‘I’m unemployed, a new father and £9,000 in debt – can I afford a £100,000 pension?’

Jordan Chapman is moving into a new phase of his life. A few weeks ago, he was working as a forest school leader, where he was tasked with running programmes for children at a luxury camping resort. After eight months in the role, the 33-year-old has now left so his higher-earning fiancée, a community carer, can work more hours while he looks after their one-year-old daughter. He’s also in the process of setting up a charity to deliver bushcraft activities to disadvantaged people, including armed forces veterans, prison leavers and children in state care. It’s a busy time but he also wants to sort out his long-term finances now he has a growing family. He says: “I just want financial security for me and my family. Since time immemorial, you’ve always needed money to do stuff. If you don’t have money, you’re incredibly restricted in what you can do. I’m looking at short-term pain, long-term gain, as it were.” He has various savings accounts he’s keen to grow. These include a Lifetime Isa or Lisa, which he used for the deposit on his home but is now using to rebuild his savings, currently at just over £1,000. He also has...

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