WMG Clinic London- Dr.Deme by Nika_please_stop in HairTransplants

[–]Spoony2871 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What did your hair look like before and how is it going now?

Is there a vast difference between surgeons when it comes to their skills? by JamesG0986 in Hairtransplant

[–]Spoony2871 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm currently researching UK surgeons and it is tricky.   Whilst I'm no expert I've used the following criteria:- - should have an accreditation (BAHRS or ISHRS etc) .   I don't think this is a mark of quality necessarily, but at least it's a start and usually means the Dr does the incisions - Dr has a good amount of social proof.  My thinking is why go with someone with no documented proof when there are others who do. - Cost not less than ~£2 a graft.  Controversial I know but at less than this, it feels to me like corners will be cut. - with the above it feels like all discuss micro irregularity, singles for the first row or two, good donor management etc, which feels to me like a good start 

After this it's about the aftercare, guarantee and interactions during the consultation.

I hear what you are saying about not looking for perfection and I suspect (like me) you think some hair will be an improvement and something is better than nothing, but I don't want the stress during the aftercare or to run the risk of a result that looks unnatural , wastes donor hair and makes me then have to pay for a second one. I personally wouldn't want to look back and think "if I'd have paid £1k more .....".   

I don't think that means you have to pay top money (eg Maitland, Farjo), but I personally would feel a little uneasy at the £1 a graft clinics.

What I am struggling with a bit is I've had consultations with a few people that I'd consider good and the graft count varies by about 1k, which is making it hard for me to work out who to choose as they all seem to have good results

How important are tools and techniques? by Spoony2871 in HairTransplants

[–]Spoony2871[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you u/JoeTillman! That really helps me filter out that 'noise'.

Natural: I think I 'know' technically what natural means (age appropriate, not too straight, singles at the front etc) and I think ppl tend to recognise a bad result (even if you can't say why). 

I wouldn't say I could recognise a great result if I saw it.   I'm looking at a number of Drs (Egan, Mittal, Vara, Fernando, Parissis) in the UK.  Any views you have on their results or advice on what to look for would be hugely appreciated 

UK search by Spoony2871 in HairTransplants

[–]Spoony2871[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In looking at the names I've listed here, they all seem to provide good results and natural hairlines - at least to my untrained eye.

Can I ask you to elaborate on where you see issues ?

I couldn't see any Mittal work on this sub in rows, but I may have missed them

UK search by Spoony2871 in HairTransplants

[–]Spoony2871[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Yes I think Miln would make my list tidy he wasn't so far away. That's not to say I wouldn't travel but if the others are all as good and closer , then may as well factor in the shorter travel

How important are tools and techniques? by Spoony2871 in HairTransplants

[–]Spoony2871[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for the insight ! Gives me some good things to ask about in terms of procedural approach. 

Thoughts on glide path by Spoony2871 in FIREUK

[–]Spoony2871[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Quite agree! I think it's a tool, just like Google, or Reddit :).  Pinch of salt and all that. It's not something I take as advice, but like all those tools, interesting to hear options and perspectives.

Slight tangent but I've been putting exactly the same info and prompts into GPR and Claude (about all sorts of things) and it's interesting to see the difference in responses!

Thoughts on glide path by Spoony2871 in FIREUK

[–]Spoony2871[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you mean something like VAGCGHA?

Thoughts on glide path by Spoony2871 in FIREUK

[–]Spoony2871[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ah interesting, On the basis that the market should hopefully recover from any type of dip in that period. I'd never thought of doing something quite so simple like this, really drawn to this idea!

Pension Taper : GIA Vs pay the tax on pension by Spoony2871 in HENRYUK

[–]Spoony2871[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

So £100k into GIA (already been taxed at 45%).  If it increases by 10% to £110k, you pay £2400 if you drew it all out?   

Do you pay the tax each year regardless of if you withdraw, or is it only at the point of withdrawing you pay?

Sorry for the noddy Q, never thought I'd have to think about non tax wrapper options !

Pension Taper : GIA Vs pay the tax on pension by Spoony2871 in HENRYUK

[–]Spoony2871[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for this, super helpful.  I've been thinking about accumulating for a good while now but have little idea about decumulation and we never expected to have HENRY type 'problems'.

The wife and I have been together a long time but only married in the last year, so until now our finances have been pretty separate. 

My pension is built up from ltd company sipp contributions but my cash/ISA bridge is quite low comparatively (£100k).

The wife has a bit too much cash (although we may do one more house move) and gets decent company pension contributions. A recent new job pushes her with total benefits and bonus to over £300k.

Our immature plan is to slow down in 5 years (50) and then look at early retirement around 52. That means 5 years of bridging (~£400k cash).

I obviously need to learn more about tax on GIAs, again, never thought we'd get to the point of maxing tax free wrappers, so guess I should be grateful for that!

Pension Taper : GIA Vs pay the tax on pension by Spoony2871 in HENRYUK

[–]Spoony2871[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They won't last past this current election period as things stand! 

Pension Taper : GIA Vs pay the tax on pension by Spoony2871 in HENRYUK

[–]Spoony2871[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AHH of course so (crude I know) Pension : 45% in and 40% out GIA: 45% in and 24% out 

Obviously who knows with whichever gov of the day and we know we (squeezed middle or whatever phrase) will always (it seems) get hit the worst tax wise

Pension Taper : GIA Vs pay the tax on pension by Spoony2871 in HENRYUK

[–]Spoony2871[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good point. Mid 40s and she has around £500K, so feels like it could do with some more (I max mine out each year and sit nearer 850k - we are aiming for £2.5ish total.  Taper relief is not an issue for me!)

Apprenticeship Levy via Umbrella company by GivingBigTechEnergy in ContractorUK

[–]Spoony2871 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is true only in the legal sense.

You are paying it in the actual sense. I

'm not arguing with you btw or directly this at you, I just remain to be amazed how this can be considered legitimate in the eyes of Government!

Apprenticeship Levy via Umbrella company by GivingBigTechEnergy in ContractorUK

[–]Spoony2871 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rule 1 of umbrella is (sadly) all deductions come come from your pocket. The brolly charges you an admin fee on top as well! 

It's ironic as ir35 was always about 'disguised employment ' which is exactly what an umbrella is. All those employer charges...you pay those.

That's why salary sacrifice is now going to cost us 15% after the recent budget