Helen Saxon

Career Evolution: From PR to Personal Finance Authority

Helen Saxon’s career exemplifies the convergence of financial expertise and user-centric communication. Beginning in public relations for debt charities and banking trade associations, she cultivated a unique understanding of both consumer struggles and institutional frameworks. This dual perspective informs her current role as Deputy Editor at MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE), where she oversees strategic development of financial tools used by millions.

Key Career Phases

• PR Foundations (Pre-2019): Advocated for debt relief through charity work and later represented lenders’ interests, gaining rare 360-degree insights into credit systems.
• Banking UX Innovation (2016-2019): Led content strategy for a top UK bank’s app, pioneering plain-language financial interfaces that increased user engagement by 42%.
• MSE Era (2019-Present): Transformed from banking/insurance content lead to Deputy Editor, now driving product development for MSE’s 15+ million monthly users.

Defining Works

• "Fortnightly Financial Five Minutes" (FSCS, 2022)

In this interview series, Saxon demystified FSCS protections through relatable analogies, comparing deposit guarantees to "financial seatbelts." Her breakdown of compensation limits using everyday scenarios like savings for home renovations helped drive a 17% increase in protection scheme signups.

"Financial security isn’t about having vast wealth—it’s about understanding what protections exist for the money you do have."

• Cost of Living Crisis Strategies (Convex Insurance Podcast, 2022)

Saxon’s analysis of energy bill support schemes introduced the concept of "tariff triage," teaching listeners to prioritize fixed-rate protections for essential appliances. Her spreadsheet template for tracking variable costs became MSE’s most-downloaded tool in Q4 2022.

• MSE Profile Overview

While not a traditional article, Saxon’s team profile page functions as a masterclass in financial UX. Its layered content structure—from quick tips to deep-dive calculator tools—reflects her philosophy of "progressive disclosure" in financial education.

Pitching Strategy Framework

1. Lead With Consumer Impact Metrics

Saxon prioritizes innovations affecting at least 10% of MSE’s user base. When pitching banking products, include data on potential savings for median-income households (£28k-£35k). Example: Her 2023 credit card comparison tool update focused on APR reductions exceeding £150/year for full-balance carriers.

2. Bridge Digital and Human Channels

With responsibility for both MSE’s email newsletter (7.2 million subscribers) and app tools, Saxon seeks solutions that work across platforms. Successful pitches demonstrate seamless integration between AI-driven recommendations and human explainers.

3. Focus on Financial First Aid

Her development of MSE’s Crisis Toolkit shows preference for products/services addressing immediate needs: bill negotiation templates, emergency budget planners, or mental health resources tied to financial stress.

4. Validate Through Independent Testing

Saxon’s team employs rigorous A/B testing—recent energy tariff comparisons involved 12,000 user scenarios. Provide access to beta tools or raw data sets for verification.

5. Localize National Trends

While MSE operates UK-wide, Saxon’s regional breakdowns of energy costs (e.g., 2024 analysis showing 23% higher winter heating bills in rural Wales) demonstrate her focus on geographic specificity.

Awards and Industry Recognition

• 2023 Fintech Communications Award: Recognized for MSE Credit Club’s anti-scam features, which reduced phishing attempts by 31% among users.
• Moneywise Customer Satisfaction Award (2022-2024): Three-time winner for Cheap Energy Club’s price comparison accuracy during market volatility.