News

Nearly a third of homeowners (31%) would only consider purchasing protection insurance if they fell ill1 – too late to support them financially if they couldn’t work. Other triggers for taking out protection cover include a change in employment status (25%) or having an accident (24%), while 22% say there is no circumstance that would […]

The average termly fee for private schools has reached £12,000 (£36,000 annually) for boarders and £5,064 (£15,191 annually) for day pupils, according to the Independent Schools Council1. Planning for the future It is a big decision to privately educate your child; school fees could easily be a family’s largest expense after their home. Starting to […]

Launched in April 2021, the government guarantee scheme for 95% loan to value (LTV) mortgages has been welcome news for prospective homebuyers with a 5% deposit. The scheme offers a government ‘guarantee’ on 95% LTV mortgages to encourage cautious lenders to bring back these deals. The guarantee applies to the portion of the loan over […]

While ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ has perhaps been the most apt mantra for investors over the past year, the pandemic has clearly had a profound impact on the investment landscape. The global spread of the virus has prompted a seismic shift in public behaviour and investors need to consider the implications of these changes […]

With the limited resumption of international travel prompting a flurry of holiday bookings, whether you’re raring to fly or sticking with a staycation, make sure you don’t leave your home vulnerable. With lockdowns preventing us from going on holiday for much of the past year, it’s little wonder we’re all desperate to get away. However, […]

Workers on lower salaries with more than one job are at risk of a poorer retirement, as they miss out on employer pension contributions, a new study has concluded1. Excluded from auto enrolment Auto enrolment was introduced to encourage people to save more in their pensions during their working years. Under the scheme, employers are […]

Investing in your garden It seems that gardens have become more important to UK homeowners during the pandemic1, with 58% saying that their garden has become more of a priority, resulting in a willingness to spend considerably more on their outdoor space. Just 12% of homeowners normally spend more than £600 on their garden each […]

Holiday selfie could invalidate insurance With travel back on the agenda for many, think twice before posting a holiday selfie on social media. Your insurer may consider this as advertising the fact that you are away from home, leaving your property unoccupied and invalidating your insurance cover. Unfortunately, more and more criminals are using social […]

Dividend decline slowing From Q2 2020 to Q1 2021, the pandemic cost investors almost £45bn in lost dividends. After such a tumultuous year, the good news is that the latest UK Dividend Monitor1 highlights that in Q1 this year, dividends fell at their slowest rate since the beginning of the pandemic. In a positive sign, […]

A survey of British employees reveals that a significant proportion of working adults wish they’d been taught more about basic financial topics at school. According to research1, the number one topic UK adults wish they’d learnt more about at school is pensions: 40% of respondents to a survey said that learning about pensions at school […]