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Guides & articles

Plain answers to complicated questions.

Guides written by me, for the people I talk to every day. No fluff, no generic advice. If it's on here, it's because someone asked me about it on a call.

Self-Employed

The Ltd Co director mortgage guide: why salary + dividends isn't the whole story

If your accountant has done their job properly, your drawings look modest on paper. Here's how specialist lenders use salary + retained profit to change the numbers — and why most directors are borrowing far less than they should.

May 2026 · 8 min readRead →
First-Time Buyers

First-time buyer mortgages: everything you need to know before you apply

From 5% deposit deals to the Help to Buy replacement schemes, how credit scores actually work, and the exact moment to apply for a Decision in Principle. A plain-English guide to the whole process.

April 2026 · 12 min readRead →
Remortgage

Your first remortgage: how to avoid the standard variable rate trap

When your initial mortgage deal ends, your lender moves you onto their SVR — usually the worst rate in the market. Here's when to start looking, what's changed since you bought, and how to play your options.

March 2026 · 7 min readRead →
Business Protection

Business protection explained: key person, shareholder protection and relevant life

What happens to your business if a key person dies? Can the remaining shareholders buy out the estate? This guide walks through the three main business protection policies and when each one matters.

February 2026 · 10 min readRead →
Protection

Critical illness vs income protection: they're not the same thing

Most people think they're similar. They're not. One pays if you're diagnosed with something serious; the other pays if you can't work. You may need both. Here's how to work out which matters most for your situation.

January 2026 · 9 min readRead →