Planning Archives - Financial Planning in Surrey

What Would Clooney Do?

Dominic Thomas
Dec 2025 • 2 min read

What Would Clooney Do?

In our latest edition of Spotlight, three clients outlined a little about their initial experiences of retirement – each rather different, but possessing some commonality. By way of another example (ok a bit of a stretch) the new film Jay Kelly starring George Clooney is a fairly stark look at the choices a hugely successful actor has made in his four decade career.

Those of you who know the Directorial work of Noah Baumbach will not be surprised to see a reasonable amount of self-disclosure in the plot. Kelly is hugely successful but has probably reached the twilight of his career (never a clear case for actors). He finds himself in the empty nest syndrome and reflecting on his life choices following a meeting with a former fellow student. Their careers took very different paths. Kelly is left clutching awards and accolades, but chasing a sense of connection as he chases his daughter around Europe.

It’s not about right or wrong, but promotes a thoughtful approach to the choices that Kelly makes, selecting his career over the alternatives. To some extent we all have similar choices, or have had them, rarely are they easy; most of us haven’t really had the luxury of seven figure (or more) short-term projects like a Hollywood actor, but rather more mundane – paying the mortgage, holidays, school fees and so on. It’s not always easy to remember that these are also choices – and who is to say whether they are right or wrong; the point is surely that we make them thoughtfully and consciously.

As we enter another new year, the one certainty is that time evaporates and all of us become increasingly aware of its preciousness and that it slips through our fingers; before long we all find ourselves at a point wondering about our choices. At your next planning meeting, you may want to check in with us to ensure we have really grasped your values, the lifestyle that you have worked for and wish to retain. Assumptions are rarely accurate and invariably disappointing, and our mission is to help you verbalise yours and help you achieve the peace of mind that comes from a clear, robust plan.

I enjoyed the film, which is currently on the Netflix platform and it’s had mixed reviews, but hey, that’s the joy of art. Anyway, Mr Clooney turns 65 this May and would still have to wait until 2028 to collect his State Pension if he were a UK resident. He may find himself waiting a little longer for a third Oscar, but he rarely has to wait long for a coffee or a compliment. Devilishly handsome and seemingly a thoroughly decent American.

Here’s the official trailer for Jay Kelly:

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What Would Clooney Do?Jemima Thomas2025-12-17T14:11:36+00:00

Does everything have to cost the earth?

Dominic Thomas
Oct 2025 • 3 min read

Does everything have to cost the earth?

I’ve been advising clients and helping them to invest for their future since 1991 and it was only when I became an Independent Financial Adviser in May 1992 that I could offer anyone ethically screened investment choices. The sector and choices have evolved an awful lot since then resulting in some rather cynical funds launched by investment companies keen to get on the bandwagon rather than actually improve the way we treat each other and the planet. The term “greenwashing” was apt for this as we witnessed misleading marketing imagery (windmills, trees etc) to suggest something that wasn’t always true.

The regulator (another reason why we do need one) rightly stepped up and called time on this practice and have reset the bar for labelling such funds. The approach has, as is often the case, been far from perfect, laborious and probably bureaucratic, but is well intended. However, we are now gradually ‘getting there’ so that both advisers and investors can have greater confidence in what is said and done being aligned.

Unfortunately, despite the data and scientific evidence, a number of politicians and media owners have decided that saving the planet from climate crisis is not a priority and not worth doing (paying for and changing). We have one planet and there isn’t a viable alternative that we can reach.

At a recent socially responsible investment conference, we discussed the current challenges and some solutions, but the stark reality is that the transition that needs to happen within our economies means that we must engage with the ‘villains’ (the polluters and abusers) of the piece. We might term this as a choice between the extractive and exploitative economy versus a solutions economy. We have to counter the narratives with facts and appeal to shared values of protecting our families, homes and countries of the future. Who, after all, doesn’t want clean air and water, and other than a psychopath, who would not want this for everyone.

The investment piece is therefore far from pure or perfect. What many either don’t know (or don’t understand) is that these funds advocate and engage with companies, attempting to induce positive changes in their behaviour. You cannot really do that if you simply exclude, point and shout … much as the idealist in me would wish to. It means engaging with the perpetrator and holding a stake in their business, buying the right to be in the discussion and leading them into a better future.

This is far from easy to accept, it can feel like placating an abuser and it’s something that most activists, who are ultimately the thought leaders at the front of a movement that will eventually benefit all, often struggle to admit. I was at a screening of the documentary by Fiona Cunningham-Reid Ackroyd & Harvey: The Art of Activism and we discussed the contents with her, Dan Harvey and Heather Ackroyd. They have been actively engaged in expressing concern about the environment for their entire adult life, making some truly remarkable art and living out their ethics. They remain hopeful and thankful whilst engaged in the problem and using their creativity to highlight concerns. They don’t stay in their studio preaching, but are actively engaged in the local and global community, using art to focus our engagement.

There was a moment in the discussion where this very issue reared its head – where opinion was divided about engagement and exclusion. Context and purpose are everything and I favour the way they have chosen – not to take the easy money from corporations to help them gain greener credentials (such as the Board of Monsanto wanting a Board member piece in their iconic grass image – this was a hard “no”, but that doesn’t preclude engaging with Monsanto – who we need to change their practices if we are to prevent an agricultural disaster).

This is obviously the more expensive and harder path, whilst the orange felon throws his tantrums and threatens corporations and civilians, it has become harder to resist and easier to capitulate to folly, but whilst it sometimes appears that the ‘bullies’ and dullards are winning, the reality is that the language may have changed, but the processes have not. DEI may not be the term, but companies understand that a fairly employed workforce that represents the real world is one with a future and energy saving ultimately benefits their bottom line. We all want a future and our planet is our only home.

Talk to me to discuss how your financial plan and your portfolio can be based on your values. Investing doesn’t have to cost the earth.

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Does everything have to cost the earth?Jemima Thomas2025-10-28T14:01:30+00:00

Should I plan my own funeral?

Debbie Harris
Oct 2025 • 1 min read

Should I plan my own funeral?

I attended a funeral recently and when I was talking about it later that day with my adult children, I said that I thought the service had been thoughtfully planned and beautifully delivered – a real and heartfelt tribute to the lady who had passed away.

We then had what you might call a somewhat morbid and macabre discussion about what MY funeral might look like (much gallows humour ensued!)

I told them (and have always felt the same way about this) “I’ll be dead. I don’t mind what you do! Do whatever you want to do to honour my memory and say your goodbyes”. My only ‘stipulation’ was that everyone attending my funeral should wear something purple (my favourite colour).

In my mind – funerals are ‘about’ the deceased; but ‘for’ the bereaved – so I’ve always felt that planning the funeral and deciding how to honour the memory of the deceased should be the remit of those left behind.

My opinion has always been that “if life is a book, the epilogue should be written by our loved ones”.

To my great surprise, both of my children were very clear that they would want me to have left them instructions! (My son in fact went so far as to suggest that it would be best if I could plan the entire thing … so that they [in their grief] would not have to think about it at all).

This was a real eye-opener!

So I now have another task on my ‘life admin’ to do list – is it on yours too? Apparently your loved ones will thank you for it!

There are lots of firms who offer funeral planning as a service (for a hefty fee), but I suspect something rather more home-grown might feel more authentic. It might be as simple as selecting a few songs; suggesting a venue; providing a list of possible ‘eulogy deliverers’. It could be a detailed ‘order of service’ to be followed. Whatever you decide to do (if anything), be sure to tell your loved ones that a plan exists and where it can be found.

I encourage you to ‘have the difficult conversation’ with your family about this. They might surprise you!

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Should I plan my own funeral?Jemima Thomas2025-10-21T16:01:29+01:00

The Salt Path

Dominic Thomas
June 2025 • 3 min read

The Salt Path – lost and found

There is a new film The Salt Path based on the book by Raynor Winn about her own story. In essence, it’s a couple that loses everything, and I really mean everything, and decide rather impulsively to go hiking as a way to clear their heads. In an interview, Ray talks of the walk being a line and a map for them to follow step-by-step, having lost everything and recognising that the way through had to be one which was a planned route.

We quickly discover that this is an impulsive decision, not well thought through; in fact it’s hard to think it even vaguely wise given the physical shape that her husband Moth is in – walking with great difficulty due to a condition diagnosed (in the same week as being made homeless) as corticobasal degeneration (CBD), which I understand to be a Parkinsons-related illness impacting movement and cognition. Not ideal when walking a coastal path with unforgiving sheer, steep drops.

To call it a walk isn’t really accurate, it’s a 630 mile hike, with all their meagre worldly possessions carried in rucksacks or worn. It’s an endurance, though I am pleased to say that the story is not. Rather, it’s uplifting and revels in the human spirit and our ability to endure hardship. Set in the familiar beautiful scenery of the West Coast, they walk along the coastline from Minehead to Poole, funded only by a few pounds in benefits that they receive.

Together we face some of the reactions to them as a homeless couple, often with a great deal of kindness exposed. I haven’t read the book, and the film is naturally an adaptation with heightened dramatic impact, but it seems as though they also lack any friends willing to help, which may not be accurate (I don’t know).

I wondered why and how they managed to lose everything (their home, money and possessions) and it would appear that they invested in a friend’s business which failed and their assets were seized by creditors. Clearly there is another story there, but it is something that I have been asked about numerous times … “I have a friend who has asked me to invest in their business, what do you think?”.

As a business owner myself, I can assure you that it looks easier than it is. The failure rate is exceedingly high and whilst there may be a sense of ‘self determination’, there is an awful lot that is simply beyond your control. Geopolitics, pandemics, recessions, technology, competition, legislation, climate crisis, social trends, economic reality all batter the best of businesses. Perhaps investing in a friend or family member’s business is a great idea, maybe they are the next Bill Gates (hopefully not the next Elon Musk). So perhaps some pointers…

Can you afford to lose all the investment?
How much of your overall wealth would be exposed? Would this scupper your own security if it fails?
How would your relationship cope with ongoing involvement, failure or success?
Are you an active investor (regularly involved with the operational decisions) or passive? And if the latter, is that really code for “I don’t know what I’m doing”?
What experience do you bring that can assist, beyond capital?
Have you understood the risk? Have you checked past and current performance of the business? Do you really believe in the future projections or are these hopeful guesses wrapped in a spreadsheet?

Most of us are not venture capitalists, which is what investing in your friend’s business means. However, a professional VC looks at hundreds of businesses each year and considers the risk/reward very carefully indeed. The Government must incentivise most of us to consider any form of VC investment – with 30% or 50% tax relief and the promise of tax-free gains (in controlled investment solutions like VCTs, EIS and SEIS). These are regarded as suitable investments for probably no more than 1% of investors (according to our regulator, the FCA).

Whatever Ray and Moth invested in, I am confident that it would not have passed muster with any decent financial planner, and a compliance person somewhere would be screaming that they hadn’t had their appetite for risk or capacity for loss properly tested and explored. I understand these concerns, but of course the irony being that even having lost everything, their capacity for loss was not exhausted, they found a way through, it was not ‘the end’. Today, they would be classified as ‘vulnerable clients’ due to illness and experience, yet vulnerability as humans is how we learn most about ourselves and each other.

Ray and Moth rediscover a purpose and the value of life and their relationship. I don’t know if they learned any lessons about investment, other than to avoid it. The film is charming and life-affirming with a couple of familiar good actors – Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.

Financial planning is meant to be about helping you verbalise and clarify your values and goals, setting out the life that you want in your remaining years. We provide the pathway to help you assess the viability of them and how we might make things easier, less arduous and less taxing; minimising risks whilst ensuring you never suffer total financial loss.

Should you feel inspired to buy her books with a link here to Penguin, and here is the new film from Black Bear.

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The Salt PathJemima Thomas2025-06-12T10:12:36+01:00

A life worth living?

Dominic Thomas
May 2025 • 2 min read

A life worth living?

If you watch the news on a regular basis, it is hard to shake the sense of despair at the state of the world and its leaders, who appear to have learned nothing from history. Social media as we all know is awash with fiction posed as fact and opinion posed as expertise and many seem all too willing to believe their eyes.

The worlds of literature, television, music, arts and film are currently experiencing something of an appetite for dystopian tales of apocalyptic disaster, be it environmental, climate or more deliberately-introduced political intention.

A new series to tackle this showing on the Paramount network is Paradise. I won’t spoil it for you other than to say that like most others of its kind, it prompts us to ask ourselves “would it be worth surviving?”. Perhaps a better way to consider this is the question – what makes life worth living?

When phrased that way, I wonder whether there may be a question beneath the question. What indeed does make life worth living and does there come a point when it is not? Is this a strand of the current discussion around euthanasia and assisted dying?

I appreciate that this is a highly inflammatory topic with fierce arguments either side, but the mere fact that the discussion is now more mainstream suggests that there is need for the debate. Perhaps this is one of the consequences of the pandemic, when there certainly was an attitude displayed by many about a “herd” (we being the herd) and a ‘less than’ value ascribed to different people’s lives for a variety of reasons. To be blunt, there was probably a gnats wing of difference between some of these attitudes and those of German “Nationalists” in the 1930s.

I am not about to become embroiled in the debate, simply noting an observation that the discussion about what makes life worth living is more within everyday parlance. However, one of the challenges I often pose to you, our clients, is “what do you want from life?”. It may take different forms, but in essence, I’m asking you about the lifestyle you have and want to maintain, the experiences you wish to have and the skills you wish to develop. In short, what brings you contentment and joy? It seems to me that this is an entirely appropriate and reasonable question to pose.

As I am sure you know, we structure your financial plan around your values and the objectives that you determine important to you. Anecdotal experience means that I encourage you to ‘front load’ your retirement with many of these bucket list experiences; health is something that most of us will battle with as we age, reducing our ability to do things that we might currently take for granted. As health and independence deteriorate, this is where the question of ‘a life worth living’ resurfaces and will elicit different responses from each of us for different reasons and set within a context.

We know that life is brief, so carpe diem, here’s to your very good health!

Here is the trailer for the 8-part series Paradise starring Sterling Brown.

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A life worth living?Jemima Thomas2025-05-06T10:17:18+01:00

If your portfolio was your house

Dominic Thomas
April 2025 • 2 min read

If your portfolio was your house…

As you come across news stories about sudden market falls, (I doubt you have read one about a sudden market increase, unless it’s designed to prompt feelings of envy), I wonder if thinking of them is better if you consider it in the context of your home.

“HOUSE PRICES AT LOWEST POINT IN 5 YEARS”

If you read the headline above, you may be a bit miffed, but you are unlikely to change your plans. You almost certainly don’t ‘panic sell’ your home worried that the value may fall further. Panic selling a property is also generally pretty difficult, even with the most attentive broker, conveyancer, lender and buyer, it’s unlikely that the process will complete within three months, certainly not the next day. This process, whilst decidedly unhelpful to people buying and selling, does help reduce the impact of panic.

If there is a property crash, generally you sit it out, waiting for things to improve. A few people may be caught out, those in the middle of a sale or who have to move for various reasons – it is these people who are most likely to suffer the pain of a downturn.

Similarly, your portfolio is set up to provide a lifetime of income and capital. It is anticipated that the value will vary each day. Unlike your home, share prices are based on corporate results, track records and expectations for their trade in the near future. Your home is valued based on similar properties in the area; what you think it’s worth and what someone else is prepared to pay are often very different.

In short, your financial plan is designed for you, stretching out over the years to come. Yes; we don’t know how bad things will be in the short term, or indeed how quick or how full the eventual recovery will be, but it will happen.

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If your portfolio was your houseJemima Thomas2025-04-27T19:24:52+01:00

Worrying about money?

Dominic Thomas
March 2025 • 2 min read

Worrying about money?

Admittedly, all of us respond differently to pressure and some of us (if not all of us) create our own. I say this as a slight caveat to the statement I will now make. More than half of those aged over 55 are worried that they will run out of money.

This is the finding of research conducted by Oxford Risk, a rather bright bunch that offer services for modelling, measuring, managing and explaining risk to you our clients. As ever, the sample size of the survey wasn’t vast at just a touch over 1,000 people (all over the age of 55). Only 27% of them were not worried about running out of money in retirement.

It won’t please Gen X, Z or Y that around 12% are worried that they will likely be dependent on their children for financial support in their retirement, which when some reports laud the age of an enormous wealth transfer, clearly this will not be everyone’s experience and I suspect the hoped-for inheritance to finally enable joining the property market may be short-lived. It won’t help if your estate suffers a lot of inheritance tax.

Of course, some of this may be merely a reflection of the current cost of living crisis and inflation which at checkouts and cash registers seems to stubbornly ignore ONS official data. It may have something to do with a growing awareness of the exorbitant cost of care or maybe the apparent fragility of the state of the world.

I would love to be able to tell you that we can provide complete reassurance about the future, but it is of course unknown. What we can do is work with your real spending patterns and plans in conjunction with your existing resources and create a plan to avoid running out of money. This relies on regular reviews and sense-checking of our assumptions and your objectives. The intention is obviously to empower you to make informed decisions and have a high degree of confidence about the future, but no one can actually guarantee this, despite what they may be willing to tell you.

We aren’t afraid to wrestle with reality and construct a viable, sustainable plan for your future that will deliver successful outcomes, albeit within the context of a changing and imperfect world.

You don’t need to be worrying, we have a plan that will alleviate this, this is what we do and have done with great success.

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Worrying about money?Jemima Thomas2025-03-21T15:43:07+00:00

Bah Humbug …

Debbie Harris
Dec 2023 • 2 min read

Bah Humbug…

I was scrolling aimlessly through Facebook the other evening (is there any other way to do it?!) and happened upon an interesting post by a lady who had taken A LOT of flack for ‘only’ spending £100 each on her children’s Christmas gifts.

She had been accused of being ‘tight’ (amongst other far more unpleasant things). She was very clear that this was their family’s decision in an attempt a) to budget for Christmas properly and carefully and b) to NOT spoil their children.

Some commenters were disgusted that in amongst the stocking fillers were things like socks and shower gel (which were considered to be ‘essentials’ rather than ‘luxuries’).

I was utterly incensed that the keyboard warriors and trolls came out to play as they inevitably do but this seemed beyond the pale to me.

Who are we to criticise someone else’s traditions, budgeting, parenting aspirations, whatever?

Anyway – it reminded me of a little rhyme someone told me donkeys years ago that Christmas gifts should include the following:

~ Something they want

~ Something they need

~ Something to wear

~ Something to read

I absolutely put ‘essentials’ in my kids’ stockings (*or rather Father Christmas does) – they get socks, bath bombs, lip balm – that kind of thing. They also get puzzles, chocolates, bobble heads (google it – so daft!), satsumas, walnuts, party poppers.

I also always attempt to set a budget and stick to it – but invariably I go ‘over’ – well it’s a special occasion! It doesn’t matter to the rest of the World what my budget is – the amount is NOT important, as long as it is proportionate to your available funds of course! What is important is that you set a reasonable budget and do your best to avoid getting carried away – yes it IS a special occasion (for some), but it is actually after all only ONE DAY!

Here at Solomon’s, we always ask our clients to be ‘generous’ in their estimated figures for their expenses (and not just on gifting). It helps build contingency and ‘wiggle room’ in the financial plan; and intrinsic to this is an understanding that life is rarely a straight line. And it is never the same as anyone else’s – we are our own yardstick; always.

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Bah Humbug …Jemima Thomas2023-12-19T17:05:41+00:00

1 in a million (or rather 1 in 45 million!)

Debbie Harris
Sept 2023 • 2 min read

1 in a million (or rather 1 in 45 million!)

You are more likely to be struck by lightning or attacked by a shark than winning the jackpot on the National Lottery.

Playing the lottery can be a bit of fun, especially if you have a lucky number or a favorite game. Most participants enjoy the thrill of anticipation and the possibility of winning a huge jackpot (let’s face it, most of us have a good idea of what we’d do with our winnings!)

Here at Solomon’s, we are not party poopers and if the Lottery is your ‘dabble’ into the world of improbable dreams – then that’s all good … we’re only talking about £2.00 a week for a ticket after all.

But it IS our job to challenge your financial decisions and I wonder whether you have ever thought about the impact of doing something different with that £2.00 a week … ?

If you were to save it for 50 years and were to achieve a return of 5% per year – you would have more than £23,000 in your account at the end!

Most of our clients understand the power of compounding interest and are fully onboard with the nature of long-term investing, so this example probably comes as no particular surprise – but it just goes to show that ‘a little’ can become ‘a lot’ given time and proper attention (which is a big part of what we do for our clients at Solomon’s).

Of course, the National Lottery does support lots of charitable and community causes, so your £2.00 a week isn’t entirely ‘wasted’!

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1 in a million (or rather 1 in 45 million!) Jemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:28+00:00

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

Jemima Thomas
June 2023 • 3 min read

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

There are so many things about moving house that I loathe; but one of the biggest is ‘the admin’ … changing personal banking details, setting up new accounts, changing names on bills, being on hold to a new broadband service, contacting the DVLA and ordering a new driving licence etc.

For the past four years I’ve been living in London and have become accustomed to moving roughly once a year due to landlords hiking rents or wanting to sell their property; or simply moving elsewhere due to problems that have occurred in the property – in the past I have shared various rental homes with bats, rats, and mice … so I think it’s understandable that I have needed to move so often (despite my loathing of the process)!

Last weekend I moved into a basement flat with my partner, and although having years of experience as a renter (with really good checklists in place that have been created due to problems in the past causing huge stress!), it still ended up being less than idyllic when I thought it would be a breeze, having done this so many times before.

I am fully aware that the majority of you will not have to experience such problems; many of you have lived in the same property for many years; but ensuring that your details are kept up to date is still absolutely vital (for you and us).

We want to remind you about the 10-minute challenge series on our website, something we created during lockdown when it became apparent that many of our clients don’t know where certain important documents are stored. We simply want to help you ensure that whatever you are trying to do or find is made that much easier and less stressful, because you have good record-keeping systems in place. We don’t want ‘future you’ to endure the struggle of some relatively basic tasks; being organised about this is key.

I would encourage you to set some time aside to prepare well for whatever life scenarios you can think of that might require decent and advanced planning … fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

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Fail to prepare, prepare to failJemima Thomas2023-12-01T12:12:31+00:00

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