Next Level Finance

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.

Next Level Finance is a business podcast hosted by Zee Razaq, with 21 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Zee Razaq hosts Next Level Finance, a business show with 21 episodes published.

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  Next Level Finance

  The Secret Technique The Rich Use To Leverage Millions | NLF S3 Ep5 ft. Jamil Akhundov

  Sep 17, 202659 min

  Family offices provide some of the most flexible, high-speed lending available to property investors and business owners, and most people never get near one. In this episode of Next Level Finance, I sit down with Jamil, Managing Partner of Ploutos Associates, to unpack exactly how family office lending works, who it's for, and how entrepreneurs are using it to scale property portfolios and business acquisitions. We cover Jamil's journey from Azerbaijan to running a 16-year-old family office, the real story behind rescuing distressed property developers, why Germany is one of the biggest property opportunities in Europe right now, and how one entrepreneur turned a £10 million factory purchase into a £28 million exit using a data centre power supply deal. If you're a property developer, investor, or business owner looking at alternative finance, bridging, HMO conversions, title splits, or M&A leveraged buyouts, this episode breaks down how the funding side of the market actually thinks. Ploutas Capital ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro – What this episode covers 0:29 What is a family office? 0:57 How Ploutos Associates structures its lending model 3:23 Jamil's journey from Azerbaijan to the UK6:15 Leaving employment to become an entrepreneur 8:04 Building a family office from scratch 10:03 Scaling from a one-man operation to a full team 12:26 Biggest business challenge #1: Brexit 15:24 Biggest business challenge #2: COVID 18:07 AI in lending: the risks and the hallucination problem 21:26 Why data centres are the next big real estate opportunity 22:00 Case study: £10M factory to £28M data centre exit 25:00 Case study: the HMO entrepreneur who now owns 42 properties 27:08 Case study: unlocking value through title splitting 30:05 How family offices rescue stuck property developers 34:01 M&A and leveraged buyouts explained simply 37:04 How Jamil decides which entrepreneurs to back 39:40 Adding value beyond just lending money 43:25 Dealing with difficult clients (and why relationships matter) 45:07 Where the opportunities are now: AI, hospitality conversions, commercial 49:31 Why Germany is the biggest opportunity in Europe right now 53:09 The tax structuring mistakes costing developers millions 55:40 Ploutos Associates' future plans 57:00 Lending against gold, crypto, and luxury assets 58:55 Final thoughts

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  Episode #4

  The Property CEO Who Nearly Lost Everything | Next Level Finance S3 Ep4 ft. Ritchie Clapson

  Aug 21, 20261h 25mS3

  He sold his structural engineering business for seven figures, helped peer-review the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, retired in his early 40s... and then found himself sat on a beach Googling "depression."In this episode of Next Level Finance, Zee Razaq sits down with Ritchie Clapson — founder of Property CEO, one of the UK's largest property development training companies — for a raw, honest conversation about success, failure, mental health, and what actually builds long-term wealth.Ritchie opens up about the blowout spending after his first exit, a business partnership that nearly cost him everything, the moment his wife told him to get help, and how that low point eventually led him to found Property CEO. We also dig into practical property tax and structuring mistakes entrepreneurs make, the "who not how" philosophy, and his outlook for property entrepreneurs in 2026. Connect with Richie:LinkedIn: Ritchie ClapsonWebsite: propertyceo.co.uk Get your hands on Ritchie's Property Development Playbook: https://propertyceo.co.uk/nextlevel What you'll learn in this episode:Why sudden wealth and "no purpose" can trigger depressionThe real story behind Richie's Olympic Stadium project involvementHow a failed business partnership nearly wiped him outWhy he chose to pay back every creditor even without a personal guaranteeThe "true purpose" exercise that led to founding Property CEOCommon tax and legal structuring mistakes property developers makeHold vs. sell: the debate on building long-term wealth through propertyHis outlook for entrepreneurs and property development in 2026⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 – Cold Open: "I Googled Depression"00:34 – Welcome to Next Level Finance with Richie Clapson01:27 – The London 2012 Olympic Stadium Project03:22 – Selling the Business for Seven Figures03:54 – Retiring in His Early 40s05:02 – The Blowout: Cars, Boats, and a Big House06:58 – Investing in a Friend's Construction Business09:07 – When the Business Partner Disappeared10:31 – Paying Back Every Creditor (Even Without a Guarantee)12:34 – Realizing Something Was Wrong14:03 – The Beach, the Google Search, and the Doctor15:24 – "You'll Feel Better Anyway" – Getting Help17:15 – What the Hard Times Taught Him19:05 – Starting Property CEO in 201920:01 – Finding His "True Purpose" at a Mindset Weekend24:40 – Knowing Your "Why" as an Entrepreneur26:21 – Mentoring vs Teaching: The Difference28:01 – Bringing Out the Entrepreneur in Others29:07 – The 10x More, 10x Less Philosophy30:23 – Pain vs Gain: What Drives People to Take Action34:39 – Helping Students Through Depression and Neurodiversity41:01 – "I've Never Not Masked" – A Student's Story45:27 – Richie's Three Books Explained48:00 – Who Not How: Leverage and Delegation52:12 – Knowledge vs Judgment in the Age of AI53:54 – Building a Family Legacy in Business56:18 – Building Relationships: Why Meeting in Person Matters1:00:07 – Property Unfiltered: The New Show with John Howard1:02:46 – Entrepreneurship and Agility in 20261:04:15 – The Hold vs Sell Debate in Property Development1:12:33 – Common Tax Mistakes Property Entrepreneurs Make1:15:07 – Capital Allowances and VAT Pitfalls1:16:24 – Why Hybrid Group Structures Cost You Money1:19:41 – Building the Right Team: Accountant, Lawyer, Broker1:21:04 – Life After Property CEO: What's Next for Richie1:23:45 – Where to Find Richie Clapson Whether you've been through something similar or you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. If you found this valuable, please like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more in-depth conversations with property and business entrepreneurs.⚠️ This video includes discussion of mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a healthcare professional or a support service in your area.

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  Episode #3

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

  Jul 16, 202647 minS3

  🎙️ 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

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  Episode #2

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

  Jul 2, 202650 minS3

  🎙️ 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.

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  Episode #1

  She Made a NEW Property Strategy That Beats EVERYTHING. ft. Rachel Maria Knight | NLF S3 Ep1

  Dec 9, 20251h 14mS3

  <p>She became a mother at 17, worked in a post office, and spent 25 years in the corporate grind. Today, Rachel Knight -the "Title Split Queen"- is one of the UK’s most disruptive property trainers, teaching a strategy she claims is adding millions in hidden value to portfolios.Like the video if you want more content like this, and don't forget to hit subscribe to keep up to date with all the latest tax insights and news!Key Moments:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:50 - The Single Mom Origin Story00:09:30 - Leaving the 6-Figure Corporate Life00:18:14 - The £30k Education That Missed the...

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