Official Press & Media Room
Zulfiqar Ali | Managing Director & Self-Employment Expert
“The 9-to-5 isn’t dying; it’s being audited.”
“The greatest threat to the modern creator economy isn’t a lack of followers it’s a lack of corporate-level financial discipline. As 70% of professionals trade their salaries for dividends, they discover that the friction of self-employment isn’t the creative work; it’s the data reporting they left behind at the office.”
Zulfiqar Ali is a former Production & Delivery Analyst Financial Data Reporting (BNP Paribas) and Sales Associate ISAs & Savings(RBS). He leverages corporate data metrics to lead TrustedCreators LTD, helping professionals master the financial discipline required for self-employment working for yourself.
“The UK economy is powered by the 4.3 million solo directors who represent 75 percent of our entire business population. This group is the invisible majority of our workforce.” Zulfiqar Ali – Managing Director TrustedCreators.org
“Analysing data for balance transfers and cash advances at BNP Paribas taught me that cash flow is the only metric that matters. Many self-employed directors mistake ‘revenue’ for ‘stability,’ failing to account for the hidden costs of credit that can sink a small firm in under 90 days.” Zulfiqar Ali – Managing Director TrustedCreators.org
“Having managed personal finance products at RBS, I’ve observed that the gap between ‘saving’ and ‘investing’ is where most new entrepreneurs fail. In a high-inflation economy, a standard ISA isn’t enough; business directors must treat their cash reserves with corporate-level rigour.” Zulfiqar Ali – Managing Director TrustedCreators.org
“Data from 250 episodes of ‘Zulf Talks’ confirms that 70% of professionals are under-prepared for the shift from a guaranteed salary to a performance-based dividend model. The friction isn’t the work it’s the financial reporting.” Zulfiqar Ali – Managing Director TrustedCreators.org
SME Market Data: 2026 Official Figures
| Business Metric | Verified Statistic |
|---|---|
| Total Private Businesses | 5.7 Million |
| Solo Directors (No Staff) | 4.3 Million (75%) |
| Micro Businesses (1 to 9 staff) | 1.15 Million |
| SME Economic Contribution | £2.4 Trillion+ |
Source: Zulfiqar Ali compiled this data from DBT Business Population Estimates 2025/2026 for the ZulfTalks Podcast Season 19 prep to highlight the scale of the UK’s “Invisible Majority.”
Note:
“Zulfiqar is very hard working and focused… passionate about his job and always looking for new ways of working efficiently. Zulfiqar is a great asset for any project.”
– Tanzina Begum (Senior Associate, PwC)
View Recommendation
“He has a great perspective on creating new digital solutions. Highly professional and reliable.”
– Yaser Mahmood (SRRT, HMRC) View Recommendation
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