In this episode Benjamin discusses a new way to think about diversification when it comes to your financial planning. For once, we're not talking about investment diversification, rather tax diversification, and spreading your wealth appropriately across taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free wrappers. This episode should give you some food for thought to help you feel less worried about changes in tax rules. It's inevitable that changes will come (pensions and IHT in 2027 are p...

Welcome to a Halloween themed episode of Headsup on Money. In this episode Benjamin shares some ghoulish commentary on the most common mistakes we make with our financial planning. By the end of this episode you'll know how to transform these tricks into treats. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you to never make another financial mistake. Getting on top of your personal finances doesn't need to be complicated or sc...

In this episode Benjamin shares some financial learns from the mighty Morgan Housel. Thinking about the big things in a little way can help us to digest what initially appears scary and overwhelming. It can also help us to recognise our limitations and biases and make us more successful investors and happier humans! Here's a link to more on this topic by Morgan Housel. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you to never mak...

In this episode Benjamin is joined by Ruth Sturkey, former Chair of the Institute for Financial Wellbeing. Together they discuss how to live a rich and rewarding life and where financial wellbeing fits into the bigger picture. Can money make us happy? Here's the link to Ruth's website, and her LinkedIn account. She also has a great mailing list which can be signed up to here. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you...

In this episode Benjamin discusses investment market noise and how you can apply two simple tests to check whether you need to pay attention, or tune it out. Why are so few of us successful investors? This episode helps explain our often flawed best intentions. Jargon free as per! Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you to never make another financial mistake. Getting on top of your personal finances doesn't need to be...

The UK financial planning and tax planning landscape often isn't very fair. Small incremental changes to your income and/or asset position can result in punitive tax charges and loss of wealth. Loss of personal allowance Loss of child benefit Loss of your Residence Nil Rate BandLoss of tax free child careLoss of Personal Savings Allowance...In this episode Benjamin summarises these 'cliff-edge events' so that you can go into this with your eyes open and actively plan to avoid ...

With Rachel Reeves' budget on the 26th November fast approaching, the storms of speculation are circling! In this episode Benjamin reviews the current rumour mill and provides a take on what you should do in light of the media speculation frenzy. The short answer is: not much money nerds. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you to never make another financial mistake. Getting on top of your personal finances doesn't need to be c...

In this episode Benjamin (somehow) manages to link marshmallows with good financial planning. Delayed gratification is an important concept when it comes to your personal finances. Perhaps an experiment involving marshmallows from the 1970s can help us to better manage the trade off. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you to never make another financial mistake. Getting on top of your personal finances doesn't need to be complica...

In this episode Benjamin is joined by Lars Kroijer, former hedge fund manager to discuss Lars' journey from believing he had an 'edge' when it comes to investing, to recognising our limitations. Together they chat about Active versus passive fund managementWhat does 'risk' really mean? How to structure a basic - but mighty - portfolioWhy as human beings we tend to disregard simplicity? Where does property fit into your financial plan? Financial armageddon and planning for...

Seems absurd doesn't it? Why on earth would you choose to pay into a pension when you are already retired? Isn't the whole point of a pension to take you to retirement? Benjamin challenges the normal way of thinking in this episode and by the end you'll appreciate how pensions can still play a relevant part in your financial plan, even after you've retired or achieved 'financial freedom'. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps ...

In this episode Benjamin discusses the FIRE movement (Financial Independence Retire Early) and cautions why relying on this may mean you're missing the entire point. Financial freedom is another way to approach your financial planning. And for finite human being such as ourselves this is surely the only way to sensibly plan. For more information on the amazing work of Oliver Burkeman check out his website here. At the very least it's worth signing up to Oliver's fantastic ma...

What can we learn from recent market volatility? Benjamin climbs back onto his financial soapbox in this week's episode and shares his musings on why short-term market wobbles have no relevance to the underlying financial strength of your portfolio. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you to never make another financial mistake. Getting on top of your personal finances doesn't need to be complicated or scary. Arm yourself with the...

As a small business owner in the UK you likely wear many hats, and accountancy is one area that few business owners admittedly have an interest in. We're never really taught the fundamentals of good business accounting. So in this week's episode we are delighted to welcome Dan Heelan from Heelan Associates to offer his valued insights on how much should Ltd company business owners pay themselves in 2025/26? Dan is somewhat of a celebrity in accountancy circles. He's likely t...

Overwhelmed and don't know where to start? If you have no idea whether you're on track, or completely off track, then this is the episode for you. Benjamin shares the 'rules of thumb' you can adopt to help guide your financial planning. How much can you withdraw every year without running out of money? How much do you need in your portfolio to be financially independent? This episode will give you a starting point. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), ser...

In the UK we have an inherent phobia of investing. Cash is best, cash is king, cash is safe. This 'savings over investing' attitude is costing us our financial independence and control over our financial futures and put simply: more needs to be done. The sooner we all realise this the better. As money nerds, you're already aware of why this matters, but this episode reinforces why. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you...

You've likely never heard of him, but Ronald Read's story is a testament to the best principles for successful financial planning. In this episode Benjamin shares the story of how Ronald turned a modest income and asset position into a sizeable estate worth over $8M. The recipe for his success is nothing surprising, but did he live life to the max and sufficiently enjoy his wealth? Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you to ...

This is a very special episode of Headsup on Money. We're delighted to welcome The Reverend Matthew Hutton, who shares with us the key takeaways from his best-selling book Your Last Gift: Getting Your Affairs in Order and outlines actionable and simple steps on how to die 'well'. It's not the most cheerful of subjects, but this stuff needs to be thought about. Matthew brings valued insight from his 35 years as a former tax and trusts lawyer, but as you'll see, the advantage...

'Markets in turmoil' 'S&P 500 experiences record losses' 'FTSE crashes on market opening'. How can you remain focused on your financial plan in the digital age we are in? With notifications of financial armageddon seemingly always around us, there are some simple steps you can take to tune out the noise and remain true to your financial plan. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you to never make another financial mis...

In this episode Benjamin outlines the '3 Ps' of financial planning and how you should direct your focus to maximise your chance of financial success. It's not as complicated as it may seem. Join Benjamin Mitchell (themoneyscot), serial hater of financial jargon, as he helps you to never make another financial mistake. Getting on top of your personal finances doesn't need to be complicated or scary. Arm yourself with the only knowledge you need to transform yourself from money no...

The Mansion House Accord has worrying implications for your pension and your retirement planning. Fortunately, you can do something about this and don't have to accept the changes that are now due to come in to effect. If you have a workplace pension scheme and you've never bothered to review the fund you're invested in within that workplace pension then this is the episode for you. As always, free from financial jargon, guff and waffle that you don't need. Join Benjam...