Next Level Finance

Zee Razaq

Welcome to Next Level Finance. Over this series, Zee Razaq, MD of GoldHouse Accounting, will be talking to some of the most influential entrepreneurs in the market right now. They'll be giving the deep-dive into their stories, how they came to success, and what tips they would give to anyone pursuing their dreams. By the end of this series you should have a clear vision of how YOU can achieve financial freedom. And we mean true financial freedom.

  1. Jul 16

    HMRC Are Coming for More Small Businesses in 2026 - How Do You Protect Yourself?

    🎙️ NEXT LEVEL FINANCE PODCAST | SERIES 3 EPISODE 3HMRC investigations are increasing, and many business owners have no idea how exposed they really are.In this episode of the Next Level Finance Podcast, Zee sits down with Stuart from Vantage Fee Protect to discuss how HMRC investigations actually work, why tax enquiries are becoming more common, and what entrepreneurs, landlords, and company directors can do to protect themselves.Learn more about Vantage Fee Protect here: https://www.vantagefeeprotect.com/Drawing on more than a decade of experience supporting accountants and defending taxpayers, Stuart reveals how HMRC's increasing use of digital systems, AI, VAT compliance checks, and worldwide income investigations is changing the landscape for UK businesses.The discussion covers real-world HMRC cases, including a professional sportsperson who faced a £125,000 tax assessment that was ultimately reduced to just £5,000 after expert intervention.In this episode, we discuss:• Why HMRC enquiries are increasing in the UK• How tax investigation insurance and fee protection work• HMRC's powers and what business owners need to know• VAT investigations and why refunds are increasingly scrutinised• Foreign income and worldwide tax disclosure enquiries• How AI is changing tax compliance and investigations• The importance of specialist support during an HMRC enquiry• Real-life examples of successful HMRC defences• Why accountants and entrepreneurs need stronger protection than ever00:00 Introduction00:26 Meet Stuart From Vantage Fee Protect02:12 Family, Purpose & Personal Challenges05:07 From Car Sales To Tax Protection06:46 What Is Fee Protection Insurance?08:33 How HMRC Investigations Actually Work09:22 Why HMRC Is More Powerful Than Most People Realise11:17 The Human Cost Of HMRC Investigations12:32 AI, Digital Tax & The Future Of HMRC15:31 The £125,000 Sports Star Tax Investigation Case20:57 How Former HMRC Experts Help Defend Clients23:05 Common Tax Mistakes Businesses Make25:20 Are HMRC Under Too Much Pressure?28:49 Will AI Replace Accountants?30:35 Building Relationships In Business32:28 Why HMRC Is Looking At Online Platforms37:06 Opportunities For Accountants & Entrepreneurs40:06 The Biggest Areas HMRC Is Investigating42:30 Foreign Income & Worldwide Tax Investigations45:04 Future Plans & Industry Changes47:05 Final ThoughtsWhether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, landlord, company director, accountant, or tax adviser, this episode provides practical insight into how HMRC investigations work and how to protect yourself.🔔 Subscribe for more expert business, tax, accountancy, and entrepreneur content.#HMRC #TaxInvestigation #BusinessTax #Entrepreneur #Accountant #TaxAdvice #SmallBusiness #VAT #UKBusiness #TaxInvestigationInsurance #NextLevelFinance

    HMRC Are Coming for More Small Businesses in 2026 - How Do You Protect Yourself?
  2. Jul 2

    How Faareen Ali Built her Viral Law Firm | Wills, Wealth & Moving to Qatar

    🎙️ NEXT LEVEL FINANCE PODCAST | SERIES 3 EPISODE 2In this episode, we sit down with barrister and entrepreneur Faareen Ali, founder of IFW Legal, to discuss her remarkable journey from losing her father at just 11 years old to building one of the UK's fastest-growing legal personal brands.Faareen shares her experiences breaking barriers as a British-Pakistani woman in law, overcoming rejection, building a successful legal practice, leveraging TikTok and personal branding, and helping thousands of families protect their wealth through wills and estate planning.We also explore inheritance tax changes, why so many UK families still don't have a will, international estate planning, moving to Qatar, entrepreneurship, property investment, and the future of wealth planning.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction02:31 Losing Her Father at 1105:18 Breaking Barriers in Law09:14 Resilience & Rejection12:46 Building IFW Legal15:37 Personal Branding & TikTok18:32 Business Profitability20:41 Why Wills Matter24:28 Going Viral25:50 Why Every Parent Needs a Will27:45 The UK's Will Crisis31:44 Estate Planning for Expats34:39 Building Relationships37:16 The Story Behind IFW38:18 Life in Qatar40:14 Property Investment42:04 Building Community43:12 Inheritance Tax Changes45:56 Why People Are Leaving the UK47:14 Future PlansTopics covered:✓ Wills and estate planning✓ Inheritance tax✓ Lasting powers of attorney✓ Entrepreneurship✓ Personal branding✓ TikTok marketing✓ British-Pakistani success stories✓ Women in law✓ Property investment✓ Qatar opportunities✓ UK tax changes✓ Family wealth protection✓ International estate planningIf you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE to support the Next Level Finance Podcast.

    How Faareen Ali Built her Viral Law Firm | Wills, Wealth & Moving to Qatar
  3. 07/28/2025

    Developers: Hidden Risks No-one Tells You About ft. Dave Forde | Next Level Finance S2 Ep8

    Zee Razaq interviews construction expert Dave Forde! In this episode, we dive deep into the realities of growing up working class, navigating a system that often feels rigged, and the importance of timing, speed, and resilience in both business and life. From personal stories to hard lessons, this episode shines a light on ambition, mindset, and the subtle dynamics that shape success and failure. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction: The biggest myth about health & safety in property development. 00:01:03 – Dave’s background: From electrician to top construction manager. 00:02:30 – The "lightbulb moment" that changed Dave’s financial future. 00:06:06 – How his partner’s father transformed his mindset. 00:11:24 – The "time vs. money" trap – Why trading hours for pounds won’t make you rich. 00:18:31 – CDM Regulations & Building Safety Act – How developers risk losing everything (even as passive investors). 00:28:44 – IR35 Disaster – Why the UK’s tax system is pushing talent abroad. 00:40:37 – How Dave landed a Russian oligarch client (and what ultra-wealthy clients really want). 00:54:57 – Commercial-to-Resi Success – How Dave saved a client £110K on a single project. 01:00:03 – Brexit’s REAL Impact – The untold story of Eastern European workers & IR35. 01:08:24 – Why Dave is Leaving the UK – Taxes, politics, and where high performers are going. 🚀 Follow Dave Forde: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-forde/

    Developers: Hidden Risks No-one Tells You About ft. Dave Forde | Next Level Finance S2 Ep8

About

Welcome to Next Level Finance. Over this series, Zee Razaq, MD of GoldHouse Accounting, will be talking to some of the most influential entrepreneurs in the market right now. They'll be giving the deep-dive into their stories, how they came to success, and what tips they would give to anyone pursuing their dreams. By the end of this series you should have a clear vision of how YOU can achieve financial freedom. And we mean true financial freedom.