Speaker A

Foreign.

Speaker B

And welcome to the PAT Accounting Podcast with me, your host, Vicki Clark.

Speaker B

I'm going to help you get to grips with your finances, save you lots of money and take the stress out of doing your tax return.

Speaker B

So let's get going.

Speaker A

Welcome everyone to the first podcast of 2026.

Speaker A

I hope you all had a very good new year and are refreshed for what 2026 is going to bring.

Speaker A

Rather than talking about boring finance today in a sense of tax, I thought I'd bring the lovely woman on again.

Speaker A

So you guys are not for us.

Speaker A

So you guys know who she is?

Speaker A

I've just told her off for not posting the group enough.

Speaker A

So that's her goal for 2026.

Speaker A

Yeah, because you guys need help as far as like the other side of the finance bit goes.

Speaker A

So welcome Romy back to this lovely podcast.

Speaker A

How are you?

Speaker C

Good, yeah, I'm ready to get going to 2026 now.

Speaker C

We were just saying before that everything's just go straight away, isn't it?

Speaker C

I feel like there's no rest for the wicked.

Speaker A

But yeah, but tell us you got up to last year because you are very, very busy bee and if people don't know you go and check her out on Instagram, he finance woman.

Speaker A

Make sure you give her a follow because Romy's always at award shows and I would like to know like how the hell I've never known someone go to so many award shows.

Speaker C

Well, last year was just an absolutely mind blowing year.

Speaker C

I wouldn't say it was a normal year for us to be honest.

Speaker C

It was just crazy.

Speaker C

Obviously we spoke at the pet expo which was definitely up there for us.

Speaker C

I've never spoken in front of that many people before, so that was a learning curve for sure.

Speaker C

Literally it was, it was a lot.

Speaker C

But you know what, it wasn't as bad as I expected.

Speaker C

And the feedback was good as well.

Speaker A

You didn't get a sick negative feedback.

Speaker A

So we're all good.

Speaker C

Okay, that's good.

Speaker C

But yeah, in terms of last year, I think we stood out a lot like in our industry in general because you know, most financial advisors, the fifth in the 50s, they're meant a lot of the time they're in corporate suits and all of that kind of stuff.

Speaker C

And obviously I'm opposite to all of that.

Speaker C

I've got a pink office, got my awards behind me but.

Speaker C

But you know, I don't look like what you'd expect a financial advisor to look like.

Speaker C

And I think that's just why things blew up for us last year.

Speaker C

To be honest, you know, we work with over 50 accountants, including yourself as well, all over the UK now, which is just mind blowing to us.

Speaker C

But yeah, quite a few awards won, speaking on stages and all this crazy stuff that I would never even even imagine probably this time last year and.

Speaker A

Weren'T you in Financial Times?

Speaker C

Oh, yeah, that as well.

Speaker C

I've been in quite a few articles and things, just talking about like, obviously the gap of women in the industry, but also the lack of women getting financial advice as well.

Speaker C

It was actually this time last year that I went to a women in business event and everybody around the table said to me I wouldn't go and get financial advice.

Speaker C

I don't feel like it's.

Speaker C

For me, I wouldn't feel confident enough to do it.

Speaker C

I've never actually seen a woman financial advisor doing it, so I just wouldn't.

Speaker C

And that was the turning point, I'd say that was when I was just on my mission and it was all up from there.

Speaker A

It's true, though, because I think even I didn't look at it until six years ago, but I didn't start my pension until like when I started this and I. I didn't have a clue A, what the hell I was doing, B, who to go to.

Speaker A

And you're right, there's a stigma between.

Speaker A

I haven't some like, old block, tell you what you need to do and feel like, like awkward.

Speaker A

Whereas you break stereotype.

Speaker A

The same with us and accountants.

Speaker A

People think accountants are just two old blokes sat in a suit with like crumbs all over them later.

Speaker A

And.

Speaker A

But they do, though, and that's why it works, because we break that mold of actually, do you know what, I can talk to this person and ask them what they would deem as a silly question, even though it's not.

Speaker A

It's having that space where they can feel comfortable to do it.

Speaker A

Which is why I think a lot of the pet businesses resonated with you at the Expo, because they.

Speaker A

You did it in a easy way to digest and didn't have that, I think that barrier of like, this person.

Speaker C

Yeah, yeah, definitely.

Speaker C

It was, it was hard to find the balance, obviously, at the Pet Expo, but I think I'm.

Speaker C

I'm quite good at it now, I think, because I know that people don't understand pensions and they can be quite overwhelming as well.

Speaker C

There's so many options in there, just.

Speaker A

So too complicated or something that they can't fix.

Speaker A

Yeah, and I think that's the issue as well.

Speaker A

Like, we see people in the group go, oh, well, I've got like five different pensions with five different companies.

Speaker A

That's going to be too hard and too expensive to sort or it feels like a mammoth task where it always just goes to the bottom of the list.

Speaker C

Of course it does.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

And it's also the most boring as well.

Speaker C

Let's be real.

Speaker C

It's not to me, obviously, it's my favorite thing in the world, but to anyone else and when you're running a business as well, you know, it's the last thing you want to be thinking about, isn't it?

Speaker C

But just to touch on that, obviously with pension consolidation and putting them all into one pot and things, it is quite complex when you do it yourself.

Speaker C

Obviously a lot of people see pension B, you know, it's.

Speaker C

It seems like it's the easy.

Speaker C

Yeah, that's it.

Speaker C

It seems like it's the easier option, but a lot of the time you're actually missing out on features and things like that because it's not advice.

Speaker C

You just say, do this, put it into one pot.

Speaker C

No one's actually looking at the pensions and making sure that you're not going to miss out on anything valuable or make sure you've actually got the best option.

Speaker C

So I've seen.

Speaker C

I've seen a few difficult cases with that one where they've actually moved it and now they're missing out on so many benefits that they could have had.

Speaker A

To get me to move mine, the pension B.

Speaker A

And again, I probably the reason why I didn't is A, I don't understand it enough to transfer and be.

Speaker A

I'm like, well, I wouldn't know how to do that.

Speaker A

And it sounds like a bit of a big task that I don't really want.

Speaker A

I can't be asked.

Speaker A

Yeah, people just don't do it.

Speaker A

It's one of.

Speaker A

It's like the taxes can't be asked.

Speaker A

Leave it till January.

Speaker C

Yeah, well, that's why all of our clients come to us and same with you, you know, to come to us to take it off their plate so that they have.

Speaker C

Don't have to do it and they know that it's actually going to be done right as well.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

So what would you say then, for 2026, as a small business owner, they should be doing or should be getting sorted in 2026 that make it their, you know, number one priority?

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

So there's a few things, obviously, but I think the one thing people forget about is protecting your income.

Speaker C

And I'm not even just talking about Income protection.

Speaker C

Now I'm talking about like first of all, make sure you've got an emergency fund.

Speaker C

I know it's one of them things that's quite difficult to build up, especially when you've got a lot of outgoings and maybe your business isn't growing as fast as you expected or maybe you've got a new business as well.

Speaker C

But I think the emergency fund is just massive.

Speaker C

So that's just basically a pot where it's accessible, it's not invested or anything like that.

Speaker C

But you know, it's there that if you needed it, you've got options, you've got more freedom, you don't have to stay stuck in a situation that you don't want to be in.

Speaker C

I'd say that's my number one tip.

Speaker C

But on top of that, even if you do have an emergency fund, if you lose your income as a self employed person, let's say that you can't work because you've got backache or you're struggling with a mental illness, that's your income stopped.

Speaker C

So it doesn't matter whether you've got an emergency fund really if you're off for two years.

Speaker C

After a conversation with somebody the other day who she's been off.

Speaker C

Well, she came to me, I was reviewing her protection policies and she already had income protection in place and she was actually claiming on it at the moment.

Speaker C

She'd been claiming on it for four years for mental illness.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

So that was, that was quite, quite a big one for me because it just showed it in practice and obviously I've got a few clients as well who.

Speaker C

It's just completely saved their life.

Speaker C

It's not, it sounds dramatic but it has.

Speaker A

How are you gonna pay for your bills?

Speaker A

Yeah, I might for some reason I, and to be fair, I didn't even think of that when I started the Pet Accountant.

Speaker A

I didn't think, well a, I didn't know it existed.

Speaker A

Maybe, maybe that's an issue is that people don't know income protection exists or they think it's really mega expensive or maybe they've got a few health issues that they think, well, I'm not going to get it.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker A

And again it's just having that awareness.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

You can have it.

Speaker A

And what do you do if you can't work?

Speaker A

Like if you're a groom and you fall and break your leg, you're not going to be able to groom for how long?

Speaker A

Months on end.

Speaker A

Exactly.

Speaker A

You have that pot, it's only going to last so long.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker C

But also why should you have to use it like the funds that you've built up?

Speaker C

Let's say it's for a holiday or something.

Speaker C

You shouldn't have to use that to live off.

Speaker A

No, you should be able to keep.

Speaker C

That to your side and use it for what it was intended for.

Speaker C

It was on the house.

Speaker A

Well, exactly.

Speaker A

So what does income protection do then?

Speaker A

In sort of layman's terms?

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

So what it does is obviously with business owners, we don't have sick pay, do it.

Speaker C

So if any minor illnesses happen to us, then our income stops immediately.

Speaker C

So what it would do is it would kick in if you can't work for a certain amount of time and it would pay you a fixed income.

Speaker C

If you're a sole trader, then it's tax free and if you're a limited company it's not, but it's a business expense, the premium.

Speaker C

Does that make sense?

Speaker C

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker C

So that's, that's the simple terms.

Speaker C

And obviously you mentioned whether you've got like illnesses and things already, they will be taken into account but it doesn't mean that you're not able to get it.

Speaker C

In most cases it might be higher.

Speaker A

If you've got like pre existing issues.

Speaker C

It depends.

Speaker C

So it depends on everything.

Speaker C

It depends on your health as a whole.

Speaker C

Obviously it depends, depends on like you wear and things like that as well.

Speaker C

But a lot of the time it might just be excluded, but everything else is included in that, really declared.

Speaker C

If you've got one condition, a lot of the time it can lead onto other conditions as well.

Speaker C

So you want to make sure that you're covered even in the future for other stuff.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

So does it cover you forever then or is there like a time limit?

Speaker C

Yeah, so it.

Speaker C

Well what we normally do is set it up till age 67 because that's when most people obviously get the state pension.

Speaker C

So if you want to claim in that time period at any point and for any time length, so the average claim period of income protection something like six years and I think it's, it's six months.

Speaker C

So that's the average time that people claim for, which is mind blowing to me.

Speaker C

So let's say you claim for six years.

Speaker C

After that, the policy doesn't just end.

Speaker C

So if you go back to work and you can work and everything, it doesn't end, it just goes back into place and the premium stays exactly the same.

Speaker C

So this is a big misconception.

Speaker C

A lot of people say, well if, what if I do claim and then they're going to hike the premium up and I can't get cover ever again.

Speaker C

So basically the sooner you get it, the healthier you are, the better because it's going to stay exactly the same for the until you're 67.

Speaker A

Also the monthly amount you pay doesn't go up.

Speaker C

No.

Speaker A

What, never?

Speaker C

Never?

Speaker C

No, not with the way that we set it up.

Speaker C

It's completely level.

Speaker C

And that's why we say the sooner you can get it the better because each one year makes a difference.

Speaker A

What happens if you develop a health condition within the policy?

Speaker A

Would they not then put it up after that?

Speaker C

No, no, they won't put it up.

Speaker C

And if you're off work because of that condition, then you're covered for it.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

And you get a set amount in your bank every month and I'm assuming that change either you just get that amount.

Speaker C

Yeah, set amount literally until you can get back to work or if you can never get back to work until you retire.

Speaker C

67.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

So then really it's a no brainer.

Speaker A

Everyone should have it and that really, really.

Speaker A

When I did it, what, five years ago, I don't do it now obviously because I've got Lee.

Speaker A

So it's not so much of an issue that we have each other, that if one of us needs to go off sick, the work doesn't stop because the other person still length, we're in a good position where we don't need it.

Speaker A

But when I did have it, I'm sure it was only like 26 quid a month or something.

Speaker A

And I got like at the time, obviously I hadn't built the PET account at that point but it was about, I don't know, 1800 quid maybe.

Speaker A

Ish.

Speaker A

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker A

So it's 30 quid for 1800 quid if you can't work for me is literally a no brainer.

Speaker A

But then why doesn't everyone do it then?

Speaker A

Is it just a lack of knowledge or exactly that?

Speaker C

Yeah, I would say it's a lack of knowledge.

Speaker C

And also people sometimes think it's a little bit too good to be true.

Speaker C

Yeah, it's almost, it's one of them.

Speaker C

But obviously it's easy for me to kind of go on about it, but I see the impact in my clients and in, in real life situations and I can, I've got it myself and I, I vouch for it, if that makes sense.

Speaker C

But the problems I see personally from being completely honest here is I see a lot of people setting it up themselves and using like an online one, you know, where you're kind of just searching for the cheapest product and maybe they're not matching it to their income correctly or maybe not.

Speaker C

They're not disclosing everything that they've got.

Speaker C

And then when they do come to claim, they can't.

Speaker C

They can't claim.

Speaker C

And I think it gives income protection a bad name, really.

Speaker C

Whereas when it's set up.

Speaker A

Claire.

Speaker C

Yeah, but I don't expect, you know, people who aren't a financial advisor to be able to set them up perfectly because you don't do that for a living.

Speaker C

That's what we do.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

So that.

Speaker C

I think that sometimes gives it a little bit of a bad name, but it's just because they're not set up correctly.

Speaker C

For example, I had a client come from the pet expo and we looked at her income protection policy and we realized that she was actually paying for, like, too much cover.

Speaker C

And even if she wanted to, like, claim on her income protection, it wouldn't pay the full amount because.

Speaker C

Because she wasn't earning that much.

Speaker C

So she was actually over.

Speaker C

So what we did is we reduced the COVID which reduced the premium for.

Speaker C

And her existing one was increasing the premium as well.

Speaker C

So we just kept that level forever.

Speaker C

So we made sure that actually she's paying for the COVID that she can get and it's never going to change as well if her health changes or if she gets older and everything.

Speaker C

So, yeah, they're the main things that I see with income protection out there.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

Well, then, if anyone's listening to this, then please let Romy know that you want to get income protection because it seems like an openly brainer, like, for the sake of, like, if you think 30 quid maybe might go up to 50 quid, I don't know.

Speaker A

But even if it was £80amonth, that's like the dogs are kicking on.

Speaker A

That's an equivalent of like having like a couple of takeaways a month.

Speaker A

I just think if that's the case where don't go up, obviously if you've got health issues and stuff, it might be a bit more tricky.

Speaker A

But if you're starting a business in like your mid-20s and you're healthy, then, and you know that that premium is not going to go up, then why not do it?

Speaker A

I don't flabbergasted that people don't do it.

Speaker A

Like, please, one thing takes get some income protection.

Speaker A

Because, you know, I see groomers, especially in walkers, where.

Speaker A

Well, actually, our mate Alicia, I swear, she couldn't.

Speaker A

No, it wasn't Alicia, it was someone Else her friend who's a dog walker broke a foot and dog walk so she had to outsource her dog walks to the other local dog walkers.

Speaker A

And obviously I don't know if she has her income protection but if she didn't then she'd be screwed, wouldn't she?

Speaker A

She wouldn't get nice.

Speaker C

That's it.

Speaker A

And then she's getting money in her bank while she sat with her foot in a cast.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker C

Actually being able to recover and peace of mind as well.

Speaker A

Just stress that your mortgage isn't paid for.

Speaker C

That's it.

Speaker C

The band doesn't care, does it, whether you realign what's your foot.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker A

Or you know, broke your arm stumbling out of a pub.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

Well it's like dog rumors as well.

Speaker C

Everything is so physical, isn't it?

Speaker C

With everything's your hands.

Speaker C

So if you can't use your hands you are actually screwed.

Speaker A

And a lot of them get like carpal tunnel syndrome and, and arthritis and stuff like that.

Speaker A

So all of these, oh, I need to claim for me massage because I've got a bad back or I need to claim for me chiropractor.

Speaker A

You know what, just get income protection and then if you can't work, use it.

Speaker C

Yeah, that's it.

Speaker C

That's exactly what it's there for.

Speaker C

And another thing that people say to me is like, well you know, I could just put that 30 quid aside and have an emergency fund.

Speaker A

This one is not good.

Speaker C

That ain't even going to cover one month.

Speaker A

No.

Speaker A

And realistically like you said about the pot, I think that's such a good idea that people need a pot and they always say like if you, if you research it or you need like three months salary or six months salary in your reserve front, which realistically is hard to put away of life.

Speaker A

And then you see, well, just by myself or I'll just go on holiday.

Speaker A

So again, I just think if anyone is listening to this, please, please, please just go and get some income protection.

Speaker A

Don't do it your bloody self.

Speaker A

Because we like client A who's paying way more than she needed to and it wasn't even the right one in the first place.

Speaker A

So please, please, please contact Romany.

Speaker A

She will put her contact deals in the group.

Speaker A

I will, I promise.

Speaker A

There you go.

Speaker A

I still can't see them.

Speaker A

I still can't see them.

Speaker A

And then I bet you people listen to this, they're going to see that.

Speaker A

And I bet you get an influx of phone calls like you did with the expo.

Speaker A

Shocked at the expo how many people?

Speaker C

I think there were about 30 people that made an appointment.

Speaker A

Because again, I think it helps that you are very approachable and you explain it properly without people feeling thick, like.

Speaker A

And I, I think that maybe some people in the industry are condescending.

Speaker A

Same with accountants.

Speaker A

We get all the time when people have wound up their local accountant and they've gone, oh, what do you do?

Speaker A

And go, I'm a dog walker.

Speaker A

And they go, they don't know what to do with that, do they?

Speaker A

Yeah, it's like, oh, right, okay.

Speaker A

And then it's just automatic nut.

Speaker A

So I do think that helps.

Speaker A

So tip number one, have a savings pot.

Speaker A

Even if you just put in 20 quid in a month, at least you've got something.

Speaker A

And please, please, please get income protection because it just makes sense.

Speaker A

Like, I don't understand why I wouldn't after that.

Speaker A

So do that and then tag Romany in the group and say, I've got it.

Speaker A

Tiger in the gu.

Speaker A

Or you better go through Romany and get it because at least you know, it was set up properly.

Speaker A

And then I want people to start tagging the group that they've done it and it'll inspire everyone else to do it as well.

Speaker C

Definitely, yeah.

Speaker A

An income protection month.

Speaker A

Maybe we should do.

Speaker C

Yeah, we should.

Speaker A

Income protection month, where everyone just does it goes, right, this month we're going to do it.

Speaker A

This is the one.

Speaker A

We're doing it.

Speaker A

Yeah, we'll figure it out afterwards.

Speaker A

We'll do like an income protection month.

Speaker A

We've touched on pensions, which I think is again, another important thing that people don't get until it's too late.

Speaker A

Any tips on that on the pension front?

Speaker C

I'm just going off, like, obviously the clients that I've got from the pet expo, really, I'm hoping that'll be quite relatable to people.

Speaker C

But they tend to be like two different situations and they're quite different.

Speaker C

So the first situation is that, you know, you, maybe you're quite new to pet grooming or dog walking or whatever, then maybe you've got some old pensions and things like that.

Speaker C

And like you said, they just sat there, maybe they've got five or maybe if they've just got one, but they don't actually feel confident that it's doing enough for them.

Speaker C

Like it's not making the money in the background, which again, that does sound a little bit too good to be true.

Speaker C

But the, like, the pensions that we have for our clients, they are just making money in the background without them even having to do anything, which is what you want.

Speaker A

Point.

Speaker C

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker C

And what I always say to people is that you can't save your way to retirement.

Speaker C

So I have a lot of conversations with people and they say, well, I don't really feel comfortable investing.

Speaker C

I don't really understand it.

Speaker C

I'd rather just save.

Speaker C

And realistically, you're not going to have enough money at retirement if you just stick in a savings account.

Speaker A

If it didn't work, one would do it, would they?

Speaker C

Exactly.

Speaker C

But it, the concept of it, like we said, it's kind of like a lack of knowledge, I'd say.

Speaker A

And.

Speaker C

And people think stocks are, you know, really scary markets and they're going to crash and things like that.

Speaker C

And that just isn't the reality of the investments that we do.

Speaker C

We're all diversified and they aim to grow in the long term.

Speaker C

Nice and steady.

Speaker C

Not an extreme.

Speaker A

But yeah.

Speaker C

First thing, say that again.

Speaker A

You don't need to look at them.

Speaker A

I don't ever look, think, what's the point?

Speaker A

I can't access it till I'm like 60 or however old it is now.

Speaker A

60, by the time we reach time age, we're currently 75.

Speaker A

So, like, what's the point of, like, worrying about, oh, it might have dipped a little bit, but, like, in 10 years, time might have gone back up again.

Speaker A

So just let it do its thing in the background.

Speaker C

Definite level.

Speaker C

There's two size guys in there.

Speaker A

There's.

Speaker C

If you know that it's in the best place, you've had somebody look at it, they're all in one pot, then leave it, you know, I mean.

Speaker C

But if it's in five different pots, it's in a workplace pension, you've got no idea what it's doing.

Speaker C

Definitely look at it.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker C

You know what I mean?

Speaker C

Because realistically, you don't.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker C

And.

Speaker C

And what, what upsets me sometimes I get passionate is the fact that, for example, I see a pension that's been left there for like 10 years and it's been going down in value or it hasn't been growing and I'm like, oh, my gosh, like, we've missed out on this much growth.

Speaker C

But it was double and it.

Speaker C

All you needed to do was just have a quick look at it.

Speaker C

But again, it's one of the things that it's hard.

Speaker C

It's hard to get around to that, isn't it?

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

I think again, it's just educating people on, like, the fact that it's not difficult and they have people that they can go and speak to now like you.

Speaker A

So fabulous.

Speaker A

Anything else?

Speaker A

What?

Speaker A

Have you got a third tip for 2026?

Speaker C

I would say.

Speaker C

Let me have a think because to be honest with you, I'm excited for the next Pet expo because I've got so much up my sleeve to talk about.

Speaker C

Oh, God.

Speaker C

Have you not announced that yet?

Speaker A

No, you have.

Speaker A

It's fine.

Speaker A

I'm not gonna say I just ruined it.

Speaker A

No, no.

Speaker A

Romy is coming back from popular demand in the Expo in October and she's gonna be talking about how things can help you make more money.

Speaker A

Just make use of things instead of putting your head in the sand.

Speaker A

So that's gonna be good.

Speaker A

I'm looking for.

Speaker A

Forward to that.

Speaker A

I will be there.

Speaker A

My notebook.

Speaker C

I think.

Speaker C

No, for that.

Speaker C

And.

Speaker C

And obviously today as well, I want to talk a little bit about like isis.

Speaker C

I get a common question, actually.

Speaker C

It's something that I want to make some content and things about because I find it really interesting.

Speaker C

But a lot of people say to me, like, what is the point in putting into a pension?

Speaker A

Like you are.

Speaker A

I see.

Speaker A

That's.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

Okay.

Speaker C

So a lot of people ask me that and they say, well, you know, it's tied in until age 57 at the moment.

Speaker C

That could keep just going up.

Speaker C

What is the point?

Speaker C

Should I just put it into an isa?

Speaker C

So, and what anomaly say to that is an ISA and a pension have got two different uses.

Speaker C

So with the pension stuff, whether you're a sole trade or a limited company, it's the tax benefits that you're going to really benefit.

Speaker C

There's nothing more tax efficient than a pension core in life.

Speaker C

And then you've got ISAs.

Speaker C

And I would say that's more for flexibility.

Speaker C

So if you did want to retire before age 57, obviously that's the goal.

Speaker C

But if you did want to, at least you've.

Speaker C

You've got that flexibility as well.

Speaker C

And it's all tax free with an ISO.

Speaker C

So I'd say for the third tip, I'd say making money work harder rather than it just sitting there.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker C

So I see a lot of people with like money just sat in the business and things like that.

Speaker C

Obviously it needs to be there for tax reasons and also like buffer for paying staff and things like that, obviously.

Speaker C

But if it is actually just sat there doing nothing or you get like an inheritance or anything, I just then look at ISAs.

Speaker C

There's different types of ISAs and things like that.

Speaker C

Again, I'm going to cover that.

Speaker A

I see.

Speaker A

What a limit though.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

So with an ISA, it's 20,000 currently.

Speaker C

So it's a decent amount to be able to put in every year.

Speaker C

And you can.

Speaker C

It has.

Speaker C

You don't have like a backlog or anything like that.

Speaker C

It's just 20,000 each year.

Speaker C

So I'd recommend that people make the most of it before April definitely, if possible.

Speaker C

I think we're going to be quite busy, obviously up until April as well, making sure that everybody's topping them up.

Speaker C

So.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

And also like, for example, with the money in your business, is it in a high interest savings account or is it just sat in a rubbish savings account where, again, you're not on the app a lot?

Speaker A

I need crappy savings accounts without earning absolutely nothing and it just sits there and then it's like you could be doing.

Speaker A

I mean, I don't believe.

Speaker A

And I'm going to be probably quite controversial.

Speaker A

You're probably going to hate me.

Speaker A

But I'm the person that thinks savings accounts are pointless because they don't give you.

Speaker A

I do in some ways.

Speaker A

I'm 50, 50 pension.

Speaker A

Part of me is like, well, it's worth it because it.

Speaker A

What it does in the background and obviously it gives the money when you retire.

Speaker A

At the same time, the sort of person said, well, I'd rather have that money now whilst I'm able to and spend it because in 30 years time I might be pretty crippled or can't.

Speaker A

So I think what's, what's the point?

Speaker A

I'll just keep the money now and spend it.

Speaker A

So I'm, I'm, I'm a bit on the fence with that.

Speaker A

This just.

Speaker A

If anyone's listening, this is just my personal feelings, please don't follow what I'm saying and doing.

Speaker A

But.

Speaker A

And then, you know, I, I put money in and the premium bonds and I know there's A, they're safe, B, you can get them out.

Speaker A

Yes, it is completely potluck whether you get money in that.

Speaker A

But then I was chatting to Lee the other day, he's put his money, his tax money in an ISA and what probably earned a couple hundred quid.

Speaker C

Maybe that's a cash ISA probably, isn't it?

Speaker A

No idea.

Speaker A

Let's just say he's earned a few hundred quid and then I put the same money in their premium bond and then the last two months I've won 1600 quid.

Speaker A

Not gonna get under quids offer Isa, unless you put a fair chunk of money in.

Speaker A

So I'm like, just.

Speaker C

No, no, it's fair enough.

Speaker C

And also like what I normally say to people is.

Speaker A

I'll just say I told someone about Premium Bonds on another Live yet, like last year, the year before, and she did it and she won a lot of money.

Speaker A

She put a very small amount of money in.

Speaker A

And the lucky woman.

Speaker A

And I'm talking like there was a lot of zeros on her winnings.

Speaker A

And I was like, you jammy.

Speaker A

And it's like, I know.

Speaker A

As if she was like, thank you so much it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have done it.

Speaker A

I wouldn't have won money.

Speaker A

And I was like, Well, I want 10%, but it is completely potluck.

Speaker A

And I had months where I didn't get anything, but then it's.

Speaker A

I find it fun just doing the app every month to see if I won something.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

So.

Speaker C

Well, that's what I say to clients quite a lot about Premium Bonds.

Speaker C

I say it's.

Speaker C

I'd say it's more your emergency fund.

Speaker C

It's doing something with your emergency fund rather than that just being sat there.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

I just think, take it out your bloody savings pot market in the Premium Bonds.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

Anyone wins, though, I want 10.

Speaker C

Yeah, me too.

Speaker A

You can throw it with me, Roman, if you win.

Speaker A

But it's just less risky, isn't it?

Speaker A

Because it's safe.

Speaker A

So if you're, if you're.

Speaker A

If you're not a risk taker with money, and I do find that, that, that stops people.

Speaker A

Is it the fear behind putting all that money in something that could go up and down, which is probably why many people deal in stocks and investing and all that stuff, because it's so like that.

Speaker A

Whereas a premium bond saves chips.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

And then.

Speaker C

And I think was that they.

Speaker A

So Tegan did in January and I was like, come on.

Speaker A

Because she put a bit of money in there.

Speaker A

I was like, let's see what you've won.

Speaker A

And it went, sorry, no luck this time.

Speaker A

Take the gun.

Speaker A

She had it in, like over yen.

Speaker A

When Absolutely nothing.

Speaker A

And yes.

Speaker A

And I said, go on.

Speaker A

I mean, she had 100 pound in it.

Speaker A

So, I mean, it's not.

Speaker A

You put in the more likely you are to win.

Speaker A

And she put like a few grand in there.

Speaker A

And I thought, look, did it in December.

Speaker A

I was like, you'll win something in January, it'll be fine because you've put money in.

Speaker A

And like, we got so excited looking at the app and it's like, sorry, no, look, this time she's like, right, give up.

Speaker A

Mine seems to be lucky at the minute, but yeah, it's one of them.

Speaker C

Isn'T It, I think if as long as you're not kind of, it's not for your retirement or anything like that, if it's literally just your emergency funds that they just kind of sat there, then absolutely, I think it's a good idea.

Speaker A

Do it and let us know if you win.

Speaker A

So income protection, let's not forget it.

Speaker A

Tag Romney in the group so it makes up or something.

Speaker A

Check out your pensions and make your money money work better for you because it's going to help you in the long run.

Speaker A

And if you're unsure, please, please, please follow Romania on Instagram and she is part of our trusted partner program as well.

Speaker A

So you will find that details on our website.

Speaker A

And she should be posting a lot in the group, which I know is our 2026 goal that we've just made for her to be more visible in, in this group and on the page so that you guys can message her and get sorted out.

Speaker A

But we'll, we'll have to come up with some like income protection challenge or something or do something, I'll think something.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

And if anyone's got any feedback of what they want to see in the group and stuff like that, just let me know, tag me and I'll make some content around that as well.

Speaker A

Perfect.

Speaker A

And if you want to see Romney in real life, then come to the expo on the 3rd of October because she will be there, one of our seven fabulous guests.

Speaker A

And if you like to go clubbing, she might go clubbing with you afterwards as she did with a few people on the last one.

Speaker A

And then where did you end up?

Speaker C

I don't know, it was just like this club and it was just full of 16 year olds so hopefully I won't be taking you there next time.

Speaker A

So yes, there was a simple element to the Expo as well where a lot of people, including Emily, our lovely Emily got slightly intoxicated and was up with clients until 3 o' clock in the morning and then felt slightly iffy on the way home.

Speaker A

So all fun and games but I let's shoot.

Speaker A

And I know you were very busy as well but I hope everyone found that really useful.

Speaker A

Like I say, we will be trying to get Roni Group.

Speaker A

I've let her into it now and now it's live so she has to happening.

Speaker A

Yeah but please, if you do anything for 2026, get yourself some income protection just in case to give you that peace of mind.

Speaker A

It's a no brainer and then we'll catch up with Romany again in a few months and then obviously at the Expo and we'll see what everyone's done between now and then.

Speaker A

But thank you so much for your time.

Speaker A

I know you're very busy.

Speaker A

Award Winning Cursing Magazines.

Speaker A

Goes wild.

Speaker A

But yes, no, thank you everyone.

Speaker A

I hope you have a brilliant month.

Speaker A

We will be back next week with another fun topic and we'll catch you all then.

Speaker A

And of course dates as well.

Speaker A

But brilliant.

Speaker A

Thank you everyone.

Speaker A

Take care.

Speaker B

Thanks for listening.

Speaker B

If you've enjoyed my podcast, don't forget to subscribe for me.

Speaker B

And if you want to speak to me, please visit my website@www.petaccountant.co.uk.

Speaker B

and if you'd like to join my Facebook group, which is full of like minded pet professionals, then search Accounting for Pet Professionals in Facebook and I will see you there.

Speaker A

Sa.