Financial Adviser Explains How to Get Ahead in 2026

To kick off the year we asked for your biggest money questions, which we're answering with financial adviser and friend of the podcast, Lisa Conway-Hughes. This is Lisa’s advice firm LCH/WEALTH: https://lchwealth.co.uk Set up a Financial Diagnosis Session with Lisa via her assistant Abi: [e-mail] Correction: At 5:06 Lisa misspoke and said Tom would need 12-24k for 3-6 months of expenses as an emergency fund. She meant to say 6-12k (as in her example he'd have 2k expenses per month). 🎉 Sponsors Franchise Exhibition - go for free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.franchiseinfo.co.uk/franchise-exhibitions/the-british-international-franchise-exhibition/⁠⁠⁠⁠ TaxZap - Do your self-assessment by Jan 31 & use code MONEY10: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://makingmoney.email/taxzap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Vanta - Get your company secure and compliant:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vanta.com/makingmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠ – If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above (including Lisa's firm LCH Wealth), we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk. This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life. Chapters: 00:00 - Franchise Exhibition ad 00:39 - Happy New Year 03:29 - House or Pension at 30 09:56 - Rent vs Buy 15:08 - Salary Sacrifice rules have changed 16:56 - TaxZap ad 18:10 - How to derisk for retirement 22:10 - Running out of money 27:22 - How to retire early 29:37 - Pensions savings at 30/40/50 33:07 - Self-employed and pensions 38:11 - Vanta ad 39:16 - Will you get a state pension? 42:12 - Tax trick for low earners 46:45 - How to stop worrying about money? 49:55 - Know your number 54:19 - Can you spend more? 59:02 - How to pay less tax in retirement 01:02:33 - Pension or ISA? 01:04:22 - Inheritance tax 01:06:20 - Where to save to pay less tax? 01:07:15 - Basic money principles