101 THINGS TO DO WITH OLD COINS…

TODAY’S BLOG

101 THINGS TO DO WITH OLD COINS…

There is a lot of discussion in the media about the UK becoming a cashless society and whilst I think (hope?) that this is a somewhat distant possibility, we do need to consider what that might look like in reality.

A side effect of the covid pandemic has been that most of us have got used to making ‘contactless’ payments and many of us are very happy to purchase items online, so it may be that a majority of the population won’t miss ‘cash’ too much (when/if that day comes).

My Dad (who is a self-confessed dinosaur when it comes to all things ‘tech’) has recently learned to pay for things using his contactless card, but he insists that it is worth keeping a ‘stash of cash’ in case the internet ‘vanishes’!

I should add that he also has an ‘apocalypse’ emergency survival kit just in case of a tornado, tsunami, hurricane etc (he lives in Surrey!). He was never a Boy Scout (but he was an officer for the Boys Brigade many years ago), but as a ‘Boomer’, it is part of his make-up to always be prepared and as my daughter once said “expect the impossible”! (She regularly mixes up her old adages to our amusement).

Anyway – I digress – back to cash!

So what will become of all the coins once they are obsolete? I’m sure there’s an actual answer for that – something like melting down and re-using the metals, but I think I prefer a rather more artistic method of recycling … enter the Japanese art of coin stacking!

With a steady hand and far more patience than I possess, coin stacking is intricate and mesmerising … take a look

Debbie Harris
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on our blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to us about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email [email protected]

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101 THINGS TO DO WITH OLD COINS…Jemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:45+00:00

EVERYBODY DIES

TODAY’S BLOG

EVERYBODY DIES…

Death is an inescapable part of life. Over recent years, it has become apparent to me how important financial planning is when it comes to death. Grief is an incredibly difficult sort of sadness to grapple with. I often find when you lose someone you love, you feel as if the world should stop, as if everyone and everything should freeze but, contrary to this feeling, life goes on.

‘Money’ is possibly the last thing on your mind during those times and we hope to break down some of the financial stigmas around this; and empower men and women alike to have financial understanding and freedom. At Solomon’s we have a strong desire for both parties in a couple to attend client meetings and encourage meaningful conversations with family members. Knowing your desires and priorities helps us to tailor a financial plan just for you, enabling you to make the most of your life in the present; to be prepared for the worst; and to facilitate the ability to leave something behind for your loved ones, should you so wish.

Having known families who have had to pull their children out of private school because they can’t afford the fees any longer, and people having to leave their beloved family homes, I cannot express strongly enough how important insurance is. Whilst protection policies are not something we would usually organise for you at Solomon’s, they can form a vital part of your financial plan. We use a really good specialist firm to arrange protection policies for our clients – if this is something you need, please let us know and we will pass you on to them.

Many people have an ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude and unfortunately that is simply just not true. These things are out of our control and so preparing for the unknown helps make transitions easier should they need to take place. It is often thought of as an expense that could be spared, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if that money spent turned out to have been ‘wasted’. In the meantime, you have peace of mind that your family will be financially cared for in the event that the worst happens. It’s not a happy thought; but it’s an important one.

Abigail Liddicott
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on our blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to us about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email [email protected]

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The Old Mill Cobham Park Road, COBHAM Surrey, KT11 3NE

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EVERYBODY DIESJemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:46+00:00

A HOLIDAY IN CORNWALL

TODAY’S BLOG

A HOLIDAY IN CORNWALL…

Most mere mortals are creatures of habit – we like routine; we relish familiarity – often even our ‘spontaneity’ is planned in advance (think booking day trips whilst abroad).

This year – like every other year for the last two decades – my family is looking forward to our annual visit to a little tiny village in deepest darkest Cornwall.

It’s not just routine that keeps us going to the same place – Gorran Haven is home to several of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, rolling hills and fabulous cliff walks. The sound, smell and feel of the place is what keeps us going back there.

It has now become a tradition for all three generations of my family. At most, there have been 17 of us holidaying together – playing cricket on the beach, or boules (even swingball one year!). The kids (now all nearly adults) cannot remember not ‘doing Cornwall’ and most of them still venture into the very cold sea at the first opportunity.

I am very aware that I am exceedingly lucky and blessed to count my siblings and my parents as my friends – I know so many families who can’t take more than a few hours in the company of some of their relatives let alone an entire week; and so I do know that my situation is rather unusual.

Anyway – I digress – our annual beano now is always tinged with a little sadness as we reflect on the one very precious family member who will always be missing and also on the fact that there will come a day when the top tier generation will no longer be with us.

It’s important that we embrace all these moments when we can. And to do that in a beautiful place like Gorran Haven … priceless!

Holiday in Cornwall.blogpost. Debbie. solomonsifa.solomons

Debbie Harris
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on our blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to us about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email [email protected]

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A HOLIDAY IN CORNWALLJemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:47+00:00

WINNING TICKET

TODAY’S BLOG

WINNING TICKET…

You may have seen that an enormous record-breaking amount was recently won on the EuroMillions lottery. That would certainly help with the inflation on your utility bills! It would seem that Joe and Jess Thwaite have picked up an oversized cheque for an oversized amount of £184,262,899.

Obviously suddenly winning a large sum of money is going to be life-changing despite what some may think, say or perhaps wish; there’s no doubt in my mind that life would change dramatically. The adjustment to sudden wealth is not easy. We see it in literature, history and contemporary culture. Few people are able to cope with the changes as well as they may have imagined.

I’m not convinced that it’s a good idea to even reveal in public that you have won. Life will certainly not be able to continue as it was. I don’t mean just the jobs that winners had, but many of their relationships will be altered.

Winning a large amount of money will provide a very large number of choices. Things that yesterday seemed very relevant are suddenly surpassed by a plethora of options. These, as ever, are reduced to spending, giving, saving and investing. How would YOU use £184m? As a financial planner, it’s a bit of fun to work out strategies for what could be achieved within the added complexity of tax rules and allowances.

It’s nice to dream a little about this sort of choice, but I suspect that you and I will not have the problem that the Thwaites’ now face. It’s unlikely that you’ll be worrying about the colour of your Learjet or your third Ferrari. There are countless luxury brands that would be all too keen to swap trinkets and toys for cash.

Yet we all have choices about how to use the funds that we DO have. In comparison to most of the world, here in the UK most of the population are ‘rich’. Our choices, however insignificant they may seem, are likely to be envied by billions of people around the world. We may bemoan the standard of service, waiting times or general ineptitude we receive from various organisations, but we are in fact rather lucky to be living at a point in history when we can do so.

The truth is that we all have choices about how we spend, give, save and invest, though it may not feel like we do because living in the UK is expensive. The average house in the UK was £278,000 in March 2022 according to the ONS, up 9.8% over 12 months (but slowing). London averages are an awful lot higher than this … and if you google SW20 8BT you will see that the approximate price of a residential property in Edna Road (where our office is currently located), is about three times the national average!

Our choices are therefore often governed by our location. We have clients around the country and it is remarkable just how differently property is valued. Many have to live and work in a specific area, some do so to maintain relationships more easily, there’s a plethora of reasons, but these are choices. Whilst you and I may never have the choice of how to use £184m, we do get to make choices each day. Money should serve, not be served; so to my mind – how it is used, deployed and shared, is rather more important than the toys I can buy with it, as nice as some of them may be.

Dominic Thomas
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on my blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to me about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email [email protected]

GET IN TOUCH

Solomon’s Independent Financial Advisers
The Old Mill Cobham Park Road, COBHAM Surrey, KT11 3NE

Email – [email protected]
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The Old Mill Cobham Park Road, COBHAM Surrey, KT11 3NE

Email – [email protected] Call – 020 8542 8084

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WINNING TICKETJemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:49+00:00

70 years – a Jubilee

Jemima Thomas
Jan 2023 • 4 min read

70 years – a Jubilee

We have spent the weekend reflecting on our Queen’s 70 years of service as monarch. An achievement that none of us will see repeated, barring the awful prospect of life being extended dramatically by new medication. HRH Prince Charles is 71; a reign of 70 years would make him 141. HRH Prince William is 40 later this month and so would have to live until at least 110 and would need to become King immediately (for the maths to work).

It is an achievement of longevity. The ONS data for England implies that the average life expectancy of a female aged 96 is another 2.8 years. A male now 71 has an average 16.23 years, whereas a male age 40 has an average 43 years remaining. Mortality statistics are most definitely all about survivors and it may strike you as a little odd that someone aged 40 appears likely to not live as long as someone aged 84. This has the really awful description of ‘mortality drag’ – the statistical reality of “the older you are, the longer you live”. Evidently the Windsor family have some above average advantage of longevity, with HRH Prince Philip living to age 99.

THREE FUTURE KINGS

You probably saw images of the balcony at Buckingham Palace of future monarchs ranging from age 8 to 71. I paused to reflect on the reality of this … most of us have not been in the same ‘job’ for 70 years, and none of us have been waiting for it to start for 71 years! Most of our clients are eager to retire and thereby determine how they set the agenda for each day rather than being held to account for a daily commute, however brief. Imagine having been in training for a role for 71 years.

Irrespective of views about monarchy in 2022, I think it fair to say that we have been witness to a unique milestone, a theme that we discussed in the latest edition of Spotlight (let us know if you have not received your copy yet). In theory we know who the next three Kings will be, whether they all eventually become King is another matter entirely. As much as I like to plan and help you to do so, I am glad of uncertainty and not having a life mapped out from the cradle, with rather limiting choices.

70 years of public service is an enormously big deal. The only people that I suspect may achieve similar lengths of service in their ‘career’ are those in religious orders; and however much the State Pension is mucked around with by politicians, it’s worth noting that working for precisely half that time would entitle you to a full State Pension. You would obviously require rather more than the State Pension to run a Palace, but mercifully we don’t have to worry about that problem – although your most recent energy bill may have you wondering if you are.

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on my blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to me about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email [email protected]

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70 years – a JubileeJemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:49+00:00

Money is not a peace of mind, it’s a choice

Jemima Thomas
May 2022 • 5 min read

Money is not peace of mind, it’s a choice

If you are looking for a gritty (anxiety inducing) series to binge, then Ozark on Netflix is for you. The series is about a financial adviser who drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder money to appease a drug boss. So basically it’s a show about Solomon’s! (Please note this is very clearly a joke and we are not affiliated to this fictional TV series).

I was very pleased to see how many hits (yes, I stalk this on the regular) my first blog post ‘Slow and Steady’ got a few months ago, and I’m hoping that my youthful (and often under-represented) perspective will be mildly interesting to read again …

Amusing to some I’m sure, but I’ve always used the backdrop of art mediums such as film and TV to understand more about life, and there are a huge amount of personal parallels that resonated with me whilst watching Ozark. For one, the show is filled with financial lessons and quotes that have stuck with me. One of my favourites comes from lead character Marty: “Patience. Frugality. Sacrifice. When you boil it down, what do those three things have in common? Those are choices. Money is not peace of mind. Money is, at its essence that measure of a man’s choices.” For me this completely encompasses why we do what we do here at Solomon’s, and why great financial planning is so important.

Finding a good financial planner is a choice. And I truly believe it’s one of the best and often life-changing decisions you can make. Aside from the obvious differences of what Solomon’s does and what character Marty does (we aren’t laundering money, killing people, or secretly working for drug lords), we are however helping our clients invest their money wisely, something that I have begun to do myself. Perhaps I’m avidly searching for advice more often now both in ‘life’ and when it comes to my own finances, but I am acutely aware of the importance of having a financial plan.

Life isn’t always straightforward and is constantly changing, but some financial lessons are staple and vital in the long-run. Much like what happens to Marty and his family throughout each season, they are constantly having to adapt under severe life or death scenarios, and it’s eye-opening to see (although fictional) what people choose to do to save themselves financially.

Choices are also wrapped up in mistakes – mistakes are wrapped up in choices

Advice isn’t something I take lightly. I used to despise unwarranted advice, especially in my teenage years where I probably had a chip on my shoulder and felt most lost. But as I’m getting older, it’s something I welcome with open arms, and usually ask for. Other people’s mistakes often teach the biggest life lessons, and an open mind allows the space for us to learn from one another.

I get to read and listen to clients’ stories regularly as part of my work on Spotlight (our client magazine), and we often ask ‘’If you could go back and give your 20-year old self advice, what would it be?” and the responses are always helpful and interesting. When people feel comfortable and safe enough to talk about their financial mistakes (or any mistake for that matter), I am reminded that every day is a school day.

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Money is not a peace of mind, it’s a choiceJemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:50+00:00

Physical health as an analogy for financial health…?

PHYSICAL HEALTH AS AN ANALOGY FOR FINANCIAL HEALTH…?

Six years ago I felt a twinge in my hip and put it down to the ageing process … everything starts to hurt right?

As a precaution I went to see my GP and was diagnosed with a simple ‘Repetitive Strain Injury’. My doctor thought that the action of me getting into and out of my car was the cause (since that was when the pain was at its worst) so it was an understandable initial assessment.

So I followed her instructions about how to get in and out of the car in such a way as to not aggravate the hip joint.

Fast forward a few years and the discomfort had worsened and it was becoming more painful to climb stairs and walk for long periods. A few years after that I wasn’t sleeping well and excruciating pain was radiating through my hip and thigh.

A visit to my GP just before the pandemic hit led to a referral and X-rays revealed that I had severe arthritis. Delays during the pandemic meant that I wasn’t seen again for another year at which point I was referred for physio. I followed all the instructions and did all the exercises, but the writing was on the wall and I needed hip replacement surgery.

Many of you know that this took place in early May and I am currently in recovery. The procedure was a success and I am pain-free for the first time in six years and I’m sleeping properly again!

So how did I come to the conclusion that there is an analogy here with financial planning?!

Well here’s the thing … a large proportion of the new enquiries we have received in recent years have said things like “I think I’m doing ok on my own but would like some reassurance about that” or “I know I need some help but I’m not sure what it is I really need” or “I’m not doing great and the time has come for some proper help”.

Our own efforts will only go so far – we can ‘manage’ pain (physical, psychological, financial) only up to a point. We also convince ourselves that things will get better if we just do the right things and keep plugging away at it.

But that is not always the case – and often we find that intervention (from a professional or specialist) is the only way to stop a problem from becoming overwhelming; and in many cases remove the problem altogether.

Often new enquirers approach us a little sheepishly with an air of “I know I should have come to you sooner” … (a phrase I mumble to my GP almost every time I make an appointment)

It doesn’t matter whether you are a little late to the party – just turn up. Let us help. Use our expertise. Embrace the challenge of some uncomfortable questions. Enjoy the process of working towards being ‘pain-free’.

Our best moments at Solomon’s are when clients reach financial freedom or financial independence – where they no longer ‘walk with a limp’ and where they can sleep all night through.

That is why we do what we do and love doing it.

Debbie Harris
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on my blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to me about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email [email protected]

Physical health as an analogy for financial health…?Jemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:50+00:00

A shield in our midst

A SHIELD IN OUR MIDST…

It’s been more than 13 years since The Royal Mint Advisory Committee opened a public competition to redesign the coins in circulation in the UK.

Of over 4,000 entries, Matthew Dent was the winner. His design uses the Royal Shield of Arms but what I hadn’t realised until very recently is that if you fit all the coins from the 1p to the 50p together like a jigsaw, the complete shield is revealed!

Dent explained “I felt that the solution to The Royal Mint’s brief lay in a united design. United in terms of theme, execution and coverage over the surface of the coins.”

The shield icon of course is quintessentially British and in my mind is representative of providing protection and security – concepts that are not lost on me from a financial planning perspective!

I think if The Royal Mint threw open a new competition, we would probably see some slightly less traditional imagery in the submitted designs … what would you put on our coins … ?!

A shield in our midstJemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:51+00:00

WHY YOU REALLY DON’T WANT A FAKE GUCCI

TODAY’S BLOG

WHY YOU REALLY DON’T WANT A FAKE GUCCI

I imagine you have been around long enough to know the name of fashion house Gucci; you are likely to have come across the occasional Gucci store in one of our big cities or at an airport, the familiar logo and green/burgundy stripes. I very much doubt that your first experience of Gucci is a poster for the new film by Ridley Scott, who once again proves an inability for editing a film under 2 hours, which is a little amusing when there isn’t a single stitch or fabric cut in the film either.

Anyway, I did not know the story of Gucci (sorry) and to be plain, I am not sure I do now. The Romans were responsible for many myths and yet it appears that successful families in Italia (and elsewhere) continue to ignore all the warnings about families, legacy and wealth.

Despite its length, I enjoyed the telling of a family determined to self-destruct, failing to communicate about anything important, all the while offering the appearance of family unity. The hills of Rome, Tuscany or Milan are insufficient to bury the deeply seated gripes that one branch has against the other. Like lonely Jupiter, judging from on high, nursing grievances about the trivial yet punishing with wrath.

THE OBSESSION WITH CONTROL

It often all boils down to control. We are all probably tempted to believe that we have rather more control over things than we really do. Money corrupts most people, not everyone. I would suggest that it is more likely to corrupt those that seek to control (or power).

I believe that there is very little in life that we can control. I say this as a planner, presumably yours. Hopefully you have heard me say something like this before. I cannot control the markets (nobody really thinks that I can) I cannot control the future and I certainly cannot control who is elected and the policies that are introduced. We can all agree on this. Yet the truth is we cannot control very much of anything. We can try, we can plan, we can prepare, we can repeat, learn, gain experience but I cannot even really control how my body reacts or functions. I know its not popular to say so, but that doesn’t make it untrue.

Acknowledging how little I can actually control has been a lifelong journey for me, one that I suspect and hope is far from over. Obviously within a financial planning context we have “controls” and monitor these, responding appropriately based upon accumulated experience. Truthfully, we control costs as far as possible (I cannot control what others charge). We control asset allocation within a comfortable range. We control our own output, but not entirely devoid of externalities that dictate a degree of what makes up “advice”.

CATWALK VALUES

To my mind, we focus on what is important and attempt to encourage our clients to do the same – whatever “important” means to you. In the main, the common themes are relationships and a self-identity, not yachts, grand gestures or bank balances. Yet we cannot control relationships either, at least, not in any healthy way. The uncomfortable truth is that it has something to do with letting go. Something our clients have to sit with on occasion, letting go of control, trusting our advice and processes to ultimately come good. This is always easier to do when things are going well and tested when they do not.

Sadly, the Gucci family, at least in the film-story, forgot all that was important. The fake Gucci bags being a metaphor for their own lives. Quality comes from crafted time, not short-cuts. I’d suggest that the things that are truly important to you are products of time, probably many, many years.

The House of Gucci is streaming at a platform to your living room. The makeup is certainly impressive. Here is the trailer, the film stars Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek and Jared Leto.

Dominic Thomas
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on my blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to me about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email [email protected]

GET IN TOUCH

Solomon’s Independent Financial Advisers
The Old Mill Cobham Park Road, COBHAM Surrey, KT11 3NE

Email – [email protected]
Call – 020 8542 8084

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GET IN TOUCH

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Email – [email protected] Call – 020 8542 8084

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WHY YOU REALLY DON’T WANT A FAKE GUCCIDominic2025-01-28T10:05:36+00:00

RESCUE ME

TODAY’S BLOG

RESCUE ME…

Five months ago, my family and I finally decided (after years of discussion!) to foster a rescue dog.

Within three weeks of the decision being made, and all applications & home checks completed, we collected the lovely Bella. A 15 month old collie/greyhound mix, she had been found in a field in Romania as a 4-month old pup. She had been in the UK with another foster family for about a year before we got her.

The first few weeks were immensely stressful – you can never be entirely prepared for this adjustment! It took a huge amount of effort and a ton of patience to get through those early days.

Bella has ‘stranger anxiety’. And it’s severe. I’m not talking about ‘a bit of barking’ here; I’m talking about unadulterated terror. It was heartbreaking to see her freaking out at the mere sight of a stranger (human or animal) passing the house or on the other side of the street.

Scroll forward a few more weeks (and a bunch of dog-training sessions later) and Bella had made huge improvements – we could see her trust in us (her ‘hoomans’) growing and she was starting to allow herself to be reassured by our reassurances. We couldn’t let up on our efforts however and I have to be frank … it was exhausting.

Fast forward a few more months to today and she’s like a different animal. She still has the ‘stranger anxiety’ but it’s much less fearful and much less ‘robust’! She is happy and settled.

Now I could give you #637 reasons for NOT having a dog, but there are only two reasons for having a dog and they trump all 637 of these … hugs and love! And Bella is all over these – she is the only dog I have ever known to enjoy having her paws massaged! Whatever love and affection is on offer … she’ll take it!

She loves playing chase and finding random socks (from goodness only knows where); she is a cheeky, soppy girl who will be an absolutely awesome dog in her forever home. We only have her as a foster; and we know there will be a big hole in our family when she leaves us (and the house will feel painfully quiet!).

We are still waiting for her to be re-homed and every extra day we have her is a blessing – she is so trusting; so adoring; so vulnerable.

But we started with the end in mind. We knew it would be temporary; we knew it would be challenging; we knew it would be heartwrenching; we knew it would be worth it.

So where is the connection between my ramblings and financial planning … ?!

It’s a big decision
It’s a big step
It’s hard work in the early days
It gets easier
It’s rewarding
It’s absolutely worth it

And for the dog-lovers among you – here are a couple of my favourite shots of our girl …

Debbie Harris
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on our blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to us about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email [email protected]

GET IN TOUCH

Solomon’s Independent Financial Advisers
The Old Mill Cobham Park Road, COBHAM Surrey, KT11 3NE

Email – [email protected]
Call – 020 8542 8084

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GET IN TOUCH

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Email – [email protected] Call – 020 8542 8084

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RESCUE MEJemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:54+00:00