Clare Financial Planner

19/08/2026

There’s something I wish more people knew before speaking to a financial adviser…

You never need to be embarrassed about the truth of your finances.

You haven’t started a pension yet? Tell me.
You don’t have any savings? Tell me.
You’ve got debt you’d rather wasn’t there? Tell me.

You’ve been meaning to sort your finances for the last ten years and somehow never quite got around to it? Tell me that too.

There’s no judgement here.

My job isn’t to tell you what you should have done five or ten years ago. It’s to understand where you are now, where you’d like to get to, and help you work out what comes next.

And to do that properly, I need the full picture — not the version you think you should show me.

Financial planning has to start with what’s real.

So bring me the truth. We can work with that.

13/08/2026

If your income stopped tomorrow, how long would you be okay for?

It’s not the cheeriest question I’ll ask — but it is an important one.

Most of us have regular outgoings that aren’t going anywhere just because our income suddenly changes. Mortgage or rent, household bills, food, childcare, car payments… life still needs paying for.

That’s one of the reasons an emergency fund should always be in place.

It isn’t there to make you money or achieve some exciting financial goal. It’s simply there to give you a bit of breathing space when life doesn’t go to plan.

How much you need will be different for everyone. Your monthly commitments, whether you’re the only earner in your household, what sick pay you’re entitled to and how secure your income is can all make a difference.

A useful place to start is asking yourself:

If my income stopped tomorrow, what would I need each month to cover the essentials — and how long could I currently manage?

You don’t need to build an emergency fund overnight. Starting small and adding to it regularly can make a real difference.

Because sometimes financial planning isn’t about what you’re building for 20 years from now.

It’s about making sure you’re okay if life throws you a curveball next month.

05/08/2026

Have you lost track of your pensions?

If you’ve worked for several employers over the years, there’s a good chance you’ve built up more than one pension.

It’s surprisingly common for people to lose track of where their pensions are, how much they’ve built up, or whether those pensions are still working as hard as they could be.

A pension review isn’t just for people approaching retirement. It’s an opportunity to understand what you have now and whether it still fits with your future plans.

If you’ve been meaning to review your pensions but haven’t quite got round to it, you’re certainly not alone.

Sometimes, the first step is simply knowing where to start.

29/07/2026

There’s nothing better than hearing that a session has genuinely made a difference.

Financial topics can often feel complicated or overwhelming, so my aim is always to make them feel a little more straightforward, approachable and relevant to everyday life.

It was lovely to receive this feedback following a recent workplace financial wellbeing session.

If you’re an employer looking for a practical way to support your team’s financial confidence and wellbeing, workplace sessions can be tailored to suit your employees and the topics most relevant to them.

22/07/2026

Did you know I can visit your workplace and deliver financial wellbeing sessions for your team?

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking with a local team about debt, credit scores and mortgages.

Money can feel like a complicated topic, but it doesn’t have to be. These sessions are designed to explain things in plain English, giving people the confidence to ask questions and better understand their finances.

Whether it’s workplace pensions, budgeting, mortgages or planning for the future, every session is tailored to the audience and delivered in a relaxed, jargon-free way.

If you’re an employer looking to support your team’s financial wellbeing, I’d love to chat about how I can help.

16/07/2026

It’s easy to feel like your finances are at the mercy of things you can’t control.

The markets move. Interest rates change. News headlines can make it feel like everything is uncertain.

But good financial planning isn’t about predicting the future.

It’s about focusing on the things you *can* control.

✔️ Saving regularly where you can.
✔️ Having a plan that works for your goals.
✔️ Reviewing that plan as life changes.
✔️ Asking for advice when you need it, rather than trying to figure everything out alone.

You don’t need to have all the answers today. You just need to take the next sensible step.

08/07/2026

People often think saving is something they'll do once they're earning more.

The reality?

Many people never feel like they earn "enough."

Financial planning isn't about putting away huge amounts every month. It's about creating habits that are sustainable and building confidence with your money over time.

Starting with £25, £50 or £100 a month may not feel life-changing today, but consistency has a habit of adding up.

The important thing isn't waiting for the "perfect" time.

It's simply getting started.

💬 Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "I'll save when I earn more"?

01/07/2026

"I'm too young to think about my pension."

It's one of the biggest myths out there.

The truth is, the earlier you start paying into a pension, the more time your money has to grow.

That doesn't mean you need to be paying huge amounts each month or have everything figured out.

It simply means that giving your future self a head start today could make a much bigger difference than trying to catch up later.

Financial planning isn't about waiting until retirement is on the horizon.

It's about making small decisions today that can give you more options tomorrow.

Your future self will probably thank you for starting sooner rather than later.

01/07/2026

24/06/2026

One of the things I hear most often is:

"I'd love to speak to a financial adviser, but I need to get everything organised first."

The truth is, you don't.

You don't need spreadsheets.
You don't need a perfectly organised filing system.
You don't need to understand pensions, investments or tax rules.

That's my job.

Whether you're planning for retirement, running a business, saving for the future or simply trying to make sense of where you stand financially, the first conversation is often about understanding your situation and what matters to you.

You don't need to have everything worked out.

You just need to take the first step.