Frequently Asked Questions
PensionMan is finance without the jargon and where there’s no such thing as a stupid question. It’s a good, friendly chat where you get to ask all the questions you like and there's no hard sell or thousands of pounds of fees.
Fixed price sessions are usually via Zoom, but can be face-to-face or over the telephone, whichever is most convenient for you and makes you feel most comfortable.
1. What can I expect from my coaching sessions?
Every session is different depending on people’s interests and concerns. Some people come with specific questions or situations. Perhaps to understand their state or company pensions, especially convoluted issues such as the pensions lifetime allowance. Others want to explore the pros and cons of property investment. How do you decide if buy-to-let is right for you?
Most often though people just want to feel a little more in control of their finances and aren’t sure where to start.
The aim is always to put you in control of your finances to the greatest extent possible.
2. Are you a financial adviser and will you be trying to sell me financial products?
No I am a financial educator with more than three decades of experience in pensions and investment and a passion for helping people understand personal finance. Weird I know, but true.
Because I am not a financial adviser I can’t provide specific investment advice and I certainly won’t be selling you any financial products.
PensionMan is all about giving people the opportunity to learn how to do things for themselves. What we usually find is that once you understand how these things work (and most of it is not difficult I can assure you) what you need to do actually becomes obvious very quickly without the need for specific financial advice.
Of course certain legal and financial matters do require specialist advice. In such circumstances we don’t hesitate to encourage you to seek further, more detailed assistance.
3. If you’re not a financial adviser what is your experience?
I have worked in finance for over thirty five years and began my career in pensions administration. I write a regular column on Wealth for Bloomberg and have been published in a number of publications, including the Washington Post. My wife and I present a personal finance radio show called Money, Money, Money on Switch Radio [http://www.switchdunmow.com/index.html]. I am a member of numerous pension, audit and finance committees, principally in the education and finance sectors.
My wife Vicky and I also self-manage a portfolio of rental properties. We are frequently sought out to speak, not just about the rewards of property investment, but the trials and tribulations, regulation and financial management.
I am also the author of the Bluffers Guide to Economics, which sold more than 100,000 copies. My latest project is more ambitious. It examines how serious misconceptions about how finance actually works have damaged the economic prospects of generations of younger people and how, ultimately, that is bad for all of us.
4. How much does it cost?
For a fixed price of £150 you get up to an hour and a half of solid guidance, a sympathetic ear and a free follow up session just to make sure you get the most from my help.
Bring a friend or partner along for no extra cost!
5. And finally, what if I really don’t feel my session was excellent value for money?
We have a full, unconditional, money-back guarantee if you feel your coaching session wasn’t excellent value for money, or that it simply didn’t work for you.
1. What can I expect from my coaching sessions?
Every session is different depending on people’s interests and concerns. Some people come with specific questions or situations. Perhaps to understand their state or company pensions, especially convoluted issues such as the pensions lifetime allowance. Others want to explore the pros and cons of property investment. How do you decide if buy-to-let is right for you?
Most often though people just want to feel a little more in control of their finances and aren’t sure where to start.
The aim is always to put you in control of your finances to the greatest extent possible.
2. Are you a financial adviser and will you be trying to sell me financial products?
No I am a financial educator with more than three decades of experience in pensions and investment and a passion for helping people understand personal finance. Weird I know, but true.
Because I am not a financial adviser I can’t provide specific investment advice and I certainly won’t be selling you any financial products.
PensionMan is all about giving people the opportunity to learn how to do things for themselves. What we usually find is that once you understand how these things work (and most of it is not difficult I can assure you) what you need to do actually becomes obvious very quickly without the need for specific financial advice.
Of course certain legal and financial matters do require specialist advice. In such circumstances we don’t hesitate to encourage you to seek further, more detailed assistance.
3. If you’re not a financial adviser what is your experience?
I have worked in finance for over thirty five years and began my career in pensions administration. I write a regular column on Wealth for Bloomberg and have been published in a number of publications, including the Washington Post. My wife and I present a personal finance radio show called Money, Money, Money on Switch Radio [http://www.switchdunmow.com/index.html]. I am a member of numerous pension, audit and finance committees, principally in the education and finance sectors.
My wife Vicky and I also self-manage a portfolio of rental properties. We are frequently sought out to speak, not just about the rewards of property investment, but the trials and tribulations, regulation and financial management.
I am also the author of the Bluffers Guide to Economics, which sold more than 100,000 copies. My latest project is more ambitious. It examines how serious misconceptions about how finance actually works have damaged the economic prospects of generations of younger people and how, ultimately, that is bad for all of us.
4. How much does it cost?
For a fixed price of £150 you get up to an hour and a half of solid guidance, a sympathetic ear and a free follow up session just to make sure you get the most from my help.
Bring a friend or partner along for no extra cost!
5. And finally, what if I really don’t feel my session was excellent value for money?
We have a full, unconditional, money-back guarantee if you feel your coaching session wasn’t excellent value for money, or that it simply didn’t work for you.