Chartered Financial Planner Makala Green, a former St James’s Place partner, has written her first book to help people from all walks of life manage their money better using Financial Planning principles.

Ms Green is believed to be the first black women to have set up a partner practice at St James’s Place and one of the few women of colour to hold the Chartered Financial Planner designation in the UK.

Her new book, ‘The Money Edit – Your No-Shame Guide to Taking Control of Your Money – will be published on 31 March by Yellow Kite Publishing.

She worked her way up from a cashier position at a building society at 16 to becoming a Chartered Financial Planner and set up her Financial Planning business Green Wealth Planning in 2015. She works with entrepreneurs, sportspeople, professionals and companies. 

Apart from being a Financial Planner, Ms Green is also a financial commentator, motivational speaker and wealth coach. Her work has seen her partner with firms such as John Lewis, Waitrose and MetroBank.

Ms Green said she had written her new book to make Financial Planning more accessible to everyone, whatever their backgrounds.

The book is a jargon-free guide to personal finance. It aims to answers the common questions that she has encountered from clients over the years, covering everything from budgeting and investing to buying property and preparing for the future. 

Ms Green said: “I aim to do away with the myths that finance is boring and complicated. My book shows how managing money can be fun – by offering a fresh way to look at money – but also how life-changing it can be to take control of your finances.

“I know that managing money can be overwhelming when you don't know how, and I believe it is a serious failing that money management isn't taught in schools. I wrote this book to give much-needed advice – to nurture financial knowledge and confidence and to make it attainable by everyone. I really want to show readers how it's possible to be in control of your finances and also how good it will feel when you are.”

Ms Green was born in East London and started work at 16 as a cashier at Nationwide Building Society. In 2006, she undertook Level 1 & 2 Bookkeeping and Accounts at City & Guilds School and progressed through various roles from personal banker to mortgage adviser. At 21, she reached the position of financial adviser – her dream role, she said.

She has also developed The Wealth Check platform to "open up" the world of finance. Through this platform, she has spoken at over 100 events, launched her podcast Your Financial Journey and offers 1-1 coaching services. 

Publisher Carolyn Thorne said: “I was instantly drawn to Makala and her straight-talking approach to financial matters. What she does so well is to level the playing field when talking about money and she gives clear, simple advice. Voted Financial Adviser of the Year for the SE of England in 2021, she has cemented her position as an outstanding voice in financial empowerment, which is set to be one of the key trends for the coming year.”

The Money Edit by Makala Green. Published by Yellow Kite on 31st March, £16.99. Available as Paperback, Audio and eBook.

• Makala Green website: www.makalagreen.com