Author: Talking Finances

As Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated new film, The Odyssey, is due to hit cinemas in the coming months, we can expect a resurgence in interest in the classical Greek myths.

Telling the story of Odysseus’s journey home after the battle of Troy, the film brings Homer’s epic poem to the big screen. The hero faces a multitude of challenges along the way, clashing with sea monsters, Sirens, the Cyclops, and the god of the sea himself, Poseidon.

Greek myths are enduring, captivating tales which can still hold our attention thousands of years after they were first written. They can teach us plenty about the world and life, too.

Read on to discover seven lasting financial lessons we can learn from Greek myths.

1. Odysseus: Adapt your plan to weather the unexpected

King of Ithaca, Odysseus, embarks on a 10-year journey to return home from Troy to his wife and son. However, the journey is fraught with danger. Along the way, he faces the one-eyed Cyclops, the alluring but murderous Sirens, the many-headed monster Scylla, and the wrath of the gods. He and his men have to demonstrate resilience at every turn, as they face up to each new challenge.

While today’s challenges may be a little less dramatic, the concept remains the same. Creating a plan for your financial journey is an important starting point. However, it’s wise to always expect the unexpected, and having a robust plan that can be adapted to encompass changing circumstances can help you withstand any of the more modern trials life can throw your way.

2. King Midas: Wealth alone won’t bring you happiness

King Midas famously wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. However, when his wish was granted, he found he was unable to smell flowers, taste food, or even hug his beloved daughter without turning everything to gold.

It’s not a difficult jump from his tale to the present day, as the same caution around an excessive focus on wealth accumulation still applies. While it’s a good idea to save and invest for your future, we will always encourage you to consider what makes you happy in life.

Smelling the roses and hugging your family can always continue to be a priority. Your wealth is there to help your wishes come true; it’s not the end solution in itself.

3. Icarus: Overconfidence can be as dangerous as not taking any risk

Escaping imprisonment, Icarus and his father Daedalus fly away using wings made of wax and feathers. Filled with hubris, Icarus flew too close to the sun, the wax melted, and he fell to his death.

When we help you create your financial plan, we’ll always discuss your attitude to risk and plan your investments accordingly. For the most part, a balanced portfolio can offer you long-term returns. Overconfidence, especially early on, can be almost as bad as taking no risk at all, as Icarus found out to his detriment.

4. Ariadne: A safety net is important

The story of Ariadne tells how she fell in love with Theseus and gave him a ball of thread to help him navigate the labyrinth of the Minotaur, so he could always return to his starting point.

This safety net stopped Theseus from getting hopelessly lost and was a simple act which likely saved his life.

In financial terms, your safety net is also important. This could be in terms of protection, such as life insurance or critical illness cover. Or it could be in terms of keeping a small amount of your wealth as cash reserves, saving between three to six months’ worth of basic expenses in an accessible account.

5. Achilles: Understand your weaknesses

The Greek warrior Achilles was dipped in the River Styx as a baby, with his mother holding his heel as she did so. He became invulnerable except for this tiny area, and the Achilles heel is now the common term for a sign of weakness.

Ultimately, Achilles was killed by an arrow which hit his weak point. Understanding more about your own weaknesses can protect your wealth from suffering.

For example, are you prone to taking too much risk, or too little? Do you struggle to stick to a budget? Once you’ve identified your financial vulnerabilities, it can be much easier to overcome them.

6. The Trojan Horse: Be aware of hidden risks and costs

Hiding inside the Trojan Horse, the Greeks managed to enter the city of Troy unnoticed, going on to conquer it.

It’s always a good idea to understand exactly what the implications are of any financial transaction or investment, so you don’t get trapped by hidden issues in the shape of risks or costs.

Always do your due diligence before making any commitment, and if you’re in doubt, please speak to us first.

7. Orpheus and Eurydice: Don’t keep checking your investments

After his beloved wife Eurydice died, Orpheus persuaded Hades, the god of the underworld, to release her. Hades agreed, but on the condition that Orpheus not look back until he and Eurydice were both in the sunlight. Orpheus was unable to resist the temptation to look, and his wife was swallowed by the underworld forever.

While this darkly tragic tale is an extreme example, it can demonstrate the risks of constant checking. By all means, look at how your investment portfolio is faring a few times a year. But if you fall into the trap of checking every day, you could start to panic during times of volatility. Historically, these have righted themselves, and there is nothing to gain from constant over-checking.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

Note that life insurance and financial protection plans typically have no cash in value at any time and cover will cease at the end of the term. If premiums stop, then cover will lapse.

Cover is subject to terms and conditions and may have exclusions. Definitions of illnesses vary from product provider and will be explained within the policy documentation.

Climate change is an important ESG topic for many investors who want to assess more than the financial return of their decisions. Find out how you might incorporate climate change into your investment decisions, whether it could affect the outcome, and how you might measure the impact.

ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing involves considering factors from these three pillars alongside financial ones when making investment decisions. Climate change falls under the environmental pillar, and it’s a topic that extends beyond ESG investing.

Indeed, according to a YouGov poll (17 April 2025), 84% of Britons believe the climate is changing, and 67% say it is human activity that has caused it. 37% of participants said they believe the environment and climate change should be one of the top areas where the government should increase spending, compared to 10% who believe it is an area of spending most deserving of cuts.

As an ESG investor, you might consider climate change because of your concerns and because you want your financial decisions to reflect these. In addition, climate change has the potential to affect business operations, pose a financial risk, and affect investment returns.

So, how might climate change affect you as an investor?

How you might make climate change part of your ESG strategy

If you want your ESG investment portfolio to support climate change efforts, there are several ways you might achieve this.

First, you may consider excluding companies that don’t align with your views. For example, when you’re considering climate change, you might avoid investing in firms that are associated with fossil fuels or energy-intensive sectors, such as AI.

Second, you might actively seek to invest in companies taking action that aligns with your values. That might mean investing in businesses that are working on climate solutions, have made net-zero commitments, or are transparent about their carbon emissions.

Third, green bonds could provide an alternative to traditional bonds. Green bonds are designed to raise money for specific projects that will have a positive impact on the environment. These projects could include renewable energy, clean transport, or sustainable waste management.

Reviewing each individual investment opportunity can be time-consuming, and it may be difficult to access all the information you need. For some investors, investing in funds with ESG criteria could be useful.

A fund will pool your money with that of other investors to invest in a range of assets and businesses in line with the fund’s criteria. You can find many sustainable funds, including some with a focus on climate change, which might suit your needs.

Remember, an investment opportunity that aligns with your ESG values isn’t automatically right for you. You should still consider financial factors and whether the investment is right for your goals and risk profile.

Considering climate change doesn’t mean you have to accept lower investment returns

While the impact of your investments on the climate might be important to you, the financial outcome is also essential.

It’s a misconception that ESG investing automatically means accepting lower returns. Indeed, data from Morgan Stanley (8 September 2025) found that sustainable funds outperformed their traditional counterparts in the first half of 2025.

What’s more, a survey of large, global asset owners, such as government-linked pension funds and foundations, found that 85% were concerned about the impact of climate risk, according to an article from LSEG (12 February 2026).

By considering climate risks now, your portfolio could be in a better position to weather the effects of climate change in the future.

Of course, investment returns cannot be guaranteed. All investments carry some risk, and there’s a chance the value of your investments could fall as well as rise, whether you’re considering ESG factors or not.

Measuring the impact of your ESG portfolio

One of the challenges of ESG investing is that it can be difficult to assess the impact you’re having.

There isn’t a single metric you can use to calculate the effect your portfolio is having in combating climate change. Instead, you might use a mixture of methods, such as:

• Measuring and monitoring the carbon footprint of your portfolio
• Assessing how the companies in your portfolio align with a low-carbon future
• Using third-party ratings and climate scores, which may consider areas like carbon exposure and transition risks.

When you’re reviewing an ESG portfolio, setting out clear goals can help you measure the impact of your decisions. For example, rather than aiming to “tackle climate change through investments”, you might state: “I want to reduce my portfolio’s carbon footprint by 10% over the next two years.”

Get in touch to talk about your investments

Whether you already consider ESG factors or you would like to start doing so, we could review your portfolio to assess how it aligns with your values and personal goals. Please get in touch to talk to one of our team.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

When you have big goals, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Whether you want to make changes to your lifestyle or achieve a lifelong dream, the thought of how far you have left to go can put you off even trying.

Rather than focusing on the long road ahead, it can help to take your journey one step at a time. By breaking your objectives down into regular, smaller milestones, you can make your goals feel less overwhelming.

Read on to learn how this “marginal gains” approach could empower you to make steady, continuous progress in improving your wellbeing.

What are “marginal gains”?

In 2003, cycling coach Dave Brailsford used his “aggregation of marginal gains” philosophy to transform the Great British cycling team.

His strategy was fairly simple: improve everything by 1% at a time, from redesigning bike seats to finding the right pillows to improve riders’ sleep quality. These enhancements combined and compounded to deliver significant performance improvements over time.

In just a few years, they went from being notoriously mediocre to record-breaking Olympic gold medallists. Having won only a single gold medal in the previous 100 years, British cyclists took home 60% of the gold cycling medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2012, the team set nine Olympic records and seven world records.

You can apply this philosophy to almost any goal. Making small, regular improvements could add up to a significant evolution and allow you to achieve big things with a series of small tweaks.

“Something” is better than “nothing”

When you adopt an “all or nothing” approach, you might often default to “nothing”. Going all-in and trying to do everything at once can be overwhelming, causing you to shut off from the goal completely.

For example, if you want to exercise more, the thought of going to the gym for an hour a day might be too much. As a result, you may end up doing no exercise at all.

The marginal gains philosophy means accepting that “all” might not be feasible right away, and “something” is better than “nothing”.

In some cases, you might continuously increase your effort to build up towards your goal. The NHS’s “Couch to 5k” is a prime example of this, where you start your exercise off at a low level and gradually increase it until you can run a full 5k.

In others, just a few small changes might be enough, provided they’re sustained over a prolonged period.

3 lifestyle tweaks to enhance your wellbeing

When it comes to boosting your wellbeing, even small changes can have a big impact.

A study published by the Lancet found that tweaking your sleep, diet, and exercise behaviours can deliver significant benefits and even prolong your life. In fact, it suggests that small improvements in these three areas can deliver a greater impact than focusing heavily on just one.

1. Sleep

The University of Sydney found that the least healthy people in the study got five and a half hours of sleep each night. For this cohort, getting just an extra five minutes of sleep each night could help extend their life by a year.

2. Diet

According to the study, those with the lowest average “diet quality score” could also help add an extra year to their life simply by eating an extra half-serving of vegetables a day.

3. Exercise

Finally, just two more minutes of exercise a day could also contribute to a longer life for those with the least healthy lifestyles.

These three changes may be barely noticeable. After all, who’s going to notice you eating one more broccoli spear or going to bed five minutes earlier? But by making all three changes together, you could make a notable difference to your wellbeing and longevity.

What’s more, the study suggests that by continuing to make marginal gains in all three areas, you can form healthy habits that could help add nine years or more to your life.

Start small

If you’re looking to boost your overall health and wellbeing, here are just a few ideas of small steps that could help you get started:

• Drink an extra glass of water a day
• Swap one daily snack for a healthier alternative
• Incorporate small amounts of exercise throughout your daily routine
• Move your regular bedtime forward
• Cut back on weekly units of alcohol.

By adopting this marginal gains philosophy, you may find you can change for the better, without changing much at all.

Student loans have recently featured in headlines. Find out what’s causing the debate, how your family might be affected, and some ways you could support students or graduates.

Amid growing backlash about student loans from graduates, the government has launched an inquiry. According to the BBC (12 March 2026), the Treasury Committee will look at whether the terms of student loans are “reasonable”.

The debate largely focuses on Plan 2 student loans

Plan 2 student loans were offered between 2012 and 2023. Under the terms of the plan, graduates pay back 9% of everything they earn above the repayment threshold, which is £29,385 a year in 2026/27. If the loan is not repaid within 30 years after the borrower was first due to repay, it is written off.

The current debate focuses on the interest added to Plan 2 student loans. Interest on Plan 2 loans is set at the rate of inflation, as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI), plus 3%, which is higher than that of other student loan plans. In 2026/27, Plan 2 loans are charged 6.2% interest, compared to 3.2% for graduates who took out a Plan 1 loan.

For some Plan 2 graduates, this means even when they’re making repayments, the total amount owed is increasing.

As part of its review, the government announced (7 April 2026) that interest on Plan 2 loans would be capped at 6% from 1 September, for the 2026/27 academic year. Further changes could be made as the government continues to review the student finance system.

Students who take out a Plan 5 student loan, which was introduced in 2023, benefit from a lower rate of interest than those on Plan 2. However, the threshold for repaying the loan is lower, at £25,000 in 2026/27, and the debt will not be written off until 40 years have passed.

So, while the focus is on Plan 2 loans, criticism of Plan 5 loans may also arise, particularly as students graduate and begin to make repayments.

There are several potential ways student loans might change

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (27 February 2026), several options are likely to be considered by the inquiry, including:

• The Conservative Party have proposed imposing a maximum interest rate to remove the above-RPI-inflation that is added to Plan 2 loans, and while this wouldn’t have an immediate effect on the repayments of most graduates, it could potentially reduce the total lifetime loan repayments.
• The Liberal Democrats have proposed increasing the repayment threshold every year in line with average earnings. This option could reduce repayments for some graduates, but it could also lead to higher outstanding balances.
• Campaign group Rethink Payments has proposed a much larger package of reforms, which could combine a lower rate of inflation, a higher repayment threshold, and a reduction in the repayment rate from 9% to 5%.

Remember, commentary on how student loan plans might change is just speculation at the moment. The inquiry could choose a different option or decide that no changes are necessary.

3 ways you could help your loved ones manage student loans

1. Explain the long-term impact of student loans to those considering them

One issue that the debate has raised is that some teenagers did not fully understand the financial consequences of taking out student loans.

Indeed, a BBC investigation (3 March 2026) suggests that talks in schools about student loans were “deeply misleading”. Presentations delivered in thousands of schools between 2011 and 2017 avoided words like “debt” and compared taking out a student loan to a £30-a-month phone contract.

The current discourse doesn’t mean that taking out a student loan to attend university is the “wrong” decision. However, it’s important that young people who are making these decisions understand the long-term financial commitment they’ll often be making.

If you have children or grandchildren who are thinking about taking out a student loan, discussing how it’ll affect their finances could be valuable and allow them to make an informed decision.

2. Offer financial support to graduates

When coupled with the rising cost of living, student loan repayments can affect the financial security of graduates and delay other milestones. For example, Barclays (23 March 2026) found that savers with student loans put away £2,000 less each year towards a house deposit than those without.

You might want to lend support to your loved ones who are struggling to manage student loan repayments alongside other expenses, either through regular or one-off gifts. As financial planners, we could help you assess how offering support may affect your own financial position and how you might provide gifts tax-efficiently.

3. Build a nest egg to support loved ones going to university

Another option is to support students so they do not need to take out a student loan or can borrow less.

You might benefit from thinking about further education as early as possible. Regularly depositing into a savings account earmarked for the future from birth could lead to a sizeable nest egg by the time the child turns 18.

Again, we could help you assess how to make education costs part of your budget, whether your loved one will be heading to university this year or you’re planning for a young child.

We could help make your family’s education part of your financial plan

Whether you want to support a graduate or are planning how to cover university costs for a young child, we could help you make it part of your overall financial plan. Please get in touch to speak to one of our team.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.

Managing your pension doesn’t stop once you retire and start to draw an income from it. In fact, your pension still needs careful attention in retirement – just as much as when you were contributing – to ensure you don’t deplete it too quickly.

Research suggests that many retirees aren’t taking professional advice and are potentially making financial decisions they’ll regret in the future.

According to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (22 September 2025), in 2024/25, less than a third of people accessing their pension for the first time took regulated financial advice.

In addition, an FTAdviser article (5 March 2026) noted that a previous survey found that many retirees will deplete their pension by their late seventies if they maintain their current withdrawal rate, leaving the average person with a nine-year shortfall. 1 in 7 already regret how much they’ve withdrawn.

Pension Freedoms provide retirees with greater flexibility but also risk

Pension Freedoms were introduced in 2015 and changed how you could access your defined contribution pension.

With a defined contribution pension, you contribute to a pot and, if you’re employed, your employer may do so too. This pot is then usually invested. When you retire, you use this pot to create an income. Under Pension Freedoms, you have several options, which can provide retirees with the flexibility to create an income that suits them.

However, you’re also responsible for ensuring your pension provides an income for the rest of your life. As a result, there’s a risk that you could spend too much too soon, or that a poor financial decision has a long-lasting impact.

6 steps that could help you manage pension withdrawals in retirement

1. Consider your life expectancy

The research reported by the FTAdviser suggests the average person could deplete their pension nine years before the average life expectancy, which could leave them in a financially vulnerable position.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the average 65-year-old woman has a life expectancy of 88. For men of the same age, it’s 85.

Yet, using the average figure when assessing your pension withdrawals could still leave a gap, as many people exceed this. For example, 1 in 4 65-year-old women will celebrate their 95th birthday, and 1 in 4 65-year-old men will reach 92.

2. Calculate the effects of inflation

One of the challenges of retirement planning is that you need to consider how your expenses will change over several decades. One of the factors that will affect your outgoings is inflation.

The Bank of England inflation calculator shows that an annual retirement income of £30,000 in 2015 would need to have grown to more than £41,000 by the end of 2025 simply to maintain your spending power.

As retirements are likely to span several decades, failing to factor in inflation when creating a withdrawal strategy could leave you struggling financially day to day or at risk of depleting your pension too soon.

3. Understand your guaranteed income

Having a guaranteed income that could cover your essential outgoings could offer peace of mind.

Most retirees will receive a reliable income for life from the government once they reach the State Pension Age. In addition, you may use your pension to purchase an annuity, which would provide a regular income for the rest of your life.

The amount you receive from an annuity will depend on the rates you are offered, which may be affected by your personal circumstances and external factors. You might also select an annuity where the income rises in line with inflation to preserve your spending power or provide an income for your partner if you pass away first.

You can use some or all of your pension to purchase an annuity to suit your needs. The decision is often irreversible, so it’s important to assess if an annuity is right for you first.

4. Assess your drawdown strategy

One way you might access your pension is known as flexi-access drawdown. This allows you to withdraw money from your pension and adjust the amount to suit your needs.

For many retirees, their income needs will change. So, this option can be valuable, and it’s important to calculate what your sustainable spending rate is to avoid running out of money.

Working with your financial planner to create a cashflow model could help you visualise how long your pension would last, depending on different withdrawal rates, including if your income needs rise and fall. It’s important to note that while a cashflow model can be useful when making financial decisions, the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

5. Make potential risks part of your retirement plan

You can’t always prevent events from affecting your finances, but you might be able to take steps so you’re in a better position to manage them.

For example, maintaining an emergency fund in retirement could help you cover unexpected costs, such as property repairs, or you might draw income from it during a period of market volatility if your pension remains invested.

6. Schedule regular reviews with your financial planner

Finally, scheduling regular reviews with your financial planner could provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and assess whether your withdrawals remain sustainable. By checking your pension throughout retirement, you might be in a better position to spot potential risks to your financial security.

If you’d like to arrange a meeting to talk about your pension and retirement, please get in touch.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates, and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate cashflow modelling.

The current situation in the Middle East has led to market volatility. While it might seem new, similar movements have happened before, and looking at how these events have affected investor behaviour could be useful.

At the end of February 2026, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which have further escalated. The uncertainty caused by the war has affected market confidence, leading to falling prices.

The Middle East is a large exporter of oil, and the war has resulted in prices rising, which is likely to affect businesses and consumers around the world. In addition, the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway for trade, has been affected by the conflict, which may harm international supply chains.

These external factors may be affecting the value of your investments.

Market volatility refers to changes in the value of assets

In simple terms, market volatility refers to the value of assets changing. When markets are experiencing greater volatility, prices will rise or fall more sharply than usual. Volatility can be affected by many factors, such as geopolitical tensions, economic news, investor sentiment, and interest rates.

While volatility can seem concerning and unusual, it’s a normal part of investing. Indeed, even over the last 20 years, investors have experienced many periods of high volatility, including during the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you look at the performance of market indices, you’ll see they are not straight lines. Prices naturally fluctuate, and there will be points where they shift sharply. While performance cannot be guaranteed, markets have historically recovered from dips over a long-term time frame.

In many cases, staying the course, rather than reacting to market movements, is the best course of action. However, high levels of volatility may trigger some investors to act in a way that doesn’t align with their long-term strategy.

Here are two types of investor behaviour to be mindful of during volatility.

1. Panic selling

When you’re worried about losing money, you might feel as though you need to react. So, investors might be tempted to panic sell portions of their portfolio amid market volatility. As mentioned above, markets have recovered from downturns in the past, and by panic selling, investors could turn paper losses into real ones.

There might be times when selling assets and adjusting your strategy is appropriate. However, these decisions shouldn’t be driven by emotions, like panic. Instead, assessing your personal goals and circumstances could help identify where you might make changes.

2. Following the crowd

When things seem uncertain, it can feel comforting to do what other people are doing. This can lead to an investor mentality of following the crowd. It might feel comforting, but it could also lead to inappropriate decisions.

While an investor might make a decision that’s right for them, it could be inappropriate for you because you have very different circumstances or goals.

So, if you feel tempted to alter your investments, it may be worthwhile assessing what’s driving the decision. You might be influenced by the actions of someone you know or by reading news articles that suggest other investors are reacting to market volatility.

We can answer your investment questions

If you have questions about your investment portfolio and how the current situation might affect you, we can help. Please get in touch to speak to one of our team.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.