Why this Substack exists (and who it is for)
Personal finance for healthcare professionals
Since leaving university 16 years ago, I have worked in the NHS.
Like most people, I spent years focusing on my training, my job, and getting through busy weeks — and almost no time properly understanding my finances.
It took me around eight years before anything financial really started to make sense.
Not because I wasn’t capable.
Because I didn’t have the time or energy.
And because it didn’t feel relevant at the time.
What I didn’t understand (for far too long)
I didn’t understand:
Why I should know anything about stocks, shares, funds, or bonds
How the NHS pension actually works
Why pay rises didn’t always translate into more money in my pocket
Why tax becomes more complicated — and more punishing — as your income rises
How to invest sensibly without checking markets or headlines every day
When I finally started learning, I realised something important:
Most personal finance content isn’t designed for NHS staff.
It’s usually:
Focused on very high earners
Obsessed with optimisation and “maximising returns”
Or built around hype, fear, and constant activity
That’s not helpful if you’re already stretched at work.
What this Substack is about
This newsletter is about calm, practical financial clarity for NHS staff.
Specifically:
Clear explanations of financial concepts for busy healthcare professionals
Understanding tax as your pay progresses
Avoiding common (and expensive) mistakes
Sensible, long-term investing for people who don’t want a second job managing money
Most posts are written with one question in mind:
“What would I want a trusted colleague to explain to me over a coffee?”
What this is not
This Substack is not about:
Get-rich-quick schemes
Crypto or trading hype
“This stock will 10x”
Or replacing personalised financial advice
I’m not trying to help anyone beat the market.
I am trying to help people avoid avoidable mistakes, stress less about money, and make better long-term decisions over time.
About me
I still work full-time for the NHS in a senior leadership role.
Outside work, my main hobby is financial analysis and investing — using my own money. Almost all of my savings are currently invested in one form or another within a stocks and shares ISA.
Over the years, I’ve informally taught personal finance within my department and helped dozens of colleagues with:
NHS pension applications
Understanding investing basics
Mortgages and house-buying decisions
I am not a financial adviser (though I have passed one of the formal modules).
This Substack reflects how I think about money, the mistakes I’ve made, and what I wish I’d understood earlier.
How this will work
Every important post will be free
Everything will be written with NHS realities in mind: time pressure, burnout, and financial constraints
Some posts will require more detailed explanation — these will include an “on-call” summary (a short TL;DR where possible)
Occasionally, I’ll go deeper — including publishing parts of my own analysis and how I think about investing my money — behind a small paid tier.
Founding members will also receive my NHS email contact details so we can speak directly if needed.
None of the information I share here is secret or exclusive — it’s all widely available if you have the time to dig into it.
I don’t expect people to subscribe, and this Substack isn’t about making money.
Paid subscriptions are simply a way for readers who find the content valuable to support the time and effort that goes into writing it.
If you work in the NHS and sometimes feel you should understand money better — but don’t want it to take over your life — this is for you.
Great Substack and a great niche! It looks both beneficial and crucial for those working long, long hours. Looking forward to reading your content