The Finance Geeks Podcast

Episode 08: Budget Aftermath - Weathering the Fiscal Storm

In this episode, Warren Shute and Paul Cleworth deliver a post-Budget forecast tailored for financial planners. With the dust settling after Rachel Reeves’ first Autumn Budget, they break down what’s changing — and what isn’t — across taxation, pensions, welfare, and public spending. It’s not just about the announcements, but the implications for client conversations and strategic planning.
They explore the potential long-term effects of frozen thresholds, the subtle increases in fiscal drag, and where planners should be looking for hidden risks — and emerging opportunities. From the shifting landscape of capital gains tax to murmurs about pension reform, the geeks help you sort signal from noise.
Whether you’re advising clients this week or prepping for future reviews, this episode equips you with a planner’s-eye view of the budget aftermath. It’s about more than reaction — it’s about readiness. Tune in to make sure you're prepared for whatever financial weather is coming next.
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Chapters: 0:00 - Intro
3:27 - Budget Aftermath - Weathering the Fiscal Storm
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Show Notes:
Budget 2025: Summary of key announcements and economic and fiscal forecasts https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/budget-2025-summary-of-key-announcements-and-economic-and-fiscal-forecasts/
The full Budget 2025 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6929b367b3b9afff34e9621c/Final_print_HMT_Budget_2025_TEXT_PRINT_NEW.pdf
Budget 2025 summary: tax rises and two-child cap scrappedhttps://govexplained.co.uk/budget-2025-summary/
Budget 2025: The key points at a glance | Money News | Sky Newshttps://news.sky.com/story/budget-2025-the-key-points-at-a-glance-13475533
2025 Autumn Budget Summary (Tandem)https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b2fc4b6dc0116f987aa61bcc8&id=4ad34e9378
Autumn Statement 2025 Spreads (Tandem)https://tandemfinancial.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/autumn-statement-2025_spreads.pdf
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
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Episode 07: Planning for Inheritance Tax - How to help clients reduce the bill

In this episode of The Finance Geeks, Warren Shute and Paul Cleworth unpack the often-overlooked world of inheritance tax planning. With IHT thresholds frozen and the value of estates rising, they explore the real impact this has on clients — and the critical role advisers play in helping reduce the burden.
From early-stage planning to knowing when to act, they emphasise that mitigating inheritance tax is less about clever tricks and more about being proactive, structured, and informed. The conversation dives into practical strategies, including lifetime gifting, the use of trusts, and the role of protection policies to cover IHT liabilities. Warren and Paul also reflect on the psychological side of estate planning: helping clients move from a “save everything” mindset to considering how and when to pass wealth on.
Their insights highlight the importance of tailoring the approach to each family’s needs, goals, and attitudes around money — not just the numbers on paper. Beyond the technical tips, the episode reinforces the importance of involving the next generation in financial conversations. Whether simplifying estates for ease of administration or making sure families understand the plan, Paul and Warren argue that clarity is the ultimate gift. With quotes, examples, and a bit of humour along the way, this is a valuable listen for anyone looking to make inheritance planning more effective and human.
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Chapters: 0:00 - Intro
6:17 - Planning for Inheritance Tax - How to help clients reduce the bill
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
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Episode 06: Clients Sitting on Too Much Cash: How Do You Get Them Comfortable With Investing?

In this episode of The Finance Geeks, Paul and Warren explore the treasure-filled dungeons of client finances — where large cash reserves are tucked safely away, guarded by caution and a desire for security. With interest rates offering a short-term haven and market headlines often sounding alarm bells, it’s no surprise many clients prefer the comfort of cash. But is that the best long-term plan?
From risk aversion and misunderstanding to outdated habits, they explore what’s really keeping cash locked in the vault — and how planners can help clients break free. Whether it’s reframing investment conversations, educating around long-term returns, or simply shining a torch on the emotional side of money, this episode offers practical insight into helping clients feel more confident stepping out of the safety of cash and into a better-diversified future.
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Chapters: 0:00 - Intro
4:40 - Clients Sitting on Too Much Cash: How Do You Get Them Comfortable With Investing?
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Show Notes:
UK savers have more than £614bn in excess cash
https://on.ft.com/47JAaZ5
Latest rates
https://moneyfactscompare.co.uk/savings-accounts/easy-access-savings-accounts/?utm
Barclays Equity Gilt Study
http://uk.investing.com/analysis/barclays-equity-gilt-study-200121844
Cost of holding cash
https://www.ajbell.co.uk/news/cost-safe-haven-investing-cash-and-gilts-lose-money-real-terms
Inflation holds at 3.8%
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-inflation-holds-38-september-2025-10-22/?utm
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
==========================

Episode 05: Autumn Budget 2025 - Rumoured changes & how to prepare

In this episode of The Finance Geeks, Paul Cleworth and Warren Shute fire up the speculation engine ahead of the Autumn Budget 2025. With the economic pressure mounting and a fiscal gap to fill, they explore the rumours and forecasts swirling around Rachel Reeves’ first major fiscal statement — and what financial planners should be doing right now to prepare.
From possible changes to capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and pension relief, to tweaks on ISAs, NI, and VAT, the geeks break down the key tax areas under scrutiny. With clients already asking, “Should I take action before the budget?”, Paul and Warren lay out what’s being whispered in the corridors of policy — and how planners can interpret the signs without causing panic.
This isn’t about panic planning — it’s about readiness. With threshold freezes, stealth taxes, and a growing national debt, the landscape demands calm analysis and proactive conversations. Whether you’re advising high earners, property investors, or business owners, this episode will help you think ahead before the Chancellor does.
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Chapters: 0:00 - Intro
2:11 - Rachel Reeves' Upcoming Autumn Budget - Rumoured changes & how to prepare
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Show Notes:
Tax Planning & Trusts – Tandem Financial
https://tandemfinancial.co.uk/login/insight/tax-planning/
Why is the Labour Government Warning of Tax Rises, and What Should You Do? – Tandem Financial
https://tandemfinancial.co.uk/tandem-thinking/why-is-the-labour-government-warning-of-tax-rises-and-what-should-you-do/
Tax Efficient Investing – Tandem Financial
https://tandemfinancial.co.uk/tandem-thinking/tax-efficient-investing/
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
==========================

Episode 04: Going the Distance: Are We Ready to Plan for 100-Year Lives?

In this episode of The Finance Geeks, Paul and Warren pull on their running shoes and take on the longevity challenge — asking what it really means to financially plan for clients who might live to 100 (or beyond). The traditional retirement playbook is being stretched, and planners can’t assume the finish line is fixed at 65 plus 20 years. So, what changes when the race is longer than we ever trained for?
They explore how life expectancy, health data, and shifting societal norms are reshaping retirement. From managing withdrawal strategies and sequence of returns risk, to making sure clients don’t burn through their resources in the early miles, this conversation gets into the mechanics of longevity-aware planning — and why financial planners need to think in decades, not just years.
But it’s not all about the numbers. Paul and Warren also touch on identity, purpose, health, and meaning — the softer side of planning for the long game. Whether your clients are sprinting toward early retirement or pacing themselves into their 90s, this episode is packed with insights to help planners support the full journey — not just the start.
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Chapters: 0:00 - Intro
8:34 - The Longevity Challenge: Are We Ready to Plan for 100-Year Lives?
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Show Notes:
Jean Calment - oldest person in history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Calment
ONS Life expectancy in UK
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/lifeexpectancies/bulletins/nationallifetablesunitedkingdom/2021to2023additionaldata
Two Doors in Retirement – Life Expectancy and Income Withdrawal
https://tandemfinancial.co.uk/tandem-thinking/two-doors-in-retirement-life-expectancy-and-income-withdrawal/
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
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Episode 03: Keeping the client on track - Has the annual review run out of steam?

In this episode of The Finance Geeks, Paul and Warren climb aboard the topic of annual reviews and ask whether this long-standing part of the planning timetable is still on the right track — or whether the whole process is starting to run out of steam. Are these meetings still a valuable stop on the client journey, or just a legacy carriage rolling along out of habit?
Rather than sticking to a fixed schedule for the sake of tradition, Paul and Warren explore how planners can create meetings that are more intentional, more relevant, and better aligned with each client’s journey. Not every passenger needs the same route or the same number of stops — and forcing them to follow one can lead to disengagement or missed opportunities.
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Chapters: 0:00 - Intro
5:07 - Are Annual Reviews Broken? Reinventing Client Meetings That Matter
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
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Episode 02: The Art of Being Seen – Should Every Planner Become a Content Creator

In this episode, Paul and Warren step into creative territory, asking a big question that’s facing more and more financial planners: should content creation be part of your role in 2025? With digital platforms becoming the first place clients look for credibility and connection, planners are increasingly expected to show up — not just with technical knowledge, but with a voice, a message, and a way to share it.
But does that mean every planner needs to launch a podcast or start posting daily on LinkedIn? Not necessarily. Like any great piece of work, effective content comes in many forms — and Paul and Warren explore the full spectrum. From short-form videos and insightful blogs to client updates, case studies, and quiet-but-consistent newsletters, they lay out the creative options and help you figure out what fits.
It’s not about being loud — it’s about being intentional. Whether you’re full of ideas or just starting to find your style, this episode is about using creativity to build trust, express your thinking, and add value long before the first meeting. And yes, sometimes that starts with picking up the brush — but you get to choose the canvas.
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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
9:50 - Should Every Planner Become a Content Creator? Marketing in 2025
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Show Notes:
Headshots
https://strikingplaces.com/
Paul's Night & Day Supplement
https://www.ainslieainslie.com/
Folding treadmill
https://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/sole-f85-folding-treadmill-2.html
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
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Episode 01: Are we Advisers or Coaches? Rethinking the role of a Modern Financial Planner

In this episode, Warren Shute and Paul Cleworth take to the riverbank to explore the evolving role of the modern financial planner. Like a great rowing coach, today’s adviser isn’t just there to shout instructions — they’re guiding from the sidelines, helping clients find their own rhythm, set the pace, and steer toward a meaningful destination.
They discuss the delicate balance between giving technical advice and offering coaching-style support — especially during life’s key transitions, like moving from work into retirement. It’s not about grabbing the oars and rowing for your client — it’s about helping them build clarity, confidence, and direction, so they can row with intention, not drift by default.
The conversation highlights how strong relationships, emotional awareness, and asking the right questions are just as vital as spreadsheets and strategies. Because ultimately, the best planners know when to push, when to pause, and when to let the client take the lead — all while keeping their eyes fixed on the horizon.
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Key Takeaways:
- The modern financial planner must balance advisory and coaching roles.
- Clients value the relationship and integrity of their advisor.
- Financial planning should help clients live intentionally, not by default.
- Asking the right questions is crucial for understanding client needs.
- Emotional intelligence plays a key role in client relationships.
- Transitioning from work to retirement requires careful planning and support.
- Advisors should help clients clarify their vision for the future.
- It's important to challenge clients on their decisions and values.
- Listening is as important as providing answers in financial planning.
- The best financial planners know when to switch between advising and coaching.
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Show Notes:
The Key Benefits of Financial Advice
https://tandemfinancial.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tandem-Key-benefits-IFA-Jan-24.pdf
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
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Episode 19: What to expect when you first meet with a Financial Planner

In this episode, Warren Shute and Paul Cleworth walk you through what really happens in a first client meeting — and how to make sure yours feels less like a cold sales pitch and more like the start of an empowering journey. Think of it as your client’s first step onto the Yellow Brick Road — and you're there as their guide, helping them find clarity, courage, and confidence about their future.
Warren and Paul break down the essential ingredients for a truly meaningful first meeting: warm hospitality, a calm and welcoming setting (with proper biscuits!), and a tone that’s informal but purposeful. You’ll hear how the goal isn’t to impress with technical know-how, but to really listen — to values, goals, fears, and dreams.
If you're serious about elevating your client onboarding, just click your heels and watch this episode, it will help you turn first meetings from transactional to transformational.
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Chapters: 0:00 - Intro
6:52 - What you should expect when you first meet a financial planner
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Show Notes:
Disc Profiling Tool
https://www.discusonline.com/en-gb/
Tandem Link Tree link
https://linktr.ee/tandemfinancial
Ferris Bueller 40 years! – Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around, you could miss it!
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi814725401/
Poem Warren Likes
https://lindaellis.life/the-story-behind-the-dash-1
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
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Episode 18: Client Magnetism - How to Attract Your Ideal Clients

In this episode, Warren Shute and Paul Cleworth share what it really takes to attract the right clients to your financial planning business—without resorting to pushy tactics or broad marketing blasts. They unpack how getting crystal clear on who you want to serve helps you become a magnet for the clients who truly value your work.
From mastering referrals to managing expectations and building trust, they offer practical strategies rooted in real-world experience. The conversation also highlights the power of personal congruence—how being aligned in your values and communication creates stronger, longer-lasting client relationships.
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Chapters: 0:00 - Intro
7:52 - How to Attract Your Ideal Clients
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This show is designed to be informational only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Please contact a regulated financial adviser before taking any specific action.
==========================