In the news
FAMILIES RELYING HEAVILY ON GRANDPARENTS FOR FREE CHILDCARE For many families, childcare is a significant expense that often eats a good chunk out of their monthly income. It’s no surprise then, that many parents are turning to their own parents for help. Recent research1 shows that 85% of grandparents offer some kind of support with childcare, […]
Protect yourself as you move through life’s stages
Your protection needs will change as you travel along life’s journey, making it difficult to keep on top of what type of protection you need. A recent survey shows that only 27% of people are confident they have the right protection cover in place10. The survey also shows that our perception of the likelihood of […]
State Pension top-ups surge
Figures recently released by HMRC have revealed a sharp rise in voluntary National Insurance Contributions (NICs) over the past couple of years as people seek to top up their State Pension record. Chance to boost your pension In 2018/19, the total value of voluntary ‘Class 3′ NICs amounted to £119.3m; in comparison, the figure was […]
Work for yourself? Make your pension work for you
Self-employment offers many benefits: being your own boss and having the flexibility to choose your working hours being but a couple of examples. But when it comes to pensions, those who work for themselves are finding they’re at a disadvantage. Research7 has revealed that, although 74% of self-employed people think it’s important to save for retirement, […]
Older people lack suitable housing options
Around 7.2 million over-65s would consider buying a bungalow, showing a strong demand for single-storey homes among the older population. With only two million bungalows ever having been built in the UK, however, it’s clear that demand far outstrips supply7. As our population ages, more thought needs to be given to the provision of housing […]
Don’t sell yourself – or your contents – short
Recent research has revealed that we could be undervaluing the contents of our home by £115 bn6 – meaning that millions of people across the UK may not have the right level of cover for their possessions. Contents insurance covers anything in your home that isn’t fixed down (think furniture, electrics, clothes, toys, books etc.). Over […]
University challenge of digs and tuition
In recent years it has become more widely accepted that university isn’t the only route to satisfying and rewarding employment. Apprenticeships and vocational training are among the other paths available; and there are many instances of success in business by those who entered a workplace direct from school and worked their way to the top. […]
What future awaits the new £20?
At a launch event during October, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney revealed the latest in the Bank’s new series of polymer banknotes, a £20 featuring the artist JMW Turner. Cash no longer king The polymer notes are certainly more resilient and secure than their paper predecessors, but isn’t the cashless society gathering pace and […]
Pension inequality starts at birth
In recent years, the gender pay gap has been a rather hot topic. However, the difference between the pensions savings of men and women – or gender pension gap – is perhaps less discussed. By the age of 50, women have accumulated an average of just £56,000 in pensions savings against £112,000 for men4. Girls […]
Yes, you CAN be a homeowner if you’re self-employed
Don’t believe us? Keep reading for some handy tips to help you get on the property ladder while enjoying the benefits of working for yourself. Getting a mortgage is hard enough these days but being self-employed adds an additional layer of complexity. So much so, in fact, that over a million self-employed Britons believe they’ll […]