Why This Exists
The Diagnosis
A late ADHD diagnosis at 43 revealed decades of preventable financial losses.
I was losing approximately £1,600 annually through late fees, overdrafts, and missed payments. The pattern was consistent: every available financial tool failed through identical mechanisms.
Budget apps assumed I would remember to check them. Payment reminders assumed I would execute when prompted. Financial coaches required sustained implementation that I couldn't maintain.
Each solution demanded precisely the cognitive capability I lack.
The tools were not poorly designed. They were designed for different brains.
They assume reliable executive function. They assume you can initiate tasks, maintain focus, and follow through on intentions. For neurodivergent brains, these assumptions create systematic failure.
The Realisation
Open Banking APIs create the technical foundation for a different approach. Since January 2018, the UK has had the infrastructure to build something better.
I don't need "reasonable adjustments" to existing tools. I need autonomous infrastructure to eliminate the executive function requirement entirely.
- Payment Initiation: Enabling bill payments without user intervention.
- Account Aggregation: Moving money before discretionary spending begins.
- Real-time Monitoring: Supporting intelligent routing without interface engagement.
The technology exists. The regulatory pathway is established. The market need is quantified. What is missing is someone to build it.
The Decision
I'm building this because I need it to exist.
This isn't about spotting a "market opportunity." It is about the fact that every month I lost money to coordination failures, that autonomous systems could prevent.
There are 450,000 to 800,000 UK adults experiencing the same pattern. We are losing over £500 million collectively every year.
This is the ADHD Tax. It is real, measurable, and unnecessary.
The Approach
FLI operates through systematic evidence building. We prove the logic works before we automate.
Ready to Test
1. Infrastructure Complete: AI generates payday instructions based on account states and upcoming bills. System ready for manual execution validation.
2. Technical Foundation: Live webhook integration with Starling Bank processes transactions in real-time. Database tracks lifecycle costs automatically.
3. Regulatory Preparation: FCA submission package complete, including comprehensive Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
This approach transforms regulatory constraints into strategic advantage. I will document every prevented fee and every successful outcome before the system goes fully autonomous.
The Mission
Financial tools built for brains like ours — not theirs.
Every design decision serves this mission. We use ADHD-friendly typography, single-action patterns, and communication times optimized for when our executive function peaks.
This is a prosthetic for executive function, not a feature competition with high-street banks.
Who I Am
Matthew Grant. I am the ADHD Financial Guardian builder. I also currently serve as a Money Management Officer at Oxfordshire County Council.
My background combines technical rigour with lived experience. I have worked as a Data Manager, Project Manager, and Business Analyst. I build with Python, FastAPI, and React.
I am not a "tech-bro." I'm someone with ADHD, building the infrastructure I need to survive, and because nobody else is building it.
What is Next?
I'm building this publicly. You can follow the weekly progress, the technical wins, and the honest failures on the blog.