Let’s be honest.
The plan we were sold?
It’s dead.
You followed the script:
- Worked hard
- Saved what you could
- Played it safe
And look where it got you.
Somewhere between the 2008 crash, Brexit, Covid, and this never-ending cost-of-living crisis…
…the old retirement model quietly died.
No memo.
No warning.
No bell.
But deep down, you know it:
- Your state pension won’t cover the basics
- Your salary keeps losing to inflation and rising living costs
- Rent and house prices are a joke
- The “middle-class life” isn’t the default anymore—it’s the exception
- And AI is spreading like wildfire—coming for desk jobs first, maybe yours included.
That knot in your stomach?
It’s not paranoia.
It’s clarity.
You didn’t fail the system.
The system failed you.
Welcome to 2025: The New Economic Reality
1. Wages are stuck
The average UK salary in 2008 was £26K.
In 2024? Around £35K.
That’s a 35% rise in 16 years…
…but inflation rose over 60%.
In London, the average salary in 2008 was around £32K.
In 2024? About £44K.
That’s a 37.5% increase—slightly better on paper, but nowhere near the rise in costs.
You’re earning more—but buying less.
Especially in cities, where everything costs more and stretches less.
2. Prices are sky-high
Inflation dropped from 11.1% in 2022 to 2.6% in 2025, but prices didn’t come down. They just stopped rising as fast.
Food, rent, fuel—still 25% higher than pre-Covid.
And you feel it every single week.
3. Housing is out of reach
Homes used to cost 3.5× the average salary.
Now it’s 9× nationally. Over 15× in London.
Even with two decent incomes—it’s a spreadsheet and a prayer.
4. Retirement’s not coming to save you
J.P. Morgan calls the UK retirement plan a “slow-motion train crash.”
And they’re right.
State pension: £11,500
Average living costs: £25K+
Private pensions? Not enough.
Workplace pensions? Half don’t have one.
Inflation-linked? Only 12%.
Even people who “did everything right” are still coming up short.
5. AI’s not hype. It’s happening.
Goldman Sachs says up to 300 million jobs could be hit.
Mostly white-collar. Mostly desk-based.
If you sit behind a screen—you’re exposed.
So what do you do?
You’ve got two choices:
1. Wait
Hope the system magically fixes itself.
2. Build
Take what you already know.
Stack a few new skills on top.
And start creating something that’s yours—something that actually scales.
That’s what I’m doing.
And I’m showing the whole process—every step, every lesson—in public.
Who I Am (And Why I’m Doing This)
I’m Jacek (Jack) Iciek.
40 years old.
Dad to a 5-year-old son.
Full-time precious metals trader.
No marketing credentials.
No ad budget.
No fancy writing skills.
But I’ve got:
- Real-world experience
- Strong opinions
- A restless curiosity that doesn’t quit
When my son Alexander was born during the pandemic, something changed.
I started auditing everything:
- My health
- My money
- My purpose
And I realised:
If I want peace of mind—and something to leave behind—I can’t keep relying on a system that’s already crumbling.
So I’m building a one-person business.
Simple.
Honest.
Online.
Not to become an influencer.
Not to chase dopamine.
But to create real meaning, freedom, and control.
On my terms.
Being 40+ Isn’t a Liability.
It’s an Advantage.
We’ve lived through:
- Recessions
- Redundancies
- Burnout
- Bullshit
We know what not to trust.
We don’t need hype.
We need something that works.
And we’ve still got a critical window—10 to 15 solid years of relevance, energy, and health.
That’s more than enough time… if only we use it right.
Every Monday: One Real Insight You Can Use Immediately
Each Monday morning, I send one clear, no-fluff email.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- What I’m building
- What’s working
- What’s failing
- What you can steal for yourself
It’s called:
Meaning, Money & Mastery: After 40
Not content for content’s sake.
Not theory.
A real-time case study in:
- Taking honest stock of where you are
- Showing up naturally online (without faking it)
- Turning your existing knowledge into income
- Using AI as a tool—not a trap
- Building momentum with small, fast iterations
At the Heart of It All: 🔁 The Iteration Loop
Try → Fail → Adjust → Try again → Refine → Traction
The more you loop, the faster you:
- Gain clarity
- Find your voice
- Build trust
- Grow your audience
- Create real income
Just like the Wright brothers:
They didn’t wait for perfect.
They built. They crashed. They learned.
And eventually—they flew.
That’s the process.
That’s what I’m sharing.
That’s what works.
Who This Is For
✔️ You’re 40+
✔️ You’ve got responsibilities
✔️ You’re tired of waiting
✔️ You want to build something real—without faking it
This isn’t about hype, hacks, or pretending to be someone you’re not.
It’s about building something small, solid, and yours.
Who This Isn’t For
❌ You want overnight success
❌ You think AI will do it for you
❌ You’re looking for “passive income” shortcuts
❌ You need a guru or a silver bullet
If that’s what you want—you won’t find it here.
Final Word
Where you are now is clear:
Caught in a system that’s quietly failing.
Where you could be?
Building personal equity online.
Turning what you already know into income you control.
Creating something meaningful—for yourself, and for the people you love.
The gap between those two futures?
It closes a little more each day you wait.
I’m not selling a course.
I’m not asking you to bet the farm.
I’m simply saying:
Start.
Join Me
Meaning, Money & Mastery: After 40
One real insight. Every Monday.
No fluff. No hype. No BS.
Free. Human.
Built for people who want to build something real.
