties bought like life changing things. But it's kind of like, sometimes you can look at those numbers and go, yeah, that's just a big number.

But then I listen, for me it's the individual people, know, you know, Lisa, who at the best year yet, who was on stage at her wealth her way, was like, you changed my marriage. Like I don't know that my marriage would be what it is without this program. Because my husband just felt so alone financially. Like he, like just.

And that's one of thousands of stories. You know, it’s people that, the women in their 50s that have bought their first home and said to us prior to that, I just genuinely thought this wasn't an option for me. And I was thinking, well, what am I just going to have to pay rent forever and figure this out? Like they have real options or people that feel comfortable investing in shares or people that have left extreme DV and are able to rebuild, like the scholarships that we've given, like that's what comes to mind is the individual people and that's yeah, like absolutely yeah, definitely without a doubt. For me it's the individual people, whether they've made a tiny tweak because they were already doing pretty well or they've made massive change. For me, part of my reason for doing stuff is I want to see transformational change. Like that's just part of my DNA. Like I want to see that. So to hear those stories of people creating change through the education that they've had, that for me is absolutely why. ⁓ I was so hesitant to shut down MFAP because of that. I am so proud of what we've done.

Lawsie; I agree. And that's the thing for me, like I always see me with people more one-on-ones. Yeah. And I think that is the thing. It's the for anyone to have any progress in their finances is the win. Like it doesn't matter because I know some people they're like, ⁓ I've still got credit card debt or they've got these story and the shame and things of it, but you know, but I've closed down my by now pay ladders and I've done this and I've halved my credit card and I've done whatever like the fact that we get to be part of that with them is just amazing. And then to celebrate with them when they're like, yes, I've ticked another thing off my list, but all the way through to people that have just been doing what they thought was financially right and doing all the things and you know, got investments, got all of these things. And then suddenly for them to have that light bulb moment and go,

Lawsie: I've got enough. Like I actually have so much more choice and options than I thought. And for them to sort of have that light bulb moment of, wow, like I do have choice and what do I actually want? Like that's an amazing place to be, but to sort of be with them as they experience that and not have to feel like they've got to keep doing the grind and the big, you know, corporate jobs have been doing things and to go, oh no, I can, what do actually want to do when I grow up kind of vibe? And I just think the fact that we get to be and work with so many women from all like all along that spectrum is yeah, it is pretty cool and very special. Definitely don't

Mel: Yeah. Yeah, like even this week, like I received a DM from someone who I don't know that they're in the program because we've got so many in now and if they're not active on the Facebook group, I might not know who they are or if they're not asking questions in the live when I'm doing them every Tuesday night and she sent me a note just saying, no, you have no idea of the impact you've had in my life through your programs. I'm like, like that's those messages are what like those individuals and I know you're the same like you that's why we do it.

Lawsie: Yeah, 100%. Is there anything that you wish or anything that you do differently or anything you wish MFAP had been or done that hasn't? I know, asking you the tough questions. I'm loving it.

Mel:  I that early on we celebrate, like I guess we did celebrate still, but even as MFAP was evolving or changing. Like I think we hold it a lot looser now, but I think we were so fixated on, let's like, we want to go there that we weren't quite recognising how extraordinary it was. And I don't think it was till that very first filming day that we did. That film is still on the website. I'm so proud of that film with Steph and Shannon and who else was in that film? 

Lawsie: Shannon and Tracy and Clare and Jen.

Mel: Yeah, so many extraordinary women at Fiona where it just hit me, the impact that we'd had. And I wish, I think sometimes I wish that we stopped and recognized that through it. Cause I know I'm bad at that. I'm like, where are we going? Like what's next?

Lawsie: Yeah, that thing's done now. We've ticked it off the list next launch, next focus. Yeah.

Mel: Yeah and even if you hadn't quite hit the milestones you wanted, there were still freaking amazing milestones. So and oftentimes we miss them by a hair whisk. So that, like that I would kind of want to go back and go come on now, like seriously. So that's probably the thing, as far as the program etc itself, probably not. Like I'm really proud of it. And I think what we have done is tinker with it over the years. didn't just go, ⁓ well, that's it. We listened to the feedback. We changed it. The program that it is now is not how it was in the beginning. Like we've added so much more. We've adapted. ⁓ We've refilmed. it's so the program itself I'm extraordinarily proud of. And with whatever's next, MFAP won't exist. ⁓ Except for the people that have been through it have access to it in some way we'll make sure of it through memberships or what have you but yeah there was like I still want to make sure no matter what we do next we pull the essence of that yeah

Lawsie: So we're two more rounds. Two, not just one. ⁓ Why have you decided to run this round that's about to kick off in the next week or so and then one more round a bit later this year in July?

Mel: Yeah. Well, when we, in January, it was not on my bingo card that this was happening. Sorry. Like this is a big sudden change. It's two things. ⁓ it's that income piece around one massive one like to go all out would seem like the most sensible. But what we know is the program works best when it's got certain number of contained humans in it. Which is why I went what we have to do too. But also I wanted to give people the opportunity because April's not gonna be right for some people.

And I didn't want to feel like I didn't want them to feel like, ⁓ it's now or never. Like it's here's two more. We're not just going to give you one opportunity. We're going to make sure it's and and have the ability to be able to be part of it. So and I know you push pretty hard to come on, let's just do one more. But I think that's because from the friend position, you knew how I was feeling.

And I started this year with a compressed nerve in my neck. I haven't been able to sit for a long time at the computer. So it was more energy, I guess. Yeah.

Lawsie:  Oh, and I think it is the like it's it is the right thing. We know that there's people that had already been planning wanting to do it this year and to suddenly sort of go, oh no, sorry, we're just doing one. Yeah, but then obviously from the other side of it, I was like, do you need to? Why are we doing it? Like what's going to be the best thing for you? But yeah, looking at all those things, it's good.

Mel:  And I, and we genuinely hand on heart didn't know what was next. So I think too it bought us time. Cause what I don't want to do is, is quickly create something and go, ⁓ shit, that's wrong. But we got reacted to create something that now isn't right. And we're stuck with it. Like I wanted us to, two rounds kind of buys us time as well to go.

Mel: What’s next and to sit with that uncomfortableness of it. And when people have been saying to me, what's next, I go, I don't know, we're building the plane. Cause like we genuinely aren't entirely sure. Yeah.

Lawsie: Yeah, I wish as the details person and who likes the plan. I wish we were a little clearer, but we're not and here we are. So what are we actually doing differently in these final rounds? What does going all in look like for you?

Mel: So we're giving bonuses. So it's like the kitchen sink of bonuses to wait list only. Although I think maybe we should talk about whether we give that to everyone. You're gonna hate that I say this on the podcast, but you know, we'll think about it. The first 200 in both get a one-on-one with you.

Lawsie:  Goes on my list, I'll tell you about it later.

Mel: Which we are very quickly coming to the end of we probably will not have those available when this podcast comes out ⁓ But it is what we're but going all in is also making sure For the last two rounds that we shot with the same energy that we have for all the others That it is yeah the live Q &A is they get me just with my most Obviously limited to general advice, but with my most unfiltered self ⁓

Lawsie: Oh, 100%. Yeah.

Mel: That we are showing up where people have no clue. There was one, only one last round Q &A that I've ever gone. That was the most phone-ditting Q &A that I've ever done, but I was very upfront at the Q &A to say I'm getting an injection in my neck tomorrow. I'm in an incredible amount of pain that I want to show up. I'm just going to show up with less energy. So it wasn't a phone-a-ditty and it was just less energy and everyone's still got their questions answered.

I actually received quite a few responses after to go, I'm glad you're getting help for that. That looked, you just were not your normal vibrant self. And I never want that. Like, and I'm really proud that that was probably the only one in the 60s we've been running is that I showed up that way. But it was that reminder to me that.

I want to show up with all of the energy for the final free webinars that we ever do. This is going to be it. The final. And we might, who knows, we might do something in the future. I can't imagine we're going do them for a while because they're again, one of those things that I'm like, I'm happy to lay these down for a while.

Lawsie: But it's nice to be able to finish it, I think, on a high and on our terms, your terms. I'll let me just take some ownership of it all. On your terms as well. It's kind of like when you say Olympians and you know, they're going, it's the end of the career and they, you know, some of them decide to keep pushing on and can do well with that. And others are like, no, I'm finishing right now on the high. And I think that's our thing as well. Like we love what we've done, the impact you've been able to make, the changes that have happened and all of those things and to be able to go yes we've delivered that all the way through to the end is yeah super important so we one we can feel good but also then we know that everyone else has had the same experience the whole way through and they get to also have that change as well.

Mel: Yeah, I completely agree. And I'm the love that you've pinpointed that because that's in that's how I that's how I feel. I feel like we're living on a high. Yeah.

Lawsie: Yeah, yeah. If you could look through the microphone right now or down the screen, the camera, whichever, and speak directly to one woman, who is she and what would you say to her?

Mel:  Ew. So about MFAP. Okay. I think at the moment, the world is a lot. I think we're in a time of rising interest rates. We're in a time of global wars. We're in a time of fuel issues and rising prices across whether it's your plumbing or your blueberries or your cheese or cars or housing, like everything is a lot. And even before this, it was a lot. We have got more and more products that are being sold to us that we're trying to make sense of to see whether it's good. We have access to more financial things than ever before at a time when our financial literacy is lower than ever before.

And my concern now for most people is that they are doing things financially that are not serving them. Or they're financially pressing pause because they're just so overwhelmed. And I think there is a change fatigue and an overwhelm that is happening not just with people's finances, but especially with people's finances. And I would say that

Joining us and spending that unique time with us means that you have a plan. You are building that confidence and you have access to two financial experts that it's kind of like sitting at a bar going, can you just tell me about this stuff?

And also, can I ask questions? Like that's the vibe that we want to give people in it. Like it's not judgmental. It's easy to understand. And the thing that I would want to tell her or them is that it's just not as complex as you think. It's not as overwhelming as you think, but you're going to have to take steps to figure out why that is and what you should be doing.

So I guess Law-dog 2 to go. And I think the thing that I would say is that what we're not going to do is we're not going to do a proper launch for the one after this.

Think about whether you can join in April or July. Grab one of the super limited spots. We're not going to have a wait list for July. We're gonna just let people buy it as it is. So the ability to purchase the program is available to now. Will be available up until when our very last ⁓ round finishes, which we haven't decided if that's end of July or beginning of August.

Mel: But regardless, it is whether you are one of our beautiful MFAP alumni or you are going to be one of our MFAP alumni. Yeah, it has been it's been a ride, Law-dog and I am genuinely excited for whatever we do next.

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