Ridgeway Money Mentor
Money Guidance For Everyone
Money Guidance For Everyone
Simple . Affordable . Human .
Welcome
Most people were taught to work hard, get a job and pay their bills. Many of us also have no-one to turn to for guidance on money.
If you want clear, simple, value-for-money guidance, you have come to the right place - I want to make you financially confident and competent.
If you have any questions head to the Contact page and get in touch - I look forward to hearing from you.
I will guide you through my 5-step personal finance process - tailored to you every step of the way.
We can place greater focus on the areas most relevant to you, while moving swiftly through any sections that may not apply.
As a money mentor and financial planner I am here to guide you to make your own decisions. There will be practical steps throughout that will allow you to make the most of your money.
Not many people get rich through luck.
What happens to your money each month? Are you prepared for an emergency?
Most importantly...what does your "rich life" look like? What are you doing to prepare for it?
This first stage is fundamental to the whole process - connecting your finances to your personal goals. We will spend some time looking at your relationship with money, establishing direction with your finances and complete practical steps such as automating your savings.
We will take a clear, structured look at any debt you may have and create a practical plan to manage it. No debt? We will prioritise building an emergency fund so that you are protected against unexpected expenses and therefore safeguarded against debt in the future.
After this stage you should never be worried about money again.
We can now turn our attention to building your wealth. Together, we will explore how investing can work for you—making your money grow, rather than simply sitting in savings. We will look at investment options, looking at their pros and cons. We will explore ways to effectively reduce your tax bill, helping you keep more of what you earn.
Whether early retirement feels within reach or like a distant dream, we will work together to create a clear, realistic path to Financial Independence and Retire Early (FIRE). We will explore strategies to bridge the gap between retiring early and when pensions begin, identify how much you may need to invest, and build a plan that turns your retirement goals into achievable milestones. This stage is about designing a future where you have choice and flexibility. We will make sure that we know where we are heading and why, rather than just ending up drifting into the unknown.
Securing your own financial future always comes first, but rightly so, many people also want to support their children’s or grandchildren’s future. In this stage, we will explore the different ways you can provide financial support and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of giving money to future generations. We will also discuss best practices to ensure that any contributions are both beneficial and sustainable, protecting long-term security.
You could also call me a financial coach...
I believe that we all deserve to understand money and this should be available to everyone. Gone are the days where a financial adviser was required to invest - the internet has opened this world up to everyone.
I am not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority which gives me the benefit of being able to reduce my overheads and therefore pass on the savings. My opinion is completely unbiased as I have no benefit of you choosing any particular product. I can educate and guide you however I am unable to advise you on what exact products to purchase. Thanks to the internet this process is now easy to do for yourself and you will be prepared to make this decision for yourself.
For the last 30 years, global index funds have averaged 8.4%. If you had put £200 per month into these funds for 10 years it would have grown to £38,000. Another 10 years it would have increased to £125,000. Just 10 years more and it would have been worth £325,000.
This would have cost you around £100,000 in deposits BUT you would have 'gained' £250,000 in growth.
If it has been 'invested' in premium bonds it would have been worth £200,000 less than if invested into a global index fund over the 30 year period.
This is using data from the past and any future returns are not guaranteed but I will guide you how to understand the risk, how to reduce the risk and how to invest into the future.
My advice is aimed for the everyday person. There will be individuals with more complicated situations that would benefit from a Financial Advisor, of which I can put you in touch with. However, I believe that I could work with most people to radically change their lives.
Say you have one child and invest the Child Benefit money (that the Government give you if you earn less than £60,000) for the 18 years for which it can be paid.
£26.05 per week at 8% growth would be over £50,000 by the time they were 18.
If they simply left that money to grow until they were 60 years old, it would be worth over £1,500,000. One and a half million pounds!
The examples above paint not an unrealistic expectation, but do not consider things like inflation so unfortunately it isn't quite as rosy as the picture above paints. However, with regular investment over the long term it is impressive what compound growth can do. We can also 'boost' these savings through tax efficiencies so the picture may be even better. Together we will untangle your ambitions, create a plan and prepare for a wonderful future.
The internet has opened up so much information - some of which is a blessing and some of which seems to add to the complication. I will guide you through the entire process at a speed that you are happy with - you will feel confident at every stage.
I believe financial guidance should be simple, transparent, and great value for money. That’s why my pricing is straightforward:
£80 per hour (minimum one hour)
After the first hour, £20 per additional 15 minutes
Just one hour together could be enough to change your life.
I believe that 2-4 hours together would set most people in a strong position - ideally set over several sessions.