Reaching those milestones starts with setting clear financial goals

We all have dreams for the future, and many of those dreams require money and planning to make them become a reality. Reaching those milestones starts with setting clear financial goals. Making decisions with a clear endpoint in mind can make it easier to achieve financial security and allow you to enjoy your life to the full, so we’ve put together this brief rundown to help you get closer to your goals today. Continue reading →

Looking after your lifestyle during a time of uncertainty
Nobody wants to worry about how they’ll pay the bills if they become sick or injured and can’t work. But illness or injury can strike at any time and can lead to serious financial trouble. The latest government figures[1] report the dramatic increase in the likelihood of long-term sickness absence when we age, leading to an employment absence of four weeks of more. Continue reading →

How much should you try to save to have a comfortable retirement?
The number of people saving enough for a comfortable retirement has hit its highest ever level, with almost three in five Britons (59%) now saving adequately for the future[1]. This is a significant improvement from the 55% proportion recorded 12 months ago, suggesting this April’s auto-enrolment step-up had an immediate positive impact on saving habits. Continue reading →

Winners and losers under the new State Pension
The number of people qualifying for the full new State Pension following its introduction in April 2016 reveal almost two in five pensioners (365,290 people, or 38% of claimants) receive less than £150 a week, while a further 62% receive more than £150 a week – of these, 282,447 are receiving a new State Pension[1]. Continue reading →

Don’t miss out on this little-known tax rule
For those parents who have spare cash, putting money into their children’s pension will boost the retirement prospects of their offspring. The money will be topped up by the addition of tax relief and could also earn their children a tax refund if they are higher rate taxpayers and reduce the penalty they face if they are a higher earner receiving child benefit. Continue reading →

Turning on the taps for an extra income stream to help you realise your ambitions
The best time to start investing was 20 years ago. The second best time to start investing is now. But as you have been building up your investment wealth over the decades, in all likelihood you’ve probably pursued growth above all else, looking to maximising the value of your savings. Continue reading →

Top 5’ list of planning areas
Making sure you use up any allowances you are entitled to is the first step to reducing the amount of tax you may be liable to pay. We’ve provided our top five list of planning areas to consider before 5 April 2020, the end of the 2019/20 tax year. The rates given are correct for the 2019/20 tax year. Continue reading →

Your destiny is now in your own hands
If you are in your 50s or 60s, your thoughts are probably turning towards retirement. When should you retire? How much money do you need? Continue reading →

Seven in ten retirees have not set up a Lasting Power of Attorney
More than 615,000 pensioners are on course to make investment decisions into old age but new research[1] suggests tens of thousands have not set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), with seven in ten (70%) people in retirement not having set up an LPA. Continue reading →

Those dearest to us, and those financially dependent upon us
If something should happen to you, the last thing you want is for you or your family to be worrying about money. One of the most important aspects of your financial planning should be to ensure that you’ve made provision for your family and any dependants in the event of a serious illness, injury or untimely death. Continue reading →