The housing market – what does 2022 hold in store?
Key drivers in the housing market in 2021 were a continuing desire for homes with more indoor and outdoor space, a mismatch in supply and demand, and the temporary cut in Stamp Duty. The resulting property boom, which according to Zoopla culminated in 1.5 million homes having changed hands last year, also saw UK house […]
Be pension prepared in 2022
If you have little idea how to prepare for retirement, then join the club. Nearly half (47%) of working age Brits are a bit lost when it comes to their pension savings1. Research has also revealed that just 28% feel secure in their understanding of how to manage their pension in the run-up to retirement, […]
Budget update
In the run up to the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor pledged an additional £1.8bn to assist housing supply via land regeneration. The additional funds are aimed at delivering 160,000 new homes and comprises of two parts: • £300m to be distributed to councils and combined authorities to help them unlock smaller brownfield sites for housing […]
Great expectations for the year ahead
Given the challenges of the past two years we could be forgiven for focusing on life’s trials and tribulations as a new year dawns. However, while concerns about supply chain disruption, new COVID variants and rising inflation may be disconcerting for investors, all the signs are that the coming 12 months will be a time […]
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 […]