Christmas is upon us!

So here we are - December 1st! The beginning of the end of 2022! It’s been a strange few years, going from lockdown, to a restriction free society, then followed by the cost of living crisis. Hopefully we can all look to better times soon!

The news will always be awash with negativity, but we can only directly control certain aspects of our lives – so let’s focus on those areas!

I’m looking forward to all the festivities in the calendar as we begin to wind down and spend more time with friends and loved ones.

Unless there is something very exciting to share over the next couple of weeks, this is likely to be the last newsletter of this year. I haven’t quite hit the goal of 1000 subscribers yet - I actually reached 943 at the time of writing this update. But that is perfectly OK. Having big goals are always a good way of ensuring you have something to work towards.

Over Christmas I am aiming to plan further content for the new year, and move along my project of turning this newsletter into a proper mailing list. I’m amazed and grateful for how many people are regularly reading my structured ramble – and so here are my highlights for this week!

What a weekend! Well done to my friend Benjamin Latchman! I’m so proud of you for putting on such an awesome show. It didn’t go the way you want it to, but you won in my eyes. You found a purpose to work hard towards and raised money for Charity, that’s a feat in itself!

It was fantastic to be invited to the Growth Investor Awards in London. Amazing people doing amazing things. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. Friend and former colleague of mine, Jessica McGuigan, claimed runner up for the financial adviser of the year! An accolade in itself!

Wednesday was an exciting day for me! I co-hosted a Maven Adviser/FAM Show podcast with Andy Hart - Financial Adviser . I’ve been following Andy for some years now and I am a huge fan of his podcast, so it was fun to record an episode with him. Make sure you are subscribed to “Maven Money” to listen to this episode soon!

Today is the all-important OYPS Christmas Party which I’m really looking forward to. The Society is very dear to me as it was one of the ways in which I started making friends here in Oxford, and it can be hard making friends and professional connections when moving to a new place.

It’s been great to close off some more cases with clients in the lead up to Christmas, as everyone is trying to tidy up their to-do list and catch up with their finances.

Currently, I have found the focus is more on protecting individuals’ income. I think there’s a general lack of awareness amongst consumers as to what different insurances are available out there.

An income protection policy does what it says on the tin - it protects your income. Depending on the contract you hold with your employer, sick pay may be discretionary. I implore you to find out exactly what you are entitled to from your employer if you were to fall ill. Discretionary doesn’t necessarily mean you will get paid your full salary.

Statutory sick pay is your entitlement, which currently sits at ￡99.35 (working out at just under ￡400 per month) and payable by your employer. If you have sufficient savings to tide you over in an ‘emergency fund’, that can be a great fall back should you need it, but I strongly consider seeking professional advice as to what other options you may have that won’t quickly deplete your hard earned savings.

I’m not sure where to include my study updates, as it’s part of my “life” and “lifestyle” to continue learning. In any case, revision is going well. It’s nice to experience more and more of the “aha” moments as I understand the world of mortgages and work my way through the chapters. Luckily, I already have the Protection qualification which means not everything in the mortgage book is new to me!

Following the tragic plant incident. Say hello to this lovely Bonsai tree. It was calling my name in Homebase, so I simply had to give it a new home!

There certainly was enough interest for some “how-to” videos on challenger banks, so it is now my plan to figure out how best to do this and put it into action!

I had also made up a new concept for motivating myself in the gym. I call it “deposit 300 into the bank” - that being the bank of calories. The aim is to burn 300 calories on the treadmill. It can be as fast as I like, or I can walk it. So, the speed decides how fast I get the task done.

I track my results through an “intelligent” scale called Renpho, where if I don’t measure it, I can’t track it. I’m pleased I’m seeing some – albeit small - early results from all the cardio I have been doing.

There’s not been much time for either Netflix binging or reading aside from my studies this week.

I do have a recommendation, however, which is The Chocolate Soldier. It is a veteran owned company who makes delicious chocolates (at least in my opinion). Connect with the founder Des Skinner You can find them here:?

That’s it for now. Ha det bra!