Catherine Richardson - Financial Advisor

09/10/2026

Sometimes, being a financial adviser isn’t just about financial advice. 💙

Sometimes we meet people who have recently experienced a significant life event, often at a time when everything feels a little overwhelming.

And sometimes, after sitting down, listening and understanding their circumstances, it becomes clear that now isn’t quite the right time for them to become a client.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t help.

Whether it’s offering some guidance, pointing them in the right direction, helping them understand paperwork or simply giving them a little reassurance about what to do next, sometimes those small things can make a real difference.

There doesn’t always have to be a financial transaction or a fee involved.

For me, building relationships and trust is just as important as the advice itself. If someone remembers that you took the time to help them when they needed it, that’s worth something in itself.

And whilst a thank you is never expected, it’s always lovely to receive one. ❤️

Sometimes the most valuable thing you can give someone is your time.

29/09/2026

💜✨ PLANNING WITH LOVE: WHO IS IT FOR? ✨💜

If you saw our event and wondered whether it applies to your family, take another look.
Some not so obvious examples of if it might be relevant:-

Yesterday, I spoke with a parent whose autistic son has capacity to make his own decisions, but would be vulnerable if he had to manage any sum of money alone. Therefore could easily be taken advantage of.

I also work with a family whose son cannot manage his money or make those decisions himself due to having limited capacity.

Both children will need someone to help them in the future.

🟣 Different circumstances. The same heartfelt question:

“How do we make sure our child is supported when we’re no longer here?”

Planning with Love isn’t only for the situations people might first imagine. Your child may be young or an adult. They may need a little support with money or someone to manage it on their behalf. 💜

🌷 We can look at the person, their needs and how wills, trusts and financial planning could help provide support for their future.

If this is something you’ve been thinking about, please get in touch. 💜



And if you missed it, here it is 👇💜

Practical guidance on financial planning

21/09/2026

Catherine Richardson - Financial Advisor

Practical guidance on financial planning

21/09/2026

PLEASE CAN PEOPLE SHARE

💜 PLANNING WITH LOVE 💜

We spend so much time thinking about what our children and young people need right now — but what about the future?

As they grow into adulthood, there can be so many questions around finances, wills, trusts, Power of Attorney, SEND support and independence.
Planning with Love brings together a panel of experienced professionals to help families understand their options, ask questions and start planning ahead with confidence.

💜 Financial Planning
💜 Wills, Trusts & Power of Attorney
💜 SEND advice and support
💜 Independence and adulthood
💜 Occupational Therapy perspectives on preparing for the future

📅 Tuesday 3rd November 2026
⏰ 10am–1pm
📍 Monocle, 184 Ferensway, Hull, HU1 3UT
🎟️ FREE to attend

A supportive, practical session for parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs.

Follow the QR code on the poster to book your FREE place. 💜

Because planning for the future is about more than paperwork — it’s about planning with love.

Practical guidance on financial planning

15/09/2026

💷 COULD YOUR CHILD HAVE £2,000 SITTING IN A FORGOTTEN ACCOUNT? 💷

This is definitely worth checking 👀

The FCA is encouraging young adults and parents to check whether there is a forgotten Child Trust Fund waiting to be claimed.

According to HMRC, around 760,000 matured Child Trust Funds remain unclaimed, with an average value of around £2,000 each. 😲

👨‍👩‍👧 Who could have one?

If your child was born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, they may have a Child Trust Fund – even if you can’t remember setting one up yourself.

The Government introduced Child Trust Funds to give children a financial start in adult life, and in some cases an account was opened automatically if parents didn’t do it.

⚠️ And here’s the important bit…

You DO NOT need to pay a company to find it for you.

Some businesses, including ones advertising on social media, are offering to trace these accounts and then charging significant fees.

The FCA has seen examples of people being charged £400 just to locate an account, and even monthly subscriptions for what should be a one-off search! 🤯

You can trace a missing Child Trust Fund FREE through HMRC on GOV.UK.

✅ If you know the provider – contact them directly.

✅ If you don’t know who holds it – use HMRC’s free Child Trust Fund tracing service.

✅ Once located, the young adult can contact the provider and decide what to do with the money.

And that’s perhaps the next important conversation… 💭

At 18, receiving £2,000, £5,000 or potentially much more can feel like money to spend.

But it could also be the start of an ISA, an emergency fund, a house deposit or their first proper investment. 🌱📈🏡

So if you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews in this age group, tag them or send this post to them.

There could quite literally be money sitting there with their name on it. 💷

11/09/2026

Let’s assume you’ve already got some life insurance…

✅ Tick
👏 Good job
👍 It’s better than having none!

But have you also got your own limited company?

Did you know that, subject to eligibility, your company may be able to pay for your life insurance through a Relevant Life Plan?

At the moment, you could be taking money from your company, paying Income Tax and National Insurance, and then using what’s left to pay the premium personally.

With a Relevant Life Plan:

✅ The business pays the premiums
✅ The premiums can usually qualify as an allowable business expense
✅ There is normally no Benefit-in-Kind charge
✅ The payout is generally written into trust for your chosen beneficiaries
✅ This could represent a significant saving compared with paying personally

The cover still protects the people you love—the difference is simply how it is arranged and paid for.

Already paying for life insurance personally? It may be worth reviewing whether your current arrangement is still the most tax-efficient option.

Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future. Relevant Life Plans must meet HMRC rules and are not suitable for every situation.

10/09/2026

💷 Should every woman have a “running away fund”?

I’ve just watched this article with interest as it is discussing whether women should have a “running away fund”.

An old friend of mine always said to have a fiver in your bra !!

As it says on here, we should simply call it financial independence.

This week, an old friend asked me to help her understand some divorce paperwork. I asked her:

“What about your pension?”

She explained that she had never joined her workplace pension because her husband had a very good pension and they believed his would provide for them both.

She had worked for the council for around 16 years without joining its pension scheme.

When you stop and think about the pension benefits and employer contributions she may have missed, it is heartbreaking. She made decisions based on the belief that they would always remain together—but life does not always follow the plan we make.

Marriage should be a partnership, and planning together is important. But that doesn’t mean either person should give up their own financial security.

Financial independence doesn’t mean you are planning to leave. It means making sure that, whatever happens—divorce, bereavement, illness or simply a change in circumstances—you have choices.

That could mean:

💷 Keeping some savings in your own name
📈 Building up a pension of your own
📄 Understanding the household finances
🏦 Maintaining your own bank account and credit history
🗣️ Being involved in long-term financial decisions

You don’t necessarily need a “running away fund”.

But everyone deserves enough financial knowledge and independence to know that they are staying because they want to—not because they have no other choice.



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09/09/2026

✨ What a difference a year can make in someone’s life…

I visited two clients whose lives look very different from when we spoke just a year ago.

One client I first met during incredibly sad circumstances. Today, she is planning her wedding and looking forward to an exciting second chapter. 💍❤️

Another family mentioned last year that they might have the opportunity to buy the business they worked for.
Fast-forward 12 months—and they have made it happen. 🙌

A year doesn’t sound like a long time, but so much can change—for better or for worse.

None of us truly knows what is around the corner.
That is why financial planning shouldn’t just be about reaching one fixed destination. It should give us choices, flexibility and the confidence to adapt when life changes direction.

We cannot prepare for every eventuality—but we can put ourselves in the strongest possible position to face whatever comes next.

Where could your life be this time next year? 🤔

07/09/2026

🛡️ PROTECTION – PAYING FOR SOMETHING YOU CAN’T SEE 👀

One of the hardest things about paying for protection insurance is that, hopefully, you’ll never need to claim on it.

Month after month the premium leaves your bank account…

And you don’t necessarily see anything in return.

No new car on the drive 🚗
No holiday ✈️
No new phone 📱

Just an insurance policy sitting quietly in the background.

But did you know that some protection policies come with additional services that you may be able to use while you’re fit and well — or when you have a health concern — without making a claim on the main policy?

Depending on the insurer and policy, these can include things such as:

👩‍⚕️ Remote GP services
🩺 Second medical opinions
💪 Physiotherapy support
🧠 Mental health and wellbeing services
🥗 Health and lifestyle support
👨‍👩‍👧 In some cases, services for family members too

The exact benefits vary enormously between insurers and policies, and older policies may be very different from newer ones.

But it raises a question:

Do you actually know what comes with your protection policy?

If you’ve had life insurance, critical illness cover or income protection sitting in a drawer for years, when did you last look at it?

You might be paying for additional services that you’ve completely forgotten about — or never knew existed in the first place.

Protection should obviously be there for the big things.

But sometimes there are benefits available along the way too.

📂 Today’s little job: dig out your protection policies and find out exactly what you’re paying for.

09/06/2026

Interesting 🧐

Women’s wealth is growing, but so is the need for greater financial confidence.

More women are building wealth through careers, entrepreneurship and inheritance. Yet many still face structural and financial barriers that can affect long‑term outcomes.

Our new series explores how women can feel more empowered when navigating their finances. Read the first article of the series now: https://ow.ly/QWcO50Z9jMI

St. James’s Place Representatives represent only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

SJP Approved 8/6/2026