Better Financial Futures

Jordan was made redundant three times, once during a period of poor mental health that kept him out of work for six months. Rather than chase another job, he started his own business. Now he’s earning more than he did in employment, with the freedom to go fishing on a Friday morning. Connect with Jordan Website: https://saxsales.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-sax-playing-sales-guy/?isSelfProfile=false John and Jordan discuss: Rising redundancies in 2026 and why many people are turning to self-employment Learning the value of money through chores as a kid Redundancy, mental health and leaning on a support network Why starting a business felt less risky than another job How sending prospects a saxophone cover of “Hello” by Adele became a sales strategy The “buy it twice” rule for non-essential purchases Jordan’s biggest financial mistake: spending £1,000 in one night John’s top tip: If you’re worried about money or redundancy, take some time for yourself to reset, rethink and go again. About Jordan Jordan is the founder of Sax Sales, a fractional sales director service for marketing agencies. Better Financial Futures is about financial education, not financial advice.

Olympic finalist Chris Cook once invested his life savings in a business he hadn't researched, and lost it within weeks. He tells John Boatman how that mistake, along with lessons from elite swimming, changed how he thinks about money. Connect with Chris Website: https://www.chriscookgb.com/ Two Lengths Mindset Course: https://2lengths.teachable.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscookgb/ They discuss: Growing up with money in the north-east and the habits that stuck Teaching children about money when cash has all but disappeared The "two lengths of the pool" moment that transformed Chris's career Why simple isn't the same as easy The compound effect of investing small amounts regularly Why courage comes before confidence John's top tip: Applied knowledge is power. Learning about money is the first step, but acting on it, even with small regular amounts, is what changes your future. Better Financial Futures is about financial education, not financial advice.

In this episode of Better Financial Futures, John Boatman welcomes back Shaun Bartle for a conversation about financial education, the changing nature of money and what a more cashless future could mean for people across the UK. Shaun reflects on why understanding your own finances starts with discipline, from knowing where your money is going to thinking longer term about saving, investing and building assets. Drawing on his background in accountancy, business and property, he explains how learning how money moves has shaped his own approach to financial security. John and Shaun then explore the UK's gradual shift away from physical cash towards cards, mobile payments and digital currencies. They discuss both sides of that transition, including convenience and efficiency alongside questions around privacy, financial control, technology failures and the challenge of ensuring people are not left behind. The conversation also looks at cryptocurrency, the potential digital pound and how technologies such as blockchain could change the way we transact in the future. Throughout, the message remains simple: financial change does not have to be something to fear, but understanding what is happening puts you in a stronger position to adapt. Connect with Shaun LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-bartle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaun_bartle_bluewolfgroup/ Blue Wolf Assets: https://bluewolf.group/ What we cover in this episode Why financial education remains such an important issue in the UK Understanding your spending before focusing solely on earning more Why discipline can make such a difference to your finances Shaun's journey from accountancy into business and property The importance of starting to save and invest earlier Why Britain is increasingly moving away from physical cash The advantages and risks of a cashless society Why physical money can provide a sense of security and control Cryptocurrency and the importance of understanding what you invest in What a digital pound could mean for the future of money The trade-off between greater efficiency, security and financial control How technology and blockchain could reshape financial transactions Key takeaways Understanding your own financial position is an important first step towards improving it Financial discipline is about both controlling spending and preparing for the future Starting to save and invest earlier can give your future self more options The transition towards digital payments is already happening gradually rather than overnight A cashless society offers convenience, but also introduces questions around resilience, privacy and control You should understand both the risks and potential benefits before investing in unfamiliar assets Financial education can make technological and economic change feel far less intimidating Episode highlight Shaun explores the trade-off at the heart of a more digital financial system. New technology could make transactions faster, safer and more efficient, but greater digitisation can also mean a larger digital footprint and less individual control over how money moves. Rather than treating that shift as something simply positive or negative, Shaun argues that understanding the technology and staying informed is the best way to prepare for how money may evolve. John's top tip from this episode If there is something you want, consider saving towards it rather than automatically going into debt. Building the habit of putting money aside, whether for a treat or for your longer-term future, can help you stay more in control of your finances.

In this episode of Better Financial Futures, John Boatman is joined by 23-year-old business owner and LinkedIn specialist Imogen Pickton for an honest and engaging conversation about financial education, entrepreneurship, personal branding and building a business from a young age. Imogen shares how she started her business at just 18 while completing her A-levels during the pandemic, and how putting herself out there on LinkedIn opened the door to opportunities she had never expected. She reflects on how little financial education she received at school, the importance of developing good money habits early, and the challenges of learning how to price your services when you are first starting out. John and Imogen also discuss social media, the pressures younger generations face around spending and debt, building confidence online and why undercharging can make a business unsustainable. They also explore the growing role of AI in personal branding and why technology should support your voice rather than replace it. This episode is a reminder that you do not need to have everything figured out before you start, but learning about money, understanding your value and being willing to put yourself out there can make a huge difference to your financial future. Connect with Imogen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imogen-pickton/ What we cover in this episode Imogen’s journey from A-level student to business owner Why financial education is still missing in schools Developing healthy money habits from a young age The financial pressures facing younger generations Starting a business at 18 and learning as you go Why undercharging can make a business unsustainable Understanding your value and improving your pricing How LinkedIn can create career and business opportunities Building confidence through personal branding and engagement Using AI without losing authenticity in your content Key takeaways Developing good money habits early can have a lasting impact Financial education is particularly important when becoming self-employed Low pricing may help you gain experience, but it needs to evolve as your business grows Putting yourself out there can create opportunities even if you are not naturally confident Engaging with others is a simple way to start building confidence on LinkedIn Your pricing needs to reflect both the value of your work and the sustainability of your business AI can improve efficiency, but it should support rather than replace your own voice Episode highlight Imogen explains how charging around £100 per month for her first clients helped her gain valuable experience, but quickly showed her why pricing has to evolve if a business is going to become sustainable. She reflects on how learning to value her time and increase her prices became one of the biggest financial lessons of starting her own business.

In this episode of Better Financial Futures, John Boatman is joined by music industry executive, entrepreneur and long-time friend Kwame Kwaten for a fascinating conversation about money, royalties, financial education and building a sustainable career in the creative industries. Kwame shares his remarkable journey from performing with D Influence and supporting Michael Jackson, to discovering million-selling artist Shola Ama in a London tube station and working with some of the biggest names in music. Along the way, he reflects on the financial lessons he learned, the challenges many artists face with money management, and why financial education is desperately needed from an early age. The conversation explores how musicians earn income, the realities of royalty payments, the importance of understanding contracts, and the changing landscape of the music industry where artists have more control than ever before. Kwame also discusses the challenges facing grassroots music venues, the rise of artist ownership, and the growing value of music catalogues as long-term assets. This episode is a powerful reminder that talent alone is rarely enough. Understanding money, protecting your interests and creating multiple income streams are essential ingredients for building a successful and sustainable future. Connect with Kwame Website: https://ferocioustalent.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwame-kwaten-16a63b42/ What we cover in this episode Kwame's journey through the music industry and entrepreneurship Why financial education should be taught in schools The money mistakes many successful artists make Discovering Shola Ama in Hammersmith Tube Station How musicians earn money from royalties and publishing The importance of understanding contracts and ownership Why artists are increasingly self-publishing their music The challenges facing independent music venues Building multiple income streams within the creative industries The growing value of music catalogues and royalty income Lessons learned from decades in the music business Kwame's biggest financial mistakes and what they taught him Key takeaways Financial education is one of the most important life skills yet remains widely overlooked Earning money and managing money are two very different skills Multiple income streams can provide greater financial resilience Understanding contracts and ownership is critical in creative industries Royalty income can become a valuable long-term asset when managed correctly Artists who retain ownership of their work often have greater financial opportunities Building wealth often requires turning income into assets rather than spending it Success is often created through persistence, relationships and recognising opportunities Episode highlight Kwame shares the incredible story of discovering future chart star Shola Ama singing in Hammersmith Tube Station, following the sound of her voice through the station and ultimately helping launch the career of an artist who would go on to sell millions of records. He also reveals how missing an opportunity to meet a then-unknown Alicia Keys became one of the biggest financial and career lessons of his life.