Kane Hansen
Director & Senior Financial Adviser
Kane is a financial adviser, business owner, entrepreneur, author, and a big proponent of giving back. As the founding adviser of True North Lifestyle, he helps people from all walks of life take control of their finances and build their dream lives.
During high school, after experiencing disruptions at home, including his parents’ divorce and mother’s cancer diagnosis, Kane continued his education at Boys’ Town (now Dunlea Centre) in Sydney, a secondary school for disadvantaged youths. At Boys’ Town, he learnt important life skills, practised discipline and routine, and formed some of his most critical values. In adulthood, he returned to Dunlea Centre in a much different capacity, running programs and joining the board as a foundational board member – a first for an ex-student.
Growing up in a low-income household with a single mother and multiple siblings, Kane entered the adult world at a financial and educational handicap. When a series of unfulfilling jobs failed to satisfy his entrepreneurial spirit, he began searching for an alternative path to success, leaving Sydney to work in a bauxite mine in the Northern Territory. In his downtime, he moonlighted as a stock trader, learning how to play the wealth game through self-education and hands-on experience. Seeking to understand how to better manage his own finances, he completed a Diploma of Financial Planning in 2010, later leaving a high-paying job as a leading hand to pursue a career as a financial adviser.
After being accepted into the Financial Planning Career Changer internship program with a large bank in 2011, through hard work and determination, he became a top performer among the other better-educated interns. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, and he was quickly employed by a large, successful practice.
After a multimillion-dollar acquisition and partnership arrangement in 2015, a misalignment of values saw Kane sell his share of the business to start his own practice, True North Lifestyle. Through True North, Kane is able to help more people create the lifestyles they desire, focusing on smart money management and creating financial freedom. He believes that everyone should have the opportunity to develop strong financial literacy.
To help more people master their finances, in 2023, Kane founded True North Academy, an education platform that teaches everyday people everything from basic budgeting to how to play the money game, and win.
Coming from a disadvantaged background, Kane understands the struggles many people face, and he takes every opportunity to give back to the community. As well as serving on the Dunlea Centre board, he has worked with PCYC Australia since 2015, working on youth group sports and education programs. Additionally, he has worked with Project Youth since 2017 and takes frequent opportunities to mentor disadvantaged teenagers, encouraging them to set goals and strengthen their financial literacy. He is also involved in the foster care system, offering his time and care to those in need.
Kane’s ultimate goal is to one day build a retreat for disadvantaged youths, giving them a safe place to set clear goals, create strong values, and learn practical life skills, helping them turn their dreams into reality.
When he’s not working in his businesses or giving back to the community, Kane is spending time with his family – fiancé Petra and daughter Zara. He often takes time from his busy schedule to travel overseas, experiencing the world and broadening his horizons. Kane is an advocate of continual learning and self-improvement, and he is always looking for ways to better himself both personally and professionally.
Denise Woodward
Senior Associate Adviser
Denise is a financial adviser with over two decades of experience in the finance industry. She began her career as an account executive for professional lines of insurance before moving into underwriting. After putting her career on hold to start a family, she returned to the industry to pursue a role in financial planning.
In 2012, Denise joined a Chatswood financial planning practice as a client services officer, working her way up to associate adviser. In 2018, she completed her Diploma of Financial Planning and registered with ASIC as a financial adviser.
Denise is always seeking new ways to expand her knowledge, hone her expertise, and advance her professional development. In 2022, to meet evolving industry standards and further her education, Denise successfully undertook the FASEA (Financial Standards and Ethics Authority) National Examination and commenced a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning.
In 2023, Denise joined True North Lifestyle as a senior associate adviser, working closely with clients to support them on their unique journeys, helping them achieve their ideal lifestyles.
When she’s out of the office, Denise enjoys travelling to new places and immersing herself in different cultures. She also enjoys relaxing massages, taking long walks in nature, including multi-day hikes, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Judy
Senior Customer Service Officer
Judy is a client services manager with a background in IT (information technology). After completing a Bachelor of Computer Science, she hit pause on her career to raise two children. During this time, she kept busy by being involved in community sports clubs and the local school, holding various committee positions over the years.
When a family friend offered her a role as a client services manager at a newly acquired financial planning business, she accepted the challenge and stepped into the world of finance. After almost two decades in the industry, she hasn’t looked back. Judy thrives on client and colleague interactions and loves assisting the True North team and their clients to achieve exceptional results.
Outside of her career, Judy loves travelling, going to the theatre, trivia nights, and dining out. She also values family and will soon be the proud grandmother of twin boys.
Mark
Customer Service Officer
Mark is a client support specialist with years of experience in the finance industry. He holds a Certificate in Professional Education and a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Management.
To put himself through school, Mark worked in a fast-food restaurant and as a supermarket bagger before graduating and transitioning into finance. In the Philippines, he worked as a licenced financial adviser for five years and is currently a working student.
Outside of the office, Mark enjoys biking, Zumba, road trips, coffee shops with overlooking views, dogs, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Iffah
Customer Service Officer
Iffah is a client support specialist with a background in corporate banking. She holds a Bachelor of Islamic Banking and Finance and has worked at one of the most prestigious banks in Malaysia.
Growing up in a small town in Penang, Nur Iffah was raised by her grandparents to be kind, compassionate, and thankful. After receiving her Unit Trust Licence and Islamic Insurance (Takaful) Licence, she gave back to the community by helping people manage their money and plan for retirement.
During her downtime, Iffah embraces other places, cultures, and ethnicities by travelling, learning, and experiencing life to the fullest.
Debbie
Accounts & Payroll
Debbie is a bookkeeper and administrator with almost three decades of experience in the accounting industry. To accompany her years of on-the-job experience, she holds a Certificate in Business Administration and a Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping.
Before joining True North Lifestyle, Debbie worked as an administration manager for a non-profit organisation. Over the years, she has also worked several part-time jobs in order to support, raise, and be present for her four children. With her kids all grown up, she now aims to be a good role model for her grandchildren.
For leisure, Debbie enjoys taking yoga classes, walking her dog, and spending time with family.
Karen
Executive Assistant/ Appointment Scheduler
Karen is an office administrator with over four decades of secretarial and office administration experience. As well as years of on-the-job experience, she has several qualifications, including a Certificate III in Information Technology, Certificate IV in Adult Tertiary Preparation, Certificate III in Native Animal Rehabilitation, and is currently completing a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.
Karen is a passionate animal lover with a strong interest in domestic animal and wildlife care and rehabilitation. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, bushwalking, camping, travel, and spending time with family.
Who we are
We are a financial planning business based in Miranda.
We are passionate about helping businesses and individuals achieve their financial and lifestyle goals. Our aim is to build long-term partnerships with our clients and assist them in building, protecting and managing their wealth and lifestyle for them and their families.
So, whether you are approaching retirement, starting a business, changing careers or moving from two incomes to one, we can help you:
- choose appropriate investment strategies
- plan for your retirement
- protect you and your family
- make the most of your superannuation
- budgeting & managing your money
True North Lifestyle's Vision
True North Lifestyle is a full service financial planning business with aspirations to make a positive change in the lives of all our clients. True North Lifestyle was established off the back of the dream that there is more to life than money. With that in mind we created our business model to provide a family style business where we can as a family do more for our clients and many others along the way.
The culture that True North Lifestyle truly embodies is one of community, support and a high sense of honour when it comes to helping others. With True North Lifestyle you can be assured we are there to help you, we pride ourselves on our integrity and are invested in bettering our clients lives by using our skills.
The entire True North Lifestyle family are committed to giving back to the community. We are very invested in supporting local charities and community support groups. Many of these activities are targeted to local community involvement and working with financial education system throughout Sydney high schools that Kane Hansen specifically works as a key instructor and the True North Lifestyle team helps support this.
As part of our community involvement the True North Lifestyle team have worked with foundations helping women in need, which is a cause close to our hearts. There have been team runs in the local Sutherland to surf, city to surf events and other similar events to help raise awareness and funds for their causes.
We are purposeful in choosing how we distribute our support, the entire team at True North Lifestyle is devoted to continuing to raise awareness for our supported charities as well as enthusiastically raising money for other charitable days throughout the year to support those in need.
The team all contribute together and individually to areas whenever we can, we believe there is much more to life than what we can achieve but to what we can contribute and give back to not only our clients but those in need. When choosing a financial planner it is important to find the right person who will act in your best interests rather than their own. The team at True North Lifestyle are always focused on their clients making decisions to help them reach life on their terms and a sense of true direction and happiness.
Whatever your financial goals are the True North lifestyle planners will work hard to assist you in achieving them in an efficient and effective way. By listening to your needs and assessing your individual circumstances they will help you build a strategy to allow you to succeed within a safe and structured lifestyle plan.
