Guides & Situation Guides

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In-depth guides on the situations and decisions that don't fit neatly into a to-do list. Whether you're starting your first job, navigating the £100k trap, or making sense of a public sector pension — these are the pieces that go deeper.

Your Situation
Scotland · Tax

Scottish income tax: how it changes your financial decisions

Six bands, not three. What Scotland's tax rates mean for your pension, salary sacrifice, and the ISA vs pension decision.

10 min read · Updated March 2026
Pensions

Public sector pensions: LGPS, NHS and Teachers' explained

What you're actually building, what it's worth in money terms, and the salary sacrifice, AVC, and early retirement decisions that matter.

12 min read · March 2026
Tax · Families

Child Benefit tax charge: how to keep yours at any income

The High Income Child Benefit Charge claws back payments once you earn over £60,000. Pension contributions can eliminate it entirely.

10 min read · March 2026
Pensions · Advanced

Pension carry forward: contribute more than £60,000 in one year

Unused annual allowance from the past three years can be carried forward — letting you put up to £240,000 into your pension in a single tax year.

9 min read · March 2026
Getting Started

First job money guide: the decisions that matter most in your 20s

Auto-enrolment, Lifetime ISAs, student loans, and the one financial decision you should never get wrong in your first year of work.

11 min read · March 2026
Tax · High Earners

The £100k tax trap: why you're paying 60% and how to stop

Between £100,000 and £125,140 your effective marginal rate is 60%. It can be eliminated entirely with a pension contribution. Here's how.

10 min read · March 2026
Topic Guides
Saving & Investing

ISA vs Pension vs LISA: which wrapper wins?

The definitive comparison tool. Enter your income and goals and see which savings vehicle gives you the best outcome.

Interactive tool
Tools

Take-home pay calculator

See your monthly take-home after income tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, and student loan repayments.

Interactive calculator
Tools

Pension projection calculator

Model how different contribution rates and retirement ages affect your projected pension pot and retirement income.

Interactive calculator
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