About Lodestar
Helping You See Clearly Through Your Retirement Papers
We started Lodestar because many people near or past retirement age had no clear idea what documents they held, what the papers meant, or where to turn. We exist to change that, calmly and practically.
Back to HomeHow Lodestar Came to Be
Lodestar was founded in Bangkok in 2019 by a small group of people who had spent years working in adult education and administrative support. The name refers to a fixed star used for navigation — which reflects the straightforward idea behind everything we do: help people find their bearings, especially when paperwork feels like an obstacle rather than a tool.
The founding team noticed that many Bangkok residents, both Thai nationals and long-term foreign residents, arrived at retirement age with boxes and folders full of statements, letters, and records they had never properly sorted. Some had paperwork from multiple countries. Others had received letters from pension bodies they didn't remember registering with. A significant number simply didn't know which questions to ask, or who to ask them of.
Professional advisors and official channels exist for those questions — and Lodestar always directs people toward them. But there is a step before advice: understanding what you actually have. That is the gap we fill.
Since opening, we have worked with individuals at all stages of retirement planning, from people in their forties who want to understand their workplace scheme documents, to those well into their seventies who have accumulated decades of paperwork and need it consolidated in one accessible place.
Our sessions are delivered at our Ratchathewi office or, on request, at a location convenient for the person we're helping. We keep group sizes small, materials simple, and language plain. Nothing we do requires prior knowledge, and no question is too basic.
2019
Founded in Bangkok
600+
People supported
3
Core service formats
The People Behind Lodestar
A small, experienced team with backgrounds in adult education, administrative support, and document management.
Priya Mehta
Lead Sessions Coordinator
Priya has been running document organisation workshops for over eight years, first in Singapore and then in Bangkok. She handles most one-to-one sessions and trains new facilitators.
Somchai Kanjanaput
Workshop Facilitator
Somchai brings a background in Thai government document procedures and adult literacy. He leads the Thai-language elements of our sessions and writes most of our plain-language reference materials.
Natalie Wren
Client Support & Scheduling
Natalie manages bookings, follows up with session participants, and ensures every client knows clearly what to bring, what to expect, and where to go next.
How We Keep Our Work Reliable
Document and information work requires care, consistency, and clear boundaries. Here is how we approach it.
Clear Scope of Work
Every session begins with a written explanation of what we will and will not do. We are an organisational and informational service. We do not advise on entitlements, eligibility, or financial decisions.
Document Confidentiality
We do not photograph, copy, or retain any personal documents you bring to sessions. All contact data is held in line with our Privacy Policy and is used only to communicate about your booking.
Plain-Language Materials
All handouts are written at a general reading level and reviewed for clarity. We avoid sector-specific terminology unless we explain it. Materials reference official sources only.
Referrals to Official Sources
Wherever a question goes beyond general education — eligibility, legal status, financial advice — we direct participants to the relevant government body or licensed professional rather than offering opinions.
Participant Feedback Review
Every session ends with a short, optional written feedback form. We review these each month to identify where explanations were unclear or where additional information would have been helpful.
Accessibility Considerations
Session venues are accessible by lift. Font sizes in printed materials are set at 12pt minimum. Participants requiring additional time or assistance are accommodated without charge or additional arrangement.
What Lodestar Stands For
There is a broad category of support that sits between general curiosity about retirement systems and formal professional advice — and that is where Lodestar operates. Most people do not need a financial planner to understand what a pension statement looks like. They need someone patient and knowledgeable who can sit alongside them and explain the terminology on the page.
Thailand's working population, including the many international residents who have built careers here, often holds paperwork from more than one country. Occupational pension records, state retirement documents, provident fund statements, and social security records each have their own formats and language. Knowing what you have, where it is, and how to find the relevant contact points is a practical skill, not a specialist one — and it is one we teach directly.
We believe that retirement should not begin with a stack of confusing papers. It should begin with a clear picture: here is what I have, here is what it means in general terms, and here is where I go if I have specific questions. Lodestar exists to help people reach that point of clarity before they need to act on anything.
Our three services — document organisation, educational workshops, and guided records navigation — are priced transparently and described fully before any booking is made. We work only within the scope of general education and administrative support, and we are explicit about the boundaries of that scope in every interaction.
Ready to Bring Some Order to Your Paperwork?
A first session is a good place to start. There's no obligation beyond the session itself, and no paperwork you could bring that would surprise us.
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