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Archive for January, 2025

Financial education: From the pitch to the purse

Posted on: January 27th, 2025 by stevejordan@fivewealth.co.uk

Financial education: From the pitch to the purse

As an athlete, father and financial planner, I jumped at the opportunity to run a series of personal finance workshops for Manchester United’s Women’s Academy. As an advocate for open conversations about money, it’s always a pleasure to encourage discussions around what can be a sensitive subject with fellow athletes.

We often think of financial literacy as something that’s only relevant for adults but the earlier we start teaching children about money, the better equipped they’ll be to make sound financial decisions throughout their lives. By introducing concepts like budgeting, saving, and investing at a young age, we can help children develop healthy financial habits that will serve them well in the future.

The workshops consisted of short sessions with the under 16s and below teams, which focussed on three key themes:

What do Super League players actually earn?

We began the workshops looking at pictures of several of the Lionesses who currently play in the Super League and I asked the girls what they thought their earnings were. The responses were mixed but one theme was consistent. Most of the girls assumed the wages were more comparable to those in the Premier League. This led to discussions around the varied range in wages throughout the Super League and what the average player earns.

What is the cost of the lifestyle you want?

Using the average wages of the Super League players as their budget, the girls broke out into groups and created their ideal lifestyles. We then came back together, and the girls shared their results. Whilst the results were varied, what was encouraging is most of the girls included some form of saving and investing in their budgets, and they were all really engaged in the discussions, unafraid to challenge one another’s decisions.

What did surprise me is that a lot of the girls plan to live at home with their parents indefinitely to avoid paying rent. Maybe this will change as they get older!

Why save and invest?

Saving and investing is especially important for athletes, particularly when you consider that the average female footballer retires from her athletic career in her early 30s.

Similarly to perfecting your craft, time is your best friend when it comes to saving and investing. As James Clear puts in his book Atomic Habits; “success is the product of daily habits”. To illustrate this, I conducted a well-known thought experiment with the girls involving a penny and £1,000,000. Without giving too much away the girls could not believe the results.

Giving back to our community

Although I am a born and raised Gooner, I am thankful I had the opportunity to support aspiring athletes and empower them to speak openly about money. My hope is that they are a little more informed when they come to making financial decisions and feel empowered to ask questions because love it, or hate it, money impacts all aspects of our lives.

At Five Wealth, we are committed to fostering financial literacy within our community. I look forward to hosting similar workshops in the future, watch this space.

Spotlight on…. Sharon Brayshaw

Posted on: January 24th, 2025 by stevejordan@fivewealth.co.uk

Spotlight on…. Sharon Brayshaw

Working closely for more than 15 years with co-founder and director, Steve Jordan, our long-serving financial planning assistant, Sharon Brayshaw, is finally ready for retirement. We spoke to her to find out about her varied career in finance.

When did you start your career, and where?

I started at Scottish Provident when I was just 17. It was a completely different world back then. Over the years, the company changed hands – it became Scottish Mutual, then Santander. After that, I was part of building Dewhurst Torevell, which I then left to help launch Five Wealth.

How long have you been working alongside Steve?

I’ve worked with Steve for 18 years. He might not like to hear it but when he started, he was just a mere boy!

What roles have you held during your career?

I’ve worked in life insurance, protection, and even mortgage underwriting. While I didn’t particularly like numbers in my youth, I sort of fell into finance through a job agency in Manchester after a year of secretarial college. I have ended up enjoying my many roles in the industry and never looked back!

How has your role evolved over the years?

Initially, I focused on admin and paraplanning. When Five Wealth was established, my work leaned more towards admin. The company has grown so much since then, and it’s amazing to see where it’s at now. We have moved away from a small business to a serious corporate firm which is testament to the hard work of everyone – it feels like a great time to finally retire.

How has Five Wealth changed since its launch?

It’s grown tremendously, becoming more corporate while still retaining a friendly culture. There are so many young people there now, and the directors and staff are all genuinely nice. Steve’s client base has expanded, and the company keeps going from strength to strength.

What are your plans for retirement?

Retirement hasn’t fully hit me yet! I’d like to find a little part-time job – maybe something local in a shop. But I want to enjoy some time off first, take more trips to the Lake District, and read more on my Kindle.

Do you have any advice for the person taking over your role?

Be prepared to work hard and stay flexible. Many clients may treat you like part of their own family, which can be a positive experience, but it’s important to understand their expectations before starting the job. Being adaptable and open to new processes will help you succeed and navigate any changes smoothly.

Any final thoughts?

It’s been an incredible journey. Five Wealth has grown so much, and it’s rewarding to see it become an established business. While I’m looking forward to this next chapter, I’ll always treasure the memories and the people I’ve worked with.