Noula Wealth Consultancy Limited

Money is STILL one of the most taboo subjects between family members. And having a conversation with aging parents can be the trickiest of all.

Sometimes it takes an outsider to come in and facilitate, to keep the conversation from becoming too emotionally charged and help you reach the right outcomes for everyone.

Not talking about money can lead to parents being unable to financially support themselves in later life, problems paying for additional care that might be required or a nasty inheritance tax bill, some of which could have been avoided if Dad wasn’t so stubborn about letting people help.

If you’re in this situation with your parents, a financial advisor might be able to get the ball rolling on sorting this out.

When did you last talk to your parents about money?

Have you ever been at a dinner party or social gathering where someone talks about having paid off their mortgage or maxed out their pension every year since the age of 30?

For many people, that’s a guaranteed way to increase your anxiety.

You start comparing yourself and wondering if you should be doing more.

The problem with comparing yourself to others is that you're working with incomplete information. You don't know what they've sacrificed, what they've inherited, what their relationships looks like, or what keeps them awake at night.

What matters is where you are and what's still possible from here.
And quite a lot is still possible.

If you're in your 50s and feeling ‘behind’, the most useful thing you can do is stop measuring yourself against an imaginary standard and start understanding your own numbers.

What does your retirement actually need to look like?
What income would give you the life you want?
What do you already have working in your favour?

Those are the questions worth asking yourself.

Have you ever caught yourself comparing your financial situation to someone else's? How did it make you feel?

Spring is always a great time to take a step back and look at your finances with fresh eyes. This month, why not go through your monthly subscriptions and direct debits. I bet there’s at least one – either personal or business – that really isn’t delivering value.

Maybe you signed up to the gym in January and you’ve been once. £35 a month is going out and your muscles aren’t getting any stronger.

Or perhaps you’ve got a subscription to multiple entertainment channels – do you really need them all?

You may have a bunch of different software subscriptions for business. Are you really making best use of all those packages? If not, it’s time to act.

The money you save could be re-directed into pension or ISA savings without any impact to your overall monthly finances.

What will you cancel today?

Tell me in the comments how much you’ll be saving.

I’m delighted and proud to have once again been featured as a Top Rated Financial Adviser by VouchedFor for the 6th year running.

The guide was distributed by The Times over the weekend for all to see.

I am grateful to all of my lovely clients who have provided reviews over the year.

Thank you very much !

Many high earners have planned meticulously for their financial future. The pension pot is growing. The investments are diversified. The estate is structured efficiently.

But there's one thing that even the most financially sophisticated people often overlook.
What happens to all of that careful planning if you're suddenly not here to protect it?

Life cover and income protection aren't just for people who are worried about making ends meet. For high net worth individuals, the stakes are actually higher.

A serious illness or unexpected death without the right protection in place can unravel years of careful wealth building, leaving your family to make difficult financial decisions at the most vulnerable moment of their lives.

So, here's the question that’s worth a ponder this week:

Is my protection strategy as robust as the rest of my financial plan?

Women have fought hard for independence.

They fought for the vote, equal pay legislation, the right to open a bank account without their husband's permission (which only changed in 1975!).

We have come a long way.
But not far enough.
Financially, there's still work to do.

The gender pension gap sits at around 35%, meaning women retire with a significantly lower pension pot than men. This often happens because of career breaks, part-time hours, or simply never being encouraged to prioritise their own financial future.

This International Women's Day, I'd love you to do one thing for your self-care: before you do that yoga class or enjoy a massage…

…check your pension.

When did you last look at it? Do you know what it's invested in, or whether you're on track?

Small, regular check-ins can make an enormous difference over time.

Your financial independence is worth fighting for. Just as your predecessors fought for the rights you enjoy today.

Before you make your final pension contributions this tax year, make sure you've worked through this checklist first. Getting it wrong can be costly, leading to high tax charges.

• Annual allowance. The £60,000 limit includes your contributions, employer contributions, and tax relief. Exceed it and you'll receive a tax charge on the excess (unless you have carry forward) which leads me to…

• Carry forward. Unused allowance from the previous three tax years can significantly increase what you're able to contribute this year. If you've had a high-earning year, this is worth calculating carefully.

• The MPAA trap. If you've flexibly accessed any pension income, your allowance drops to £10,000. Many high earners with multiple pension arrangements don't realise this applies to them.

• The 60% tax band. Income between £100,000 and £125,140 is effectively taxed at 60%. Strategic pension contributions can restore your personal allowance and generate substantial tax relief.

• Tapered annual allowance. If your adjusted income exceeds £260,000, your annual allowance begins to taper. At £360,000 and above, it reduces to just £10,000.

• Earnings cap. Contributions cannot exceed your relevant UK earnings in the tax year, regardless of your available allowance.

The 5th April deadline is coming quickly. If you haven't reviewed your situation yet, now is the time.

Do you know what your monthly expenses are?

Have you added your rent/mortgages, utilities, phones, food, insurance, pet costs, transport and so on. Those costs must be covered simply to stay safely and healthily in your home, without any luxury items.

Maybe £3,000-£5,000 a month depending on where you live and work.

What happens if you suddenly can’t work. Will your company continue to pay you if you’re on long-term sick and if so, for how long? And if you’re a limited company director, what happens if you’re not there to keep things ticking over?

Income protection is not a compulsory insurance like car insurance is. But maybe, it should be.

Protection isn’t just covering the mortgage payments, it’s covering all the other expenses as well until you can get back on your feet.

When did you last review your financial situation and check that you’re covered if the worst happens?

Have you heard the term ‘Twixmas’? It’s the time between Christmas and New Year where no one knows what day of the week it is and we spend most of our time in a sugar coma. But it’s also a pretty… | Athy Watson (nee Papanastasiou) Have you heard the term ‘Twixmas’? It’s the time between Christmas and New Year where no one knows what day of the week it is and we spend most of our time in a sugar coma. But it’s also a pretty good time to get your finances ready for 2026. You could: 1. Shred old paperwork that’s no lon...

I am grateful to everyone that has entrusted me this year, and has reached out for guidance and assistance. I have loved providing support in my customary approachable and caring manner, helping my clients to grow and secure their future.

Wishing all my family, friends and clients a wonderful Christmas, and a peaceful, joyful and successful new year.