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The Things That Make Us Smile

We’re back home after three wonderful weeks away. You know that feeling? The fridge is empty, there’s a mountain of washing, the garden suddenly looks twice the size you remembered, and Monday is already peering around the corner.

Here is a quick weekly update on where Ropho is.

For those of you following from the beginning, you might remember my early posts describing how I wanted to embrace new challenges. Mine was building a website—good or bad—using my long-held ambition of writing something I could share, while using the latest wonderful, slightly scary technology.

Learning the tech side (SEO, website maintenance) was manageable thanks to my industrial automation background.

I’ve really enjoyed experimenting with AI, especially generating images (though I’ve probably gone over the top with it, as I tend to do with new things!).

However, the next stage terrifies me. It’s something I’ve been dreading all along: creating a reel (video content).

For some, it seems like the easiest thing in the world—you only have to look at TikTok or Instagram.

For me, it is completely daunting. I regularly present to large audiences and speak at industry conferences, but in those environments, I have a shield: my products, my services, and a freshly laundered suit and tie.

So, here goes—start small, as I always say. My first attempt: no AI, no fancy lighting, just me first thing in the morning, sweaty before a shower and shave during my morning walk.

Looking back at it makes me smile—well, laugh, actually—at how rough it is. But (and this is a big but), I will hopefully improve. The point is, I’m giving it a go.

The Video Challenge: What Terrifies You?

• What terrifies you right now, and what are you actually going to do about it?

🚗 Buying a New Car After 60: Head or Heart?

“My daughter tells me we should be considering the environment. My brain tells me modern electric cars are sensible, efficient, and clean. But my ears? My ears miss the sound of an engine.”

After spending three weeks driving up and down the East Coast we stopped at a few dealerships looking at new cars, I’ve hit a wall. Modern cars are undoubtedly impressive—tech-laden, silent, and fast, but are they actually better, or just different?

It got me thinking about my 1990 Porsche 911 (the 964, for those who know).

Back then, driving it wasn’t about shouting success or showing off a status symbol; it was about pure, unfiltered power and that unmistakable air-cooled flat-six rumble, flying through the new forest like a lunatic.

It had power steering and ABS, so it was usable, but it was still totally analog. You felt every inch of the road, but i suppose that was the point.

Looking back, I realised I’m not really searching for a new car.

I am starting to understand why one particular car from another stage of my life has stayed with me for so long.

Perhaps after 60 we don’t simply buy with our heads or our hearts—we buy with our memories as well.

⛳ Can You Actually Get Better at Sport in Your 60s?

“I had one round of golf during our three weeks away, and I was smearing the ball straight down the middle in a way I couldn’t even dream of in my twenties or thirties.”

I like to kid myself that I’m in fantastic shape, and maybe the sensible strength training helps, but let’s be honest: why do some things get easier with age?

Is it the modern clubs with sweet spots the size of a dinner plate? Is it improved technique? Or is it something far simpler, less ego and more patience?

When you’re younger, you want to muscle the ball 300 yards off the tee, not giving a thought to where the bunker.Be damned, just hit it as hard as you can.

Decades later, you stop trying to prove anything to the course, relax your hands, and suddenly the ball goes exactly where you wanted it to go (sometimes).

I still spend too much time in the rough!.

Maybe getting older doesn’t always mean becoming weaker. Sometimes it means becoming more efficient, more patient and more aware of what really matters.

🌞 Do Couples Spend Holiday Time the Same Way?

“I spent three weeks along the coast focusing on writing, exploring local businesses, looking at cars, and finding great places to eat. I thought it was a brilliant break. Sharon enjoyed it too… but I know she’s secretly counting down the days until Crete in September and planning a shopping trip to prepare.” Wallet beware!

It’s the classic holiday paradox. For one person, a great break means keeping the mind active, working on passion projects, taking long walks, and checking out regional spots.

For the other, a true break means guaranteed warmth, a complete pause, relaxing by the pool drinking cocktails, and a bit of retail therapy before off-loading into the sun.

Neither approach is wrong, but it’s funny how two people in the same place can have completely different ideas of what constitutes a “recharge.

Three weeks away reminded me that life after 60 isn’t really about having all the answers. It’s about continuing to ask interesting questions.

Like should I take my laptop to Crete. I’m sure Sharon will have something to say about that particular subject!

This week those questions happened to be about fear, cars, golf and holidays. Next week they’ll probably be completely different.

That’s one of the things I enjoy most about writing Ropho. Every conversation teaches me something—and hopefully starts a few conversations of your own.

So, before we all head back into another week, I’d love to know…

Which of this weekend’s conversations made you smile the most?

Read More – Weekend Conversation: Wine, Summer Memories & Life After 60

Welcome to your Wednesday session.

Turning 60 changes how you view money.

Most retirement advice targets people in their 50s who are still playing the long-term planning game.

But when you cross into your 60s, reality bites.

Maybe you accessed your pension pot early at 55 and now realize you took out too much, too soon.

Or perhaps you have a decent chunk of disposable income right now and want to use it while you’re fit and healthy.

In your 60s, you become sharply aware of your own clock ticking and your vulnerabilities.

You don’t want 20-year investment cycles anymore, you want shorter-term projects, stability, and the absolute freedom to embrace this decade.

Here is your comprehensive, no-nonsense guide to sorting your independent UK pension advice and launching a low-cost digital stream without losing your shirt.

1. How to Find Independent Pension Advice in the UK

Never guess your financial future. In your 60s, you need tailored advice to manage your existing pots, understand tax-free cash limits, and avoid running out of money.

Free Government Pension Guidance Services

• MoneyHelp https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/ener: Offers free, unbiased financial guidance backed by the UK government.
• GOV.UK Pension Service https://www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service: Use this official official helpline to get a proper look at your State Pension forecast and your National Insurance contribution history.

Paid Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs)

If you have a more complex setup—like a blended family tree, specific business assets, or a lump sum you want to protect for the short-term—you need a regulated, paid expert.

• Unbiased https://www.unbiased.co.uk/: Connects you with local, FCA-regulated independent financial advisers who don’t push specific brand products.
• VouchedFor https://www.vouchedfor.co.uk/: Features verified customer reviews for financial advisors, solicitors, and accountants right in your local area.
• The Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) https://societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk/: Specialises in advisers who truly understand later-life finance, care funding, and over-60 estate planning.

2. Starting a Digital Income Stream: The Ropho, Side Hustle Strategy

You do not need to be a tech genius to start a digital business in your 60s. The ethos here at Ropho is simple: don’t wait for perfection, just start. You can monetise a lifelong hobby, offer consulting from your previous career, or build a community.

Using Ropho as a live case study, here is how you can build a low-cost, DIY digital stream while avoiding major tech headaches and financial pitfalls.

What to DIY (Keep Launch Costs Low)

• Domain Registration: Secure your own name or brand name immediately using platforms like Namecheap, Ionos or GoDaddy. It costs less than £15 a year.
• Website Content & Blogging: Write your own posts. Your unique voice, hard-earned experience, and peer-to-peer honesty are assets that no outsourced agency can ever replicate.
• Social Media Networking: Set up a free Facebook Page or LinkedIn profile to talk directly to your audience without spending a single penny on advertising.

What to Outsource (Avoid Tech Headaches)

• Web Hosting & Design: Do not waste weeks trying to code a website. Use managed platforms like Ionos, WordPress or Squarespace. They handle the security, hosting, and templates for you.
• Graphic Design & Branding: If you need a clean logo or a professional Facebook banner, pay a freelancer a small one-off fee on Fiverr or Upwork rather than wrestling with complicated design software.

The Realistic Tech Stack for Beginners

The Wednesday Reality Check

Whether you are fixing a past pension mistake.

Looking to grow a short-term pot, or launching a digital side hustle to keep your brain sharp.

The rule remains the same: action beats perfection every single time.

Look at Ropho—we are evolving every week, tech glitches, broken coffee machines, and all.

Balancing Business and Pleasure After 60

Speaking of balancing business with the freedom to enjoy this decade.

I’m putting that exact philosophy into practice this very weekend.

Following on from Monday’s post about my upcoming business consultancy meeting in Bath, Sharon and I are turning the trip into a proper weekend break.

While I’m tied up in the meeting on Friday, I’ve booked her in for some well-deserved beauty treatments.

Then, from Friday evening through to Sunday, we’ll be completely off the clock, exploring the history, architecture, and food scene of one of my absolute favourite cities.

Of course, no trip is complete without keeping the routine going—my travel resistance bands are already packed, and the good walking shoes are by the door, ready for miles on the pavement.

Keep an eye out for this weekend’s travel, food, and drink post, where I’ll be sharing our favourite spots from the trip.

Join the Conversation

Let me know your thoughts on the new Wednesday format. What is holding you back from starting your own digital project or getting that pension check-up?

Let’s talk in the comments below!

Read More – Winding Down or Warming Up? The Truth About Risk, & Coffee

Managing a large, busy family is brilliant, but let’s be honest, it comes with its own unique set of rules.

Sharon and I have six children between us from previous marriages, and we are currently blessed with seven grandchildren (ranging from a 22-year-old adult right down to a newborn who is just over a week old!).

It means we regularly find ourselves explaining the technicalities: “Well, technically your Nan is your step-grandmother…”—even though she doesn’t see it that way for a single second.

Love doesn’t care about prefixes, but the UK legal system certainly does.

Which brings us to the thorny, emotional question facing so many of us in our 60s.

How do you navigate wills, trusts, and leaving money behind in a modern, blended family without starting a third world war?

🤖 How do you protect biological children in a second marriage in the UK?

To protect biological children in a second marriage, avoid a standard ‘all-to-spouse’ will, which puts family assets at risk of sideways inheritance.

Instead, use a Life Interest Trust to secure your surviving partner’s lifetime needs while legally guaranteeing that your share of the estate eventually passes to your biological children.

The Hidden Conflict: Human Reality vs. Cold Math

In my business consultancy, I always tell my clients:

Before you try to solve a problem, you have to find out what the real question is.

When it comes to estate planning and protecting biological children in a second marriage in the UK, the textbook question is usually: “How do I split my money equally?”

But in reality, that’s completely the wrong question. Why?

Because a large family isn’t a flat line; it’s a landscape of completely different personalities and financial realities.

You have some who have done phenomenally well materially, some in the middle, and some who genuinely struggle.

And here is a fascinating, raw piece of human nature Sharon and I have observed over the years: it’s often completely inverted from what you’d expect!

Amazingly, the ones who have the most materially can sometimes be the ones who experience the most jealousy or keep strict score of who gets what.

Meanwhile, the ones who have the least are often the very first people who would give you their last pennies if you were stuck.

When you’re dealing with those complex personality dynamics, cold, standard legal rules don’t fit the bill.

If you aren’t careful, you can fall into classic legal traps like “Sideways Inheritance”.

Where a standard, simple will, accidentally leaves your biological children with absolutely nothing if you happen to pass away first.

Should an inheritance go just to the kids? Just the grandkids? Equal splits, or separate pots?

If you ask the wrong question, the right answer is completely useless.

Wills and Trusts for Blended Families: Choosing Your Alternative

Because every family has a totally different dynamic, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

You have to match the specialist to the specific problem.

Something I always ask my clients is: What is your specific problem, and how are we going to help solve it?

If you want to move past the big-picture chat and get watertight, professional advice tailored to your exact family tree, here are three great, distinct routes to explore:

• The Local Route: If you want a traditional, strictly regulated local solicitor to sit down, look at your family tree, and draft matching wills, use The Law Society’s Find a Solicitor Toolhttps://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/.
• The Specialist Route: If you have complex assets, business interests, or want to explore Discretionary Trusts (a fantastic tool that lets trustees distribute money based on who needs it most when the time comes), you need a “TEP” (Trust and Estate Practitioner). Find one via the https://www.step.org/public/step-directory
• The Straightforward Route: If your situation is blended but relatively simple and you want a dedicated, affordable will-writing specialist bound by a strict Code of Practice, check out The Institute of Professional Willwriters.https://www.ipw.org.uk/

The Ultimate 60s Question

With all this pressure to protect the legacy, manage personalities, and keep the peace.

It is no wonder people sometimes struggle to just relax and enjoy their 60s!

So, I have to ask you the ultimate question:

Do you sweat over the inheritance down to the last penny?

Or do you spend a healthy chunk of it taking the whole chaotic crew on holiday to Mexico or Crete, or—my personal favourite—just blow the lot on a permanent home in St Lucia and let them figure it out themselves?

📰 Coming Up Next on Ropho: The Weekend Pull-Out

As part of our brand new 3-month layout, I’m introducing a strict, newspaper-style rhythm to Ropho.

You’ve had your Midweek Personal Finance today.

As the weeks pass we will look at personal finance in more depth whether it be pensions, inheritance you ask the questions, I will ask the experts for the answers.

This Friday, look out for our Weekend Lifestyle Pull-Out, where we are looking at Winding Down or Warming Up.

Is it a good idea to take risks in your 60’s.

And my coffee machine has broken!

Future subjects will include, but not limited to, the hilarious, chaotic logistics of multi-generational holidays,.

How to manage grandchild funding when the ages range from 22 years old to 1 week old, and how to handle the inevitable family joke: “Oh, so is he your favourite now?”

Let me know in the comments below: On today’s topic, where do you stand? Are you Team Legacy, Team Family Holiday, or Team St Lucia? Let’s get the conversation started!

Read More – Integrity, Silly Jokes, and a High-Protein Breakfast

Why Getting the Order Wrong Will Kill Your Niche Business

Now that the Bank Holiday is out of the way and we are back at our desks.

I would like to thank everyone who has contacted me about the 8 week overview series.

The discussions about different aspects of your businesses have been fascinating, and I have to say inspiring to know that there are so many of us in our 60’s and above still pushing that entrepreneurial spirit.

My hope with the business section of this blog was to stimulate conversation and look at things from different angles, as we experience different challenges in this great decade.

Although I have talked about growth and scaling before,and following discussions with many of you.

It has become very apparent, that it is quite unique and and confusing at our age to work out and define what we want to achieve for our businesses in this decade.

I thought I would look at growth and scaling, from the businesses that I have most experience with,and discuss the way I am changing and scaling my own business interests.

I hope this will help simplify things, and as always please share or contact me with your experiences.

So, let’s talk about the ultimate business metric: Growth.

Every quarter, global corporate giants are judged on whether they are expanding.

We are constantly told that without growth, a business will stagnate.

But over recent years, another word has taken centre stage: Scaling.

Scaling promises rapid expansion driven by systems, clever frameworks, and technology.

It sounds exciting. But for long-established or family-run businesses, there is a massive trap here.

Too many firms try to grow before they have earned the right to scale.

If you run a business based on decades of hard-won experience, trying to grow an unstable operation is like putting a massive V8 engine into a car with no brakes.

It simply magnifies the mess.

• Growth is linear. It means adding resources (more hours, more staff, more physical assets) to increase revenue. It raises your cost structure proportionally. More logs on the fire.
• Scaling is exponential. It means building systems so your business can handle significantly more revenue without a major spike in overheads or personal hours. Making the existing fire burn twice as hot using the exact same wood.

The secret? You must scale your systems before you invest in physical growth.

Here is exactly how this principle applies to the two sectors where these foundations matter most.

1. The Contracting Sector: “Scale First, Grow Second”

In contracting, traditional growth often means buying three more depreciating vans, hiring four unreliable subbies, doubling your stress, and keeping your net profit margin exactly the same.

When working with contracting clients, we implement a strict “Scale First” blueprint without adding dramatic overhead:

• Documenting the Niche: One electrical contractor stopped chasing every minor domestic job and explicitly focused on commercial control gear and automation. By establishing authority in a precise niche, credibility was built, and high-value contracts followed naturally.
• Smarter Marketing over “Volume”: A Building Maintenance business shifted away from old-school word of mouth. Instead of expensive, broad campaigns, they invested purely in local SEO and claimed their Google Business Profile. That single system move captured 40% of their new market contracts through highly targeted inbound inquiries.
• Plugging the Leaks: A roofing contractor client zeroed in on tracking real job margins. They discovered minor installation errors were leading to recurring, non-billable warranty costs with existing clients. By fixing the quality control process on the ground, profits increased by 20% without adding a single new staff member.

2. The Manufacturing Sector: Building Stability on the Factory Floor

A few years ago, I stepped into a small, family-run manufacturing firm.

The owner was in his late sixties, possessed incredible drive, and worked alongside his two enthusiastic sons.

They were working exceptionally hard, but cash flow was unpredictable, production procedures were inconsistent, and sales relied heavily on ad-hoc public inquiries.

It was touch-and-go whether they would survive.

Before talking about expansion, the focus shifted entirely to scaling the efficiency of what they already had:

• Production Discipline & Roles: We introduced clear, repeatable operational procedures to reduce waste and protect margins. We defined who handled what, moving away from “informal family trust” to structured leadership.
• A Shift in Market Strategy: Instead of chasing low-margin public inquiries, we developed a secondary route to market: structured B2B (business-to-business) relationships. This created larger, repeatable orders, allowed for proper production planning, and stabilized their cash flow.

They didn’t buy a massive new factory; they just got smarter with the one they had.

Today, the business is completely sustainable and experiencing managed, highly profitable growth.

Read More – If You Only Track 5 Business Numbers, Make Them These

The “Old School” Dilemma: Matching Systems to Capabilities

When talking to business owners over 60, the most common objection is: “I’m old school. I don’t understand these modern software packages, and it’s just going to cost me a fortune.”

And they are often completely right to be skeptical.

Too many software companies sell aggressive, over-complicated packages that don’t fit the culture of a long-standing business.

Take the example of a long-established, relationship-driven firm that was talked into a highly aggressive, automated email marketing campaign.

It bombarded their clients with spammy, high-frequency sales pitches. It completely misread their audience, clashed with their brand identity, and actively damaged customer goodwill.

True scaling isn’t about buying the flashiest software; it’s about choosing simple, targeted blueprints that eliminate friction, reduce human error, and feel natural to use.

The Ultimate Lesson: Scaling Yourself

Many people assume that later life is a time to slow down professionally.

In reality, it can be one of the most powerful periods for building or reshaping a business.

Your decades of experience allow for better judgment, and your perspective naturally reduces unnecessary risk.

But as business owners, consultants, and advisors, we often hit a hard wall: The Time Trap.

If your business relies entirely on your physical presence—whether you are an electrician on-site, a factory manager on the floor, or an advisor delivering face-to-face consulting—you aren’t scaling.

You are just trading hours for pounds. You have a job, not a scalable asset.

True freedom comes when you package your decades of hard-won knowledge into repeatable, actionable systems that work even when you aren’t in the room.

That is exactly why the Ropho Business Hub was built.

We realised that we couldn’t physically sit in every van, on every factory floor, or in every boardroom to guide business owners over 60 through these turnarounds.

So, we did what we tell our clients to do: we scaled.

We took the exact blueprints, financial trackers, niche strategies, and operational toolkits used in these real-world contracting and manufacturing turnarounds and began transforming them into downloadable, practical digital toolkits, PDF frameworks, and e-books.

The key to this chapter of your career is not working harder; it is working more clearly.

Don’t just build a business that demands more of your physical time. Build a smarter foundation that leverages what you already know.

Strong foundations first. True scale second.

Join the Foundational Circle (Get the Blueprints Free)

Before you can sell a premium product at full price, you have to prove its value in the real world. We practice what we preach.

We are currently rolling out the next phase of the Ropho Business Section, transforming our weekly overviews into actionable, downloadable toolkit’s, checklists, and calculators designed specifically for trade and manufacturing businesses.

For our valued circle of subscribers, we are giving these foundational toolkit’s away completely free.

If you want to be amongst the first to test these old-school, no-nonsense business blueprints.

Head over to the Ropho Business Section today, read the weekly overviews, and drop your email to join the inner circle.

[Business Advice for Over 60’s]

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). Next Monday, we are taking a deep dive into what a KPI actually is, and the real reasons why they more often than not fail for small business owners.

Welcome back.

Still no word on Grandchild No. 7. At this rate, I’m half-expecting them to arrive with a CV and a three-year career plan.

Today, I’m stepping out of “Business Consultant” mode – mostly.

My wife pointed out that I recently asked our 11-year-old grandson for his “quarterly projections” on his Maths homework.

I’ve been told to speak “Plain English,” so here is my attempt at a low-jargon, lighthearted look at life in our 60’s.

1. The 5 Pillars of (Not) Falling Apart

I can’t help it – I love a “Pillar.” If it works for a multinational corporation, it works for a 64 year old.

Here’s the structure I’m using to keep the wheels on the wagon:

• Real Food: Eating things that actually grew in the ground, not in a lab. In your 60s, Protein is King. Think of it as the maintenance budget for your muscles.
• Sleep: 7-9 hours. Gone are the days of “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Now, if I get 5 hours, I look like I’ve been through a car wash without the car.
• Movement: 150 minutes a week. It doesn’t have to be a marathon; a brisk walk where you can talk but not sing is the “Zone 2” sweet spot.
• Sunlight: 15 minutes a day to tell your brain it’s daytime. It turns out we’re basically just houseplants with more complicated emotions.
• Hydration: Drink water before you’re thirsty. By the time your brain says “I’m parched,” your kidneys have already sent a formal letter of complaint.

2. Manifestation: Magic or Just a Good To-Do List?

I want to believe in positive thinking, but “Manifestation” usually sounds like something involving crystals and expensive retreats.

My take? It’s just “Business Priming” for your brain.

If you tell yourself you’re going to find a parking spot, your brain starts looking for brake lights instead of clouds. Is it the universe providing? Maybe.

Or maybe it’s just your Reticular Activating System finally doing its job. Either way, if thinking happy thoughts and it gets the job done, I’m in.

3. The Scent Review Snag

I’ve hit a wall with the fragrance reviews. In 2026, everything seems to smell like Pistachio or “Dubai Chocolate” (yes, really).

The snag? Olfactory Fatigue.

I’ve spent so much time sniffing “oud-infused-leather-berry” samples that my nose has gone on strike.

I currently can’t tell the difference between a £200 Parfum and the lemon-scented floor cleaner.

I’m taking a 48-hour “nose detox” – strictly fresh air and unscented soap—until I can actually tell my Sandalwood from my Strawberry Jam again.

Coming Soon…

Once I’ve grown the audience a bit more (and stopped talking like a middle-manager to my family).

I’ll be bringing in some actual experts to deep-dive into the science behind these pillars.

But for now, I’m just trying to stay hydrated and keep the “manifesting” to simple things – like a full night’s sleep.

Quick question for the room: When you’re trying to “manifest” something, do you go full “Zen Master” or are you more of a “shout it at the shower tiles” kind of person?

“By the way, while I’m obsessing over pillars and protein, I’ve realized that ‘Health’ isn’t just about what you eat—it’s about what you DO.

I’m currently looking into why having a hobby is actually a medical necessity in your 60s.

More on that soon, but in the meantime…

Does anyone have a hobby that doesn’t involve a spreadsheet? I’m asking for a friend (and my wife).”

Limbo, Grandchildren, and the Great Wardrobe War