Granny and Grandad lend a hand
As well as the Bank of Mum and Dad, the ‘Bank of Granny and Grandad’ now plays a major role in helping both prospective and existing homeowners. Recent figures show that nearly a third of buyers aged 18-34 were helped financially by their grandparents to buy their home and 12% of existing homeowners have received […]
Pension allowance breaches surge
HMRC data has revealed a significant increase in the total value of pension contributions exceeding the annual allowance, with more and more people falling foul of the complex rules and regulations. The latest personal pension statistics, which cover 2017/18, show a staggering 26,550 people reported contributions exceeding the £40,000 annual allowance in their self-assessment tax […]
In the news
IHT BILL RISES TO RECORD LEVEL Figures released by HMRC show a record amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) was collected in the last financial year. In total, UK citizens paid £5.4bn in death duties in 2018/19, an increase of 3% on the previous year. This rise continues a long-term trend, with IHT receipts having doubled […]
The evolution of ethical investing
Ethical investment has traversed into the mainstream, as people increasingly choose to allocate their investable funds toward companies whose values and practices align with their personal beliefs, whether they be environmental, social, religious, or political. Some investors may choose to eliminate specific industries or allocate to other sectors which meet their ethical preferences. This involves […]
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 […]