Climate disclosures – high on corporate agendas in 2022
To protect investors from greenwashing, the IMF is urging regulators to do more to prevent financial companies from making misleading claims concerning their environmental credentials – ‘Proper regulatory oversight and verification mechanisms are essential to avoid greenwashing.’ Achieving the scale of expansion needed to meet the goal of reducing worldwide carbon emissions to net zero […]
Saving for your child’s future
Many parents give their children a flying financial start by saving or investing throughout their childhood. A new survey1 shows mothers typically take the lead in this area, while cash remains disproportionately popular. Mum’s the word The research shows responsibility for children’s savings is particularly borne by mums: 60% of those actively contributing to a […]
Property ‘catfishing’ – new word, old trend?
Catfishing – it’s a term from the online dating world referring to somebody who presents themselves somewhat differently online to when you meet them in person. And it seems that a lot of prospective homebuyers are suffering the catfishing experience at property viewings, too. An unpleasant surprise A recent survey1 of homebuyers suggested that the […]
Climate concern – consumers and investors tune in
Despite over half (57%) of consumers wanting their pension to be invested responsibly to help tackle climate change, only one in seven people who have a pension currently invest it responsibly1. UK consumers rank climate change as a bigger concern than COVID-19 or the economy, according to a new study2. Climate change is a top […]
Avoiding collapse: managing your property chain in 2022
You’ve found your ideal property, you’re just about ready to exchange contracts, and then you get the call: your buyer has pulled out, leaving your own transaction in jeopardy. Unfortunately, many property transactions are interlinked in this way, with the decision of one buyer having a knock-on effect on the whole chain, with the worst […]
Tackling pension scams head on
With pension scam losses totalling millions each year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling scams in order to ensure the long-term health of the pensions market. In a speech to delegates at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, the FCA’s Executive Director of Markets Sarah Pritchard said steps have been […]
Lights, camera, action!
Jackie Chan’s Stunt Team may be blacklisted by all insurance companies, but for most people life insurance is an easier task to tick off the to do list, no excuses. With one in three people more likely to buy protection insurance because of experiences during the pandemic1, the devastating impact of COVID has clearly led […]
Investor income boosted by ‘special dividends’
UK dividends climbed to £34.9bn in Q3 2021, an 89% year-on-year rise, according to the latest UK Dividend Monitor1. Sizeable one-off special dividends were partially responsible for the increase, a trend expected to be evident in Q4 too; however, the underlying total in Q3, excluding specials, leapt up 52.6% to £27.7bn. In context, this large […]
Consider all the variables
From many people’s perspectives, the Autumn Budget may have left a feeling that nothing much had changed in the world of personal financial planning, as there were no major changes announced to Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax or pensions. However, the key consideration is how outside factors such as higher inflation could affect […]
Home Finance – In the news
BoMaD boom Half of all first-time buyer transactions were supported by the Bank of Mum & Dad (BoMaD) in 2021, according to analysis1. BoMaD contributions of £9.8bn helped 169,000 first-time buyers onto the housing ladder. Surging BoMaD contributions could become the norm, analysts suggest, after Help to Buy is withdrawn completely from March 2023 onwards. Time to negotiate? Six in ten […]