Mike Williams - Financial Planner

02/06/2026

💷 Pension rules are changing in 2027… so now might be the perfect time to give your retirement plans a quick health check 😊
From 2027, most unused pensions and death benefits could become part of your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes — which means it may be time to dust off those retirement plans and actually read the paperwork you’ve been ignoring 👀

The good news?

Planning ahead now can make a huge difference later. A quick review today could help protect more for your loved ones tomorrow ❤️

📌 Things worth checking:
✔️ Your pension beneficiaries
✔️ Your will
✔️ Your overall estate plan
✔️ Whether your current strategy still makes sense

No need to panic — just don’t leave it until “future you” has to deal with it 😄

📞 If you’d like to arrange a no obligation, pension review, feel free to get in touch for an initial discussion. No pressure. Just a conversation to see where you’re at and how I might be able to help.

07985 744780
01978 311611
[email protected]


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Taxation rules can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

Will writing involves the referral to a service that is separate and distinct to those offered by St. James’s Place and is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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Hadlow Edwards is a trading name of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd.

Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

SJP Approved 31/05/2026

22/05/2026

12/05/2026

My twin daughters recently turned 9, and I’ve discovered something fascinating about finance…

Children become financial experts the SECOND it’s their own money.

When they’re spending my money: 💸
“Can we get this?”
“And this?”
“Ooh and definitely this.”

When they’re spending their birthday money:
“Hmm… I’m not sure that’s good value for money.”
“Do I really need this?”
“I’ll think about it.”

Amazing how quickly Warren Buffett appears when it’s their £20 on the line.

But joking aside, it’s actually been brilliant watching them start to understand money, choices, saving, and value. It proves financial habits start much earlier than most people think.

Although apparently, I’m still expected to fund snacks, Roblox, and emergency trips to Sephora indefinitely.

Parenting 🤝 finance education

16/04/2026

JARGON BUSTER 👊

What is compounding?

31/03/2026

Are you a typical 4-4-2 formation? ⚽

Investing doesn’t have to feel complicated or intimidating. The key is finding a balance that feels right for you. A simple way to think about it is like building a football team.

🛡️Defenders = Less risky investments
These are the steady players. They help protect your money and keep things more stable. They won’t grow your money quickly, but they help you feel secure.

⚡Strikers = Growth investments
These are your goal scorers. They aim to grow your money faster, but they can go up and down along the way.

If your team has too many defenders, your money may feel safe—but it might not grow much. If you have too many strikers, your money has the potential to grow faster—but it is more unpredictable.

🔑 The key is balance.

Good investing isn’t about taking big risks—it’s about having the right mix so you can feel confident and stay on track. That mix depends on:

🔵What you’re saving for
🔵How long you can invest
🔵How comfortable you feel with ups and downs

And just like any good team… You need a good manager 😉

Someone to help you pick the right players, keep things balanced, and guide you through the game with confidence.

If you’ve been meaning to take a proper look at your finances, I’d be happy to sit down for a no obligation, confidential chat.

No pressure. Just a conversation to see where you’re at and how I might be able to help.
📲07985 744780
📞01978 311611
💻[email protected]

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The value of an investment with St. James’s Place may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.
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Hadlow Edwards is a trading name of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd.

Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

SJP Approved 25/03/2026

19/02/2026

Still have slots available for Monday ⬇️⬇️

I’m doing something a bit different!

I want to help more people feel confident and informed about their finances. Whether you’re just starting out, planning for the future, or simply have a few questions you’ve been meaning to ask.

💻 I’m trialling a day of Online Drop In Sessions where you, or your friends or family, can book a no obligation chat with me to ask me any questions you might have around finances.

There’s no pressure, just a chance to get some clarity and guidance in a relaxed, informal way.

👉Use this link to book a session: https://calendly.com/mike-williams-sjpp/30min

Feel free to share this with anyone who might find it helpful.

Thank you!



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Hadlow Edwards is a trading name of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd.

Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

SJP Approved 10/02/2026

17/02/2026

I’m doing something a bit different!

I want to help more people feel confident and informed about their finances. Whether you’re just starting out, planning for the future, or simply have a few questions you’ve been meaning to ask.

💻 I’m trialling a day of Online Drop In Sessions where you, or your friends or family, can book a no obligation chat with me to ask me any questions you might have around finances.

There’s no pressure, just a chance to get some clarity and guidance in a relaxed, informal way.

👉Use this link to book a session: https://calendly.com/mike-williams-sjpp/30min

Feel free to share this with anyone who might find it helpful.

Thank you!



----------------------
Hadlow Edwards is a trading name of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd.

Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

SJP Approved 10/02/2026

03/02/2026

Meet Charlie & Billie.

Charlie earns £100,000 salary and takes home £68,557 after tax.
Billie earns £125,000 salary and takes home £78,057 after tax.

Billie has a £25,000 higher gross income than Charlie, but only takes home £9,500 more after tax. This is because Billie has fallen into the “60% tax trap”.

Here’s how it works, and a couple of ways Billie could help reduce their tax bill efficiently:

🟢 For every £2 earned over £100,000, the tax-free income (or personal allowance) which is currently £12,570, is reduced by £1.
🟢 So Billie loses £12,500 of this £12,570 personal allowance, meaning they now have to pay 20% tax on that £12,500 (=£2,500) on top of his usual tax.
🟢 This means that Billie is effectively paying 60% tax on the earnings they make between £100,000 and £125,000.

Billie could help reduce the tax bill by:

a) Making pension contributions
For example, by contributing £25,000 of Billie’s earnings into a pension, taxable income drops down to £100,000 and the £12,570 Personal Allowance is restored. This would mean Billie gets to benefit from the £25,000 for their future rather than giving it away to HMRC.

b) Using a Salary sacrifice scheme
Billie could ‘sacrifice’ a portion of their salary in exchange for something else (e.g. pension contributions, electric vehicles, or bike-to-work scheme) before it hits their payslip. This would reduce Billie’s taxable income in a similar way to the above.

If this sounds familiar to you or if you’ve been meaning to take a proper look at your finances, I’d be happy to sit down for a no obligation, confidential chat.

No pressure. Just a conversation to see where you’re at and how I might be able to help.
📲07985 744780
📞01978 311611
💻[email protected]

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These figures are only examples and are not guaranteed – they are not minimum or maximum amounts.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.
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Hadlow Edwards is a trading name of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd.

Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

SJP Approved 03/02/2026

18/12/2025

Thank you to all of my clients, connections, and followers for a fantastic 2025! 🎉

I'll be taking a break over Christmas and New Year to spend time with my family, but I'll be back on 5th January and looking forward to 2026.

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

16/12/2025

Which of these Christmas movies have you seen? Are there any more Christmas films that have unexpected financial lessons you can think of? ⛄

And, just for fun, what's your favourite festive film?