The Wallet

In this episode, we’re tackling a topic that freelancers often put on the back burner: pensions. How do you start saving for retirement when you don’t have a traditional workplace pension? How can you make the most of tax relief? And what are the best strategies for long-term financial security?Joining Emilie Bellet is Lisa Picardo, Chief Business Officer UK at PensionBee. Lisa is here to break down why pensions matter for freelancers, how to set one up, and what you can do today to secure your financial future.If you found this helpful, make sure to listen to our next episode for more expert tips on managing your finances as a freelancer!  If you liked this episode, discover the full series.#ad Listen to PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast to better understand the world of personal finance and pensions: Connect with Emilie:Sign up to The Edit newsletterFollow Vestpod on InstagramEnroll in our upcoming bootcampsGet Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich#ad Thank you to our partner PensionBee. With PensionBee you can combine, contribute and withdraw online. Take control of your pension, so that you can enjoy a happy retirement and join over 265,000 customers saving with PensionBee. When investing, your capital is at risk. 

Pricing your services can feel overwhelming, but getting paid fairly isn’t just possible—it’s essential. In this episode of The Wallet by Vestpod, hosted by Emilie Bellet, sales expert Sara Dalrymple shares how to shift your mindset around pricing, set rates based on value and outcomes rather than hours, and create a business that supports both your income and your lifestyle.This conversation will help you move away from undercharging, navigate seasonal shifts in your business, and build a pricing strategy that feels right for you. Sara also explores the importance of community and how surrounding yourself with the right people can help you grow with confidence.For more resources, including links to Sara Dalrymple’s website and Instagram, check out the episode page.Subscribe, share with a fellow freelancer, and listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podlink!If you liked this episode, discover the full series.#ad Listen to PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast to better understand the world of personal finance and pensions: Connect with Emilie:Sign up to The Edit newsletterFollow Vestpod on InstagramEnroll in our upcoming bootcampsGet Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich#ad Thank you to our partner PensionBee. With PensionBee you can combine, contribute and withdraw online. Take control of your pension, so that you can enjoy a happy retirement and join over 265,000 customers saving with PensionBee. When investing, your capital is at risk.

In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that many freelancers find overwhelming: taxes. How do you stay compliant, maximise your deductions, and avoid costly mistakes? Joining Emilie Bellet is Emma Hardwick, Chartered Certified Accountant. With years of experience supporting freelancers and business owners, Emma is here to demystify tax and share practical tips to help you navigate self-assessments, VAT, expenses, and everything in between.If you found this helpful, make sure to listen to our next episode for more expert tips on managing your finances as a freelancer!  If you liked this episode, discover the full series.#ad Listen to PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast to better understand the world of personal finance and pensions: Connect with Emilie:Sign up to The Edit newsletterFollow Vestpod on InstagramEnroll in our upcoming bootcampsGet Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich#ad Thank you to our partner PensionBee. With PensionBee you can combine, contribute and withdraw online. Take control of your pension, so that you can enjoy a happy retirement and join over 265,000 customers saving with PensionBee. When investing, your capital is at risk.

Feeling uncertain about protecting your finances as a freelancer? In today’s episode, we’re diving into risk management—a crucial but often overlooked part of financial planning for self-employed professionals.From income protection and business insurance to emergency funds, having the right safeguards in place can make all the difference when life throws the unexpected at you.I’m joined by Zoe Brett, a financial planner at EQ Investors, who will break down:✅ The key types of insurance freelancers should consider✅ How to balance costs with the right level of protection✅ Practical ways to build an emergency fund—even when your income fluctuatesFor more resources, including links to Zoe’s website and social media, check out the episode page.If you found this helpful, make sure to listen to our next episode for more expert tips on managing your finances as a freelancer!  If you liked this episode, discover the full series.#ad Listen to PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast to better understand the world of personal finance and pensions: Connect with Emilie:Sign up to The Edit newsletterFollow Vestpod on InstagramEnroll in our upcoming bootcampsGet Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich#ad Thank you to our partner PensionBee. With PensionBee you can combine, contribute and withdraw online. Take control of your pension, so that you can enjoy a happy retirement and join over 265,000 customers saving with PensionBee. When investing, your capital is at risk.

Today, we’re tackling a topic that’s essential but often overwhelming: freelance contracts. Contracts can feel like a maze, but they’re crucial for protecting your work, setting clear expectations, and getting paid.Joining me is Lucy Wheeler, a lawyer specialising in helping freelancers and small business owners navigate legal essentials. We’ll cover must-have clauses, when to consult a lawyer, how to protect your intellectual property, and what to do if a client doesn’t pay.For more resources, including links to Lucy’s website and social media, check out the episode page.  If you found this helpful, make sure to listen to our next episode for more expert tips on managing your finances as a freelancer!  If you liked this episode, discover the full series.#ad Listen to PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast to better understand the world of personal finance and pensions: Connect with Emilie:Sign up to The Edit newsletterFollow Vestpod on InstagramEnroll in our upcoming bootcampsGet Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich#ad Thank you to our partner PensionBee. With PensionBee you can combine, contribute and withdraw online. Take control of your pension, so that you can enjoy a happy retirement and join over 265,000 customers saving with PensionBee. When investing, your capital is at risk.

Feeling uncertain about your business setup? In today’s episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest decisions for freelancers in the UK—should you be a sole trader or set up a limited company?  I’m joined by Janet Knapton, a Chartered Accountant and expert in helping freelancers make smart, tax-efficient decisions. Janet breaks down the pros and cons of both structures, helping you decide which one is right for you and your business.  You’ll get clear, simple, and actionable steps to make this crucial decision, and tips on staying tax-efficient while focusing on what matters most: growing your business.  For more resources, including links to Janet Knapton’s website and social media, check out the episode page.  If you found this helpful, make sure to listen to our next episode for more expert tips on managing your finances as a freelancer!  If you liked this episode, discover the full series.#ad Listen to PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast to better understand the world of personal finance and pensions: Connect with Emilie:Sign up to The Edit newsletterFollow Vestpod on InstagramEnroll in our upcoming bootcampsGet Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich#ad Thank you to our partner PensionBee. With PensionBee you can combine, contribute and withdraw online. Take control of your pension, so that you can enjoy a happy retirement and join over 265,000 customers saving with PensionBee. When investing, your capital is at risk.

It can feel easier to spend than invest (especially with Black Friday coming up). But investing really isn't hard once you understand the basics. That's why we're bringing back this popular myth-busting episode.💸 Investing is key to building financial independence and reach long term goals. When you invest over a long period, you want your money to outpace inflation (the price of goods and services is increasing every year) and benefit from compound growth. While it’s essential to have ‘rainy day’ cash savings, playing it safe by stashing your money in low-interest-rate savings accounts is actually risky because that money will lose value over time.💥 Today on The Wallet: 1️⃣Investing can feel complex, laden with alienating jargon and sounds like something only others are good at – but I explain why this isn’t the case.2️⃣Before you start investing, it’s vital you ask yourself how long you’re willing to invest for. The longer your timeframe, the more volatility you should be able to deal with because you’d have more time to recover from any lows. Start small and invest regularly.3️⃣I explain why asking questions and giving yourself praise are super important to everyone’s investing journey. Resources mentioned in the episode:Vestpod POD groups: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/vestpod-16058437670  Vestpod Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/vestpod  Breaking Down Robo-Advisers And Understanding Your Investments: https://www.vestpod.com/news/2021/11/10/wallet-hotline-breaking-down-robo-advisers   The Wallet, Investing beats Day Trading: https://www.vestpod.com/news/2020/12/10/investing-beats-day-trading-f6q3   I’m Emilie Bellet, the founder of Vestpod - a thriving community that financially empowers women, author of You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich and host of The Wallet! You can learn more about Vestpod, join our events and subscribe to our newsletter at www.vestpod.com and on Instagram @vestpod. Join our private Facebook group: @vestpod.  Submit a question or a comment and email us a voicenote: podcast@vestpod.com.* Please note that we are not certified, financial advisers! The articles and information made available on Vestpod and this podcast are provided for information and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.*

💸 According to the Bank of England (2020), "a typical UK household spends over £700 more in December compared to other months".⁠ December is almost upon us, so we're bringing back a hotline episode that will get you on track before Christmas! The pressure to spend money on countless presents, Christmas decorations and mountains of festive food can feel especially difficult. So how do we stay sane this season while still enjoying the holidays?The Wallet is hosted by Emilie Bellet - founder of Vestpod (a platform that helps women to save and invest more and provides money resources to financially empower women) and author of You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich.Vestpod:IG https://www.instagram.com/vestpod/ FB https://www.facebook.com/vestpod  Website https://www.vestpod.com/  *We are not certified financial advisers. The information made available on this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.*

☎️ Today, we answer a question from our listener Alexandra, who asks us about teaching children about money. I invited Helen Driver, Director of Collaboration at MyBnk charity, ex-fund manager and long-time Vestpod, to offer us her words of wisdom on the topic. 💸 Money can feel like a taboo in a lot of households, but it’s important to broach the topic to help children feel financially confident in their futures. Helen shares 3 tips to help children develop better money habits, from making the right choices in the day to day to managing pocket money.Today on The Wallet: 1/ It all starts with simply integrating money into daily conversations with your kids, so Helen gives examples of how we can do that without making the subject too weighty.2/ Pocket money is a powerful tool for learning about money, and Helen talks about why it’s important to let kids simply experience the process of spending and saving (and make mistakes along the way!). 3/ Children learn by watching and listening to the behaviours that they see around them, and Helen explains what this means for parents and their own attitudes to money. You can follow and connect with Helen:LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-driver-5725b550 MyBnk: https://www.mybnk.org/Resources mentioned in the episode:Money Twist – KS1: https://www.mybnk.org/our-work/financial-education/money-twist-ks1/ I’m Emilie Bellet, the founder of Vestpod - a thriving community that financially empowers women, author of You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich and host of The Wallet! You can learn more about Vestpod, join our events and subscribe to our newsletter at www.vestpod.com and on Instagram @vestpod. Join our private Facebook group: @vestpod.  We want to open up a direct conversation with you on the podcast. You can submit a proud money moment, a question or a comment on a previous episode. Just email me a voice memo at podcast@vestpod.com.* Please note that we are not certified, financial advisers! The articles and information made available on Vestpod and this podcast are provided for information and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.*