Straight answers to the questions I actually get asked
No jargon, and no pretending things are simpler than they are. Just honest takes from someone who qualified as a financial adviser and then left to do it differently.
24 September 2026 · 8 min read
How dividends trigger the 60% trap for directors
On a small salary plus dividends, the next pound inside the taper band is taxed at 58.25%. The working is shown, because this figure is published nowhere.
Read it24 September 2026 · 8 min read
Employer pension contribution or dividend?
£10,000 of company profit becomes £10,000 in a pension, or about £4,819 in your hand. The full comparison, including what happens when the pension is drawn.
Read it24 September 2026 · 7 min read
The £100,000 childcare cliff edge
Tax-Free Childcare and the 30 funded hours stop dead at £100,000, with no taper. Often worth more than the tax, and a pay rise can leave you worse off.
Read it24 September 2026 · 7 min read
How much do I need to contribute to get under £100,000?
The band between £100,000 and £125,140 costs 60p in the pound, and takes your childcare with it. Work out your exact number, with a calculator.
Read it24 September 2026 · 8 min read
Does salary sacrifice reduce your adjusted net income?
Yes, and the other two ways of paying into a pension behave differently. Which one you are in decides what the same contribution costs you.
Read it21 July 2026 · 6 min read
Do I need a financial adviser in the UK?
An honest answer from someone who qualified as one and then left. When it's worth the fee, when it isn't, and the cheaper middle ground most people actually need.
Read it21 July 2026 · 6 min read
Should I consolidate my old pensions?
Combining old pots can cut fees and make planning possible - but check these three things before you move anything.
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I'm Tom - a DipPFS-qualified former financial adviser who now does honest, jargon-free money coaching. No commission, no jargon.
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