K. WOODWARD PERSONAL FINANCE
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​Financial well-being is within your reach...

It is possible to DIY your financial planning and investing. If you would you like to do that, there are over 500 blogs on this site to support you, search through my *latest blog posts*:
Here's are a few posts you might want to start with:
  • Q&A: How can I save and invest for my children?
  • What platform should you use for investing and what should you invest in? 
  • Why you need a will even if you have no assets or no children
  • What is life insurance? How much life insurance do I need?
  • Should my 'bonus' go into my ISA, personal pension or work pension?
  • ​Q&A: How do I boost my retirement income if I can’t work?
  • Q&A: Where should I start with investing if I'm afraid of risk?​
  • Life in Old Age, Pensions And Poverty In The UK – What Does It Look Like?
  • The wealth of black people in Britain and factors hindering financial success​
  • ​Buy That House Anyway - Insurance Against Poverty​​

Stop the Solo Struggle—Your Money Deserves a Co‑Pilot ✈️

Picture this: you’ve carved out a rare free Saturday, brewed an heroic vat of coffee, and sworn that today is the day you finally conquer the wild beast called “Personal Finance.” Five hours, 37 browser tabs, and a small existential crisis later, you’re no closer to mastering ETFs than you were to curling in the Olympics. Sound familiar?

​Here’s a secret every seasoned investor eventually learns:
"You don’t get extra credit for doing it the hard way."
I’ve spent years coaching people through everything from retirement roadmaps to Little Johnny's first index fund. What I’ve learned is that going it alone is often just slow. Like, dial‑up‑internet slow. And in money‐land, time really is money.

​Why a Personal Finance Coach Beats DIY Googling:
The DIY struggle
Endless “Best Mutual Fund 2025??” rabbit holes
Curated, plain‑English action plan
Second‑guessing every move
Strategies sanity‑checked by a pro
“Am I doing this right?”
“Yes, and here’s what’s next.”
Years of trial and error
Progress you can see and feel by next payday
But wait—isn’t hiring help…Lazy?!
Nope. Think of a coach like Google Maps for your money:
  • You still own the car (your decisions).
  • You still choose the destination (your goals).
  • The coach just shows you the fastest, least‑pothole‑ridden route—and politely reroutes when life tosses a detour.
There’s no secret handshake or timeshare spiel—just straight talk, clear milestones, and a supportive accountability buddy who celebrates your wins (and reminds you why you started when a new outfit beckons).

If you’re tired of turning “Maybe next year…” into an annual tradition, choose a package below and let’s chat. 
Package 1: Financial Foundations
Package 2: Estate Planning
Package 3: Investment Setup
a) Budgeting
  • Creating a practical monthly budget tailored to your goals.
  • Identifying areas to save.
  • Setting up budgeting tools or apps.
a) Financial Independence (FI) Date
  • Setting a realistic target for FI.
  • Back-calculating monthly savings.
  • Identifying steps to accelerate FI.
a) Understanding Investment Platforms
  • Comparing platforms based on fees and usability.
  • Reviewing account types (GIA, ISA, SIPP).
  • Choosing a platform for your goals.
b) Debt Management
  • Prioritising high-interest debts for repayment.
  • Strategies to consolidate or refinance.
  • Building habits to stay debt-free.​
b) Saving for Kids' University Fees
  • ​Estimating future costs.
  • Exploring tax-efficient savings plans.
  • Balancing education savings with priorities.
b) Understanding Fees
  • Breaking down platform, fund, and management fees.
  • Evaluating how fees impact returns.
  • Minimising costs.
c) Personal Balance Sheet
- Listing all assets and liabilities.
- Understanding net worth and tracking its growth.
- Identifying opportunities to grow assets.
c) Saving into Kids' Pensions
  • Tax benefits of contributing to children’s pensions.
  • Projecting long-term growth.
  • Explaining how this reduces your inheritance tax.
c) Passive vs. Active Investing
  • Understanding index funds and ETFs for passive strategies.
  • Reviewing pros and cons of active management.
  • Choosing the right strategy.
.
d) Saving into Your Pensions
  • Exploring workplace vs private pension options.
  • Contribution limits and tax relief.
  • Balancing pension savings with other goals.
d) Range of Asset Classes
  • Exploring stocks, bonds, real estate, and alternatives.
  • Diversifying for risk management.
  • Assessing liquidity and growth potential.
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e) Saving into ISAs
  • Reviewing types of ISAs (Cash, Stocks and Shares, Lifetime, etc.).
  • Maximizing annual ISA allowance.
  • Investing for tax efficiency.
e) Risk Tolerance & Risk-Return Relationship
  • Assessing capacity and willingness to take risks.
  • Linking risk to expected returns.
  • Understanding the historical context.
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f) Paying Off Your Mortgage
  • Evaluating overpayment strategies.
  • Timing payments with goals.
  • Understanding remortgaging options.
f) Setting Up Automated Investing
  • Automating regular contributions.
  • Using dollar-cost averaging.
  • Emphasizing "time in the market."
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g) Projecting Future Savings
  • ​Using growth assumptions (Rules of 72 and 4% rule).
  • Modelling scenarios with different savings rates and return rates.
  • Estimating retirement income.
Package 1: £499 
(click link to pay; enter amount manually)
Package 2: £499 
​
(click link to pay; enter amount manually)
Package 3: £499 
​
(click link to pay; enter amount manually)
  • There are two calls of about an hour each, per package. Some reading will be required at each stage.
  • ​Packages need to be taken sequentially.

© 2007 - 2025 Heather Katsonga-Woodward, a massive personal finance fanatic.
** All views expressed are my own and not those of any employer, past or present. ** Please get professional advice before re-arranging your personal finances.
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