Building financial resilience in the new year
The start of a new year is always the perfect time to take control of your finances and grasp any opportunities that may lie ahead. This year the case is even more compelling with rising inflation and tax increases set to challenge household budgets up and down the country. So now really is the ideal […]
‘Noise’ blocking – good for your portfolio
It’s easy to feel bombarded by the constant cycle of negative news headlines or ‘noise’, which can add to your anxiety about how your investments are doing and uncertainty as to whether your investment strategy is on the right course. It’s important to try and block out this noise which could influence you to make […]
Government invests heavily in flood alleviation
The government is investing over £860m during 2021-22 to protect homes and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion. It is part of a £5.2bn package to be spent over the next six years, the details of which are set out in the Flood and Coastal Erosion Investment Plan, published on 29 July. It will, the […]
Annexes: not just for Granny
Converting existing outbuildings into residential space used to be the preserve of those whose elderly parents had grown too frail or dependent to live alone – hence the term ‘Granny annex’. Now, however, annexes are coming in useful for a wide variety of purposes. So popular are they, in fact, that councils received approximately 9,000 […]
Financial advice and wellbeing go hand in hand
According to a recent study1, those who take financial advice are four times more likely than those without, to have high levels of financial wellbeing. The study also revealed that the average advised client accumulated almost three times more pension savings (£246,000), compared to non-advised people (£95,000). Advised clients also accumulated total non-pension savings of […]
Balancing money and mindset to become a financial wellbeing ‘all-rounder’
A new study1 has found that people with a financial adviser are over four times more likely to display high levels of financial wellbeing than those who have never received financial advice. Financial wellbeing relates to the control people have over their financial future. Those with high levels tend to not only meet their long-term […]
Investing through the ages
Creating plans and setting goals are important at all stages of life, even if they inevitably change as we progress through life’s journey. Similarly, investment strategies also need to adapt as we move from one life stage to the next. Twenty and thirtysomethings Arguably, financial decisions made in early adulthood are more important than any […]
Sudden Wealth Syndrome: dealing with a financial windfall
If you received a large windfall suddenly or unexpectedly, you’d likely expect to feel happy and excited for the opportunities it presents. Whether you’re a successful entrepreneur, perhaps selling your business or inheriting, sudden wealth can feel overwhelming. Far from being a happy event for some, coming into a large sum of money can prove […]
Regulator notes vital insurance need
Earlier this year, the Financial Conduct Authority published the results of its latest Financial Lives Survey. These showed, among other things, that COVID-19 had presented a severe test for the population’s finances, and that about a quarter of UK adults displayed signs of low financial resilience. Such signs include over-indebtedness, low levels of savings and […]
‘Flip the context’ to protect your savings
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed that over £2m was lost to pension scammers in the first five months of 2021. The average amount lost so far in 2021 is £50,949, compared to £23,689 in 2020. The FCA research shows that pension holders were nine times more likely to accept ‘advice’ from someone online […]