NHS Pension Changes

The NHS Pension is changing. Lengthy prose about the driving force behind these changes (the McCloud judgement & remedy) would be tangential. Instead of dredging the past, let’s look to the future. What’s happening to the 2015 NHS Pension scheme? Change 1 “Members’ contribution rates would change to be based on actual pensionable pay instead

Less Than Full Time Finances

Health Education England recently announced ‘Category 3’ less-than-full-time (LTFT) training will be available to all postgraduate specialties from August 2022. Category 3 allows doctors to work LTFT through personal choice, though it was previously only available to a select group of specialties. Working LTFT has a number of pros e.g. better work/life balance, but also

War – What Is It Good For?

Even the most ardent news-avoider is likely to be aware of 2022’s early bid to outdo 2020 and 2021 as the worst years in recent memory. Russia invading Ukraine is indeed a strong opening gambit. I found myself in the dark about any financial ramifications of the war. Sadly many conflicts have taken place during

Sentence: Commuting

In February, as part of the meandering migration of a doctor on a training programme, I moved to a new hospital. Such enforced nomadism brings an emotional blend of weary dissatisfaction, ‘first day at school’ nerves and curious excitement. The upheaval brings with it novelties; a new environment, new systems, and new people. Usually a

Animal Instinct

The last couple of years have seen new investors flock to the market. The combination of pandemic-induced savings and the ennui of working from home is perhaps primarily responsible. Easy access to low-cost or free-to-trade investment platforms is certainly playing a part; investing has never been easier for the individual. The recent media motif of

2021 Predictions Review – Did They Fare Better?

Last year I had a bit of fun seeing how the unlikely predictions of Danish investment bank Saxo Bank stacked up against the realities of 2020. Their score of 1.5/10 last time around was forgivable in a year where we were unexpectedly rocked by Covid-19. Yet the novel coronavirus ain’t so new anymore, leaving their

Two (by two)

This month marks the blog’s second birthday. The ‘blog in review’ post is perhaps a bit cliché, so I’ve jazzed it up by shoehorning my musings it into a sort of Noah’s Ark theme. Why not? Owls and Snakes (Personal) finance is a fascinating world; an endless warren of information. I’ve engulfed media of most

ESG Cop Out

I’ve recently been re-examining my investing strategy though emerald-tinted lenses. It’s over a year since I first researched ‘greener’ investing and it’s an investment motif that continues to gather pace. As of this summer, ESG funds are the fastest growing segment of the European funds market. Last year I found some evidence that ESG investments,

King Without A Crown

On our final night of holiday we basked outside in the warm evening air, soaking up the bustling atmosphere of the square and enjoying a cerveza . During the natural lulls of a conversation that ebbed and flowed, I had a chance to survey (read: people-watch) the co-patrons of the small café. In one corner

Not A Clue

I’m a sucker for a fiction novel. Sci-fi, mystery, fantasy or thriller, it doesn’t matter – I’ll read it. Some of the novels I read are masterpieces within their genre; the Conan-Doyle’s, Christie’s and Asimov’s of the literary world. Others are at the ‘trashier’ end of the spectrum; airport novels for the most part. The problem