This week’s episode is a special one.

We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Sam Lappin, and it turned out to be totally unmissable for anyone who has yet to find their path after they finish CeMAP.

In this episode, we dig into:

* The different routes available after CeMAP

* Employed vs self-employed pathways

* The difference between DA & AR

* The types of support new advisers really need

* The questions people face when they’re nearing the end of their studies

* And why your long-term thinking should start much earlier than most people realise

It was genuinely a pleasure to record. Sam was brilliant, and we'd love to do it again soon.

🔎 Useful Links From The Episode

If you’d like to explore the routes we discussed, here are the links mentioned:

Sesame Network Limited Website

https://www.sesame.co.uk/

Sesame Jobs Board

Find both employed and self-employed opportunities, pre and post CAS:

https://www.sesame.co.uk/Jobs-Board

Thinking about joining Sesame?

https://www.sesame.co.uk/Join

Connect with Sam Lappin on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samlappin/

🎧 Special Shoutout – LBA Accountancy

I've done this before, but I wanted to give a MASSIVE shoutout to Leila at LBA Accountancy, who specialises in supporting advisers and financial professionals. When I say Leilas help with starting my small business changed my life, I say it with my whole heart.

If you’d like to speak to her directly, you can WhatsApp her here:

https://wa.me/447999625555?text=Hey%2C%20I%20heard%20about%20you%20on%20the%20Future%20in%20Finance%20Podcast%20and%20would%20like%20to%20know%20more

There’s a lot of noise around CeMAP — and a surprising amount of it is simply wrong.

In this episode Maria and I break down the biggest lies people hear about CeMAP, the ones that stop capable people from starting at all or leave people questioning themselves when nothing is actually wrong.

We cover:

* The myth that CeMAP is only for people who are good at maths

* Why you don’t need a finance background to pass

* The belief that CeMAP takes years to complete

* What failing a CeMAP exam really means (and what it doesn’t)

* Why over-studying often causes more problems than it solves

* The idea that CeMAP is suddenly harder than it used to be

* And the quiet assumption that everyone else understands this better than you

Most people who struggle with CeMAP aren’t struggling because they’re incapable, they just haven't found a study route that works for them.

If you’re studying CeMAP, thinking about starting, or feeling unsure whether you’re “doing it right”, this episode will help you find some focus. And if you need a little extra support remember you can get your hands on HOURS of free content by heading to:

https://main.futureinfinance.co/home

Home exams can feel intimidating especially when the rules and expectations aren’t always explained clearly.

In this episode, Maria the Money Muggle and I break down everything you need to know about sitting your CeMAP exams from home on the new format, so you can go in feeling prepared rather than panicked.

We cover:

• The new home exam layout and what’s changed

* What to do before exam day to avoid unnecessary stress

* Common things people get caught out by during home exams

* The best time of day to sit your exam (and why it matters)

* How to set up your space properly

* And our most unhinged but surprisingly effective tip for managing exam anxiety

This episode is all about helping you feel calm, in control, and confident because home exams aren’t harder, they’re just different.

If you’ve got a CeMAP exam coming up and you’re feeling nervous about sitting it at home, this conversation will help you know exactly what to expect and how to handle it.

And yes, the anxiety tip is... controversial, but if it works 🤷🏼‍♀️.

If this episode helps, share it with someone else who’s got an exam booked — chances are they’re stressing too

In this episode, I break down exactly what’s changed, who it affects, and (most importantly) what you actually need to study for each exam.

We cover:

* How CeMAP 2 can now be sat in two halves

* Which topics are tested in each part

* Why Topics 16–19 sit separately

* How CeMAP 3 builds on CeMAP 2

* What’s changed with textbooks and digital materials

* What to do if you can’t find your content clearly in the portal

* The biggest mistakes learners are making in 2026

I also talk through the different ways you can approach your CeMAP studies, depending on how much structure and support you want:

If you want the fastest, most supported route, my 6 Weeks to CeMAP courses take you from start to exam-ready in a fixed timeframe, without taking time off work.

If you want flexibility my CeMAP e-learning platforms walk you through exactly what to study, in the right order, with clear exam focus.

And if you’re starting with the textbook and want guidance before committing to anything, I also share how to access my free study resources to help you study smarter, not harder.

For weekly CeMAP videos, walkthroughs, and updates like this, you can also subscribe to my YouTube channel:

👉🏻 @charlottehemmingway

You can also join the totally free whatsapp community here:

👉🏻 https://chat.whatsapp.com/FFTrQ8IyiH0JXPTlA7xIDg?mode=ac_t

If you’re studying CeMAP this year — especially if you’re self-studying or feeling unsure what to revise next — this episode will hopefully bring you one step closer to NOT throwing that textbook out the window.

If this episode helps, share it with someone else who’s studying — chances are they’re just as confused as you were.

CeMAP looks different going into 2026 — and in this first episode of the newly refreshed Future in Finance podcast, Charlotte and Maria sit down to talk through what’s actually changed, what hasn’t, and what it really means if you’re starting (or restarting) your CeMAP journey. This episode is about clarity, not panic. Together, we cover: • what has genuinely changed with CeMAP and FSRE • what we’ve learned since the changes were introduced • how to approach studying under the new structure • how FSRE is different — and why it’s not as scary as it sounds • the support options available to help you get qualified in 2026 • what to expect from the new wave of the Future in Finance podcast If you’re feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or stuck between old vs new information, this episode will help you understand where you stand and how to move forward with confidence. Free 60 Days to CeMAP Strategy: https://60daystocemap.futureinfinance... FSRE E-Learning Platform: https://learning.futureinfinance.co/c... Whether you’re brand new, returning after a break, or mapping out 2026 properly, this episode is your starting point.

What does it really look like to swap theatre lights for client meetings? In this episode, I sit down with one of my former Masterclass students — Jack Davidson — who’s made the leap from performing arts to add mortgage advice into his plan. We talk about:

• His experience inside the Future in Finance Masterclass
• The exam struggles that nearly threw him off track (and how he overcame them)
• The juggling act of balancing multiple side hustles while building a new career
• How he’s finding clients, building trust, and growing his confidence in the industry

If you’ve ever thought about a career change, this one’s for you — honest, real, and proof that you don’t need a finance background to make it work. You can follow Jack on Instagram here: @jack_davidson_dance @jack.thebroker Want to start your own CeMAP journey? Join my 6 Weeks to CeMAP programme — the structured, supported route to getting qualified without the overwhelm. You’ll get on-demand lessons, live weekly sessions, and personal WhatsApp coaching from me every step of the way.

Enrol here: https://learning.futureinfinance.co.uk

So many of you ask: "What actually happens once I pass CeMAP?"

This episode is for you.

Charlotte sits down with one of her former Masterclass students — now a fully qualified mortgage adviser — to talk honestly and openly about the journey from study… to job… to day one on the job.

In this relaxed and inspiring conversation, we cover:

✅ What led her to start CeMAP (and what the study process was really like)

✅ What happened next — from passing her exam to starting in the role

✅ How she found her first job (including advice for those still searching)

✅ The biggest surprises once she started working as an adviser

✅ Her favourite parts of the job — and what she didn’t expect!

✅ Challenges with confidence, client conversations, and imposter syndrome

✅ The flexibility and freedom the career has now brought into her life

✅ Her advice to anyone still studying and wondering what comes next

✅ Why networking really is everything (and how to start building your circle)

✨ Whether you're knee-deep in CeMAP 1 or debating a career change, this episode will give you a powerful glimpse of what’s waiting on the other side of the exam.

👇 Resources mentioned:

Find out more about CeMAP and get started here: https://www.futureinfinance.co.uk

Try the free version of the e-learning platform

Join the 6 Weeks to CeMAP coaching programme

🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs a little motivation to keep going!

You can also reach out to Erin Morgan here:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/erin_mallardmortgages?igsh=czdneXRkYzJpbTg2

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/19Y7QQQ8J4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

You can check KuKu Connect here:

https://www.kukuconnect.co.uk

#CeMAP #MortgageAdvisor #CareerChange #CeMAPQualified #MortgageAdvice #FinanceCareers #WomenInFinance

Whether you’ve sat exams recently or haven’t picked up a textbook in years, exam anxiety can feel very real. So in this special episode, I sat down with anxiety coach Sam Tierney to break it all down — and help you feel calm, confident, and ready to pass.

We covered:

✅ What is exam anxiety — and how is it different from normal nerves?

✅ Is a bit of anxiety actually helpful sometimes?

✅ Why some people seem more affected by exam pressure than others

🧠 Practical Strategies for Students

Sam’s top tips for calming nerves in the run-up to your exam

How to deal with those horrible “my mind’s gone blank” moments

How to bounce back after getting a question wrong

Rewriting the “I failed before, so I’ll fail again” mindset

📚 Study-Related Anxiety

What to do if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content

How to avoid burnout or feeling paralysed before the exam

🗓 On-the-Day Tips

Breathing and grounding exercises Sam recommends

Managing time pressure and staying calm in the exam room

🧭 Mindset Shifts

How to build confidence when you don’t feel “academic”

Sam’s #1 piece of advice for anyone struggling with exam nerves

🧰 Sam’s Services & How to Connect

Sam is the creator of the brilliant course: 🎓 Master Exam Anxiety and Thrive Under Pressure: CeMAP Exam Success Blueprint

https://learning.futureinfinance.co.uk/courses/masterexamanxiety

You can find her at on Instragram @tierneyscoaching or at https://www.tierneyscoaching.com/

💬 If you’re prepping for your CeMAP exam and struggling with nerves, this episode is for you.

Send it to a study buddy. Re-listen before exam day. And remember — anxiety doesn’t mean you can’t do this.