Headsup On Money

Let's be honest, we could all do without another New Year's Resolution. And certainly not one to do with our personal finances! In this episode, our first of 2024, Benjamin breaks down how to get on top of your personal finances but more importantly how to ensure you stay on top of them.  Your fad diet and January exercise regime may flop, but your financial plan wont.  Join Benjamin Mit...

'Tis the season ... for thinking about Inheritance Tax.  Are you aware of the annual gifts you can make that are good for your pocket and also good for your soul?  Inheritance Tax is a massive, and complicated, subject.  This episode arms you with the fundamentals you need to know when it comes to using up your freebie allowances.  Something to think about this festive period!  Join Benjamin...

What are the differences between active management and passive management of funds? And more importantly, why should you care? Do you have a crystal ball?  Are you aware how much you're paying for active management?  Does it make a difference to the growth of your hard-earned money?  It's all here covered in this episode as Benjamin's objectivity is truly tested ...  Join Benjamin M...

Ignore all the financial noise you've heard before. It's not as complicated as you think it is. When it comes to investing, there are 3 strings to make a successful bow. 1. Platforms 2. Wrappers 3.  Investments Listen to this episode and you'll arm yourself with the solid foundation to start your wealth creation journey, or if you're already on the ride then make sure you'...

So you know you should be investing in the stock market, but the trouble is you don't understand what it actually is! Join Benjamin for a 'day in the life' tour of the stock market and you'll soon realise that you know a lot more than you think you do. The stock market is all around us.  In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find evidence of the stock market not playing a role...

Why is it that when there's a sale on in the stock market ... most customers leave the shop? You wouldn't behave that way when other sales are happening. As Black Friday sales draw nearer, this episode will condition you to regard stock market sales in the same way. You'll learn that they're something to take advantage of, not run away from.  Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneysco...

It's our final episode in the financial planning for couples mini series.  In this one Benjamin explains why cohabitee couples get a really c**p deal when it comes to perks and financial security, compared with married/civil partners. So what are the key risks to be aware of?  And what can you do to help alleviate them?  It's all explained here in under 20 minutes! Join Benjamin Mitchell...

In this episode Benjamin explains why being married offers you significant tax and investment perks.  If you're married or in a civil partnership, you get a pretty sweet deal.  Listen up to save thousands £££ in tax.  But is that a reason alone to get married?!  You can be the judge!  Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps make your finances clear...

Couples who financially plan together, stay together.  In this episode Benjamin explains why it's always better to approach managing your finances together as a couple.  Teamwork makes the dream work... and all that jazz.  And if you've never heard of 'money dates' then this is the episode for you.  Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he...

Join Benjamin for a brief history of market crashes over the last 100 years.  If that doesn't sound very interesting, then what might be of more interest is learning  why market crashes shouldn't really matter to you at all.  So tune them out completely.  As you'll find out, they come and they go. Stay the course and go with the flow.  Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial h...

It's nigh on impossible to escape the chat about inflation in the news (or 'Never Ending Worry Service') at the moment. CPI, or RPI, or... who cares?! These measures have absolutely nothing to do with you and your standard of living, unless you've a penchant for e-bikes or surveillance cameras... The only rate of inflation you need to worry about is your personal rate of inflat...

You probably aren't even aware you're suffering from the creep. The creep is what's standing between you and your future goals.  So stop competing with the Joneses.  Stop the creep coming in.  When it comes to the fight, make sure you win every time.  Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps make your finances clearer and ensures you never...

In this episode Benjamin chats about one of the more politically contested topics in personal finance.  But what is the 'triple lock guarantee'? Is it a good thing or a bad thing, and will it stay around?  Don't sweat the small stuff here, governments have been known (once or twice) to go back on their word... You just need the fundamentals.  Explained here in under 20 minutes.  No...

In the current higher interest rate environment, you may be considering using some of your surplus income to pay off your mortgage. But is this sensible ? Or should you instead be investing  your money in the greatest companies in the world via the stock market? It's a classic debate. Invest or overpay? Here's the calculator I referred to in the show: Run your own numbers Join Benjamin M...

Tax really doesn't have to be taxing. In this episode, Benjamin explains how the Income Tax system works in the UK and helps you to understand the various allowances and tax freebies you have available to you. By the end of the podcast you'll be a ITP ( Income Tax Pro) and will have some quality chat to impress your friends with. Who said tax isn't cool? If you understand how tax wo...

As a small business owner, you're often left behind. You don't have a workplace pension. You've no life insurance through work. You'll get no sick pay. You're distinctly lacking in financial benefits. But plugging these gaps isn't as hard as you think.  In this episode, Benjamin outlines a high level summary of everything you need to be thinking about as a small busin...

In what has been described by nobody as the fight of the millennium, Benjamin introduces the 2 behemoths of the pension world.  It's time to pit Defined Benefit against Defined Contribution.  Which one do you have?  And what does this mean for your long term financial planning?  Let the fight commence.  Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps make...

Why would you choose to take a lower salary? What possible benefit could there be to you? Salary sacrifice isn't something to avoid at all costs. In fact, it's one of the big personal finance freebies. In this episode, Benjamin takes you on a jargon-less explanation of what salary sacrifice is and why it may be one of the smartest financial decisions you make this year! Here's the l...

Benjamin covers the 4 main asset classes and what you need to know about each of them.   Cash Bonds Equities  Property  ... they're all here.  In 20 minutes you'll understand more about investing than the majority of the nation and importantly what each asset class means for your wealth journey.  All aboard!  Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he...

Having a well organised bank account system doesn't have to be complicated. It's incredibly simple to do and is the first step towards nailing your long term financial life plan. This episode covers key points, such as how many bank accounts you need and also reminds you that the most important direct debit you should arrange each month is to pay YOURSELF .  You pay for broadband, electr...

Warning - Jeremy Hunt is making changes to your workplace pension scheme without your agreement! And these changes are worrying. Benjamin shares what you need to do to avoid your pension being invested in high risk, high expense assets and to regain control of your pension fund. Jeremy and his cronies are making these changes to benefit the government agenda and NOT with you in mind. As Fleetwood...

If you want to outperform the terminator of wealth that is inflation, then you need to be investing in the stock market. But it's hard when you don't know the fundamentals... What even is the stock market? Is it even suitable for everyday investors? How will I know what to invest in? Sound familiar? By the end of this episode you'll be a master of the market and you'll be armed...

Become a master at understanding your payslip! By the end of this episode you'll be a pro at reading your payslip and you'll understand the key things you need to know; cold payslip sweats no more! Income Tax ... National Insurance contributions... Pension contributions ... They're all explained here but with zero financial jargon. Next time you read your payslip you'll be full...

In this episode you will become a resident money nerd on the differences between saving and investing.  These two concepts are often used interchangeably, but as you will learn they are completely different in meaning, and serve very different purposes when it comes to your long term financial plan.  Should you be a saver? Or should you be an investor?  This episode is your definitive guide.  Join...

No, it's not a get rich quick scheme... Instead, in this episode Benjamin shares one of the most important concepts in personal finance: the wonder that is investment compounding . Benjamin brings this marvellous concept to life through real life examples to help you see (hear) that what can start as humble beginnings can grow into something very special. Would you rather have £1,000,000 toda...