Early retirement could disappear by 2035, so it’s time to plan
As the state pension age rises, life expectancy increases, and final salary pension schemes become a thing of the past, it looks likely that more workers will remain in employment for longer in order to be able to build up sufficient funds for their retirement years. According to analysis by Aviva1, the number of people […]
Are millennials saving enough for retirement?
Rising house prices, burdensome student debt and a low-wage economy have all contributed to millennials feeling under financial pressure. However, the good news is that many more people in the 18 to 35 age range are regularly saving into a pension than ever before. According to data from the Intergenerational Commission1, a decent pension ranks […]
Homeowners choosing to improve rather than move
Once upon a time, homeowners moved four times after their first purchase; now it’s more like twice. New evidence suggests that in England and Wales, many more of us are putting down roots and choosing to stay in our current homes for longer. Research1 carried out by Dr Ian Shuttleworth of Queen’s University Belfast points to […]
Stamp duty penalises older people for moving
Think tank, the Adam Smith Institute, believes that Stamp Duty Land Tax, to give stamp duty its full name, should be scrapped. Amongst many reasons why they think it should be abolished is the belief that its existence prevents older people from downsizing. The prospect of paying stamp duty on a smaller home acts as […]
Homeowners choosing to improve rather than move
Once upon a time, homeowners moved four times after their first purchase; now it’s more like twice. New evidence suggests that in England and Wales, many more of us are putting down roots and choosing to stay in our current homes for longer. Research1 carried out by Dr Ian Shuttleworth of Queen’s University Belfast points to […]
Is it time to let the ‘dogs’ out?
From time to time the finance pages publish lists of what are called ‘dog’ funds. You may have wondered what the term means and be concerned about what you should do if you find you’re invested in one of these funds. Put simply, a ‘dog’ fund is one that is deemed to be performing poorly. […]
Drawdown – a popular choice, but advice is essential
Income drawdown is where you leave your pension pot invested and take an income directly from it, instead of using the money in your pot to buy an annuity from an insurance company. As the rest of your pension pot remains invested, it will continue to benefit from any investment growth. Since pension reforms were […]
You are insured, aren’t you?
If you’re a homeowner, it makes sense to have plans in place that protect you, your family and your home. Insurance policies are designed to provide financial safeguards and valuable peace of mind. LIFE INSURANCE TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS Life policies provide a tax-free cash lump sum for those you leave behind in the event […]
Pensions jargon – busted
No one should be deterred from planning for their retirement by the jargon used in the pension industry. Happily, we are well versed in turning complex financial terms into plain English. Here we unravel a couple of terms that you may have come across and be unclear about. ANNUITIES When you retire, you can choose […]
Average private school fees rise above 17,000 – How to save for your child
According to the annual census of leading independent schools, the average fee for attending a private school is now over 17,000 a year. Despite the rising cost of fees, private education continues to remain popular, with the number of pupils reaching 529,000, the highest figure since the Independent Schools Council began collecting data in 1974. […]