Time to temper your return expectations?
Over the last eight years, the stock market has been pretty generous, providing many investors with a period of relatively strong rates of return. Some experts are warning that the next few years are likely to be less rewarding and that investor expectations need to be tempered in readiness for a period of lower average […]
More than £400m languishing in old pension pots
With more people changing jobs over their working lifetime, the average saver can have multiple pension pots and have no idea how to track them down. What’s more, people move homes and can lose track of paperwork over the years. As a result, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has estimated there are over […]
First time buyers use stamp duty savings to cut mortgage costs
Low mortgage rates, high levels of employment and government schemes, such as Help to Buy, are all helping first-time buyers enter the housing market. The recent abolition of Stamp Duty for a majority of first-time buyers looks set to provide additional help by reducing the upfront costs associated with making a first home purchase. STAMP […]
Five personal finance habits we should all adopt
While most of us think we’re pretty good with our money, we can all benefit from giving our finances a regular health check. If you’re looking to get to grips with your finances and develop better habits, then setting yourself some financial goals and drawing up a budget is a good way to get motivated. […]
Almost 16 million don’t have contents insurance – don’t be one of them
Are your belongings protected against life’s unwelcome events? Home insurance is an effective shock-absorber that protects millions of families each year and provides them with valuable peace of mind. Having a home contents insurance policy in place means that if the unexpected were to happen, such as a burglary, leaking pipe or a devastating fire, […]
Investing for income in retirement
Today, savers reaching retirement have more choices than ever before about how they use their pension pots to fund their retirement. Instead of simply using their pension money to buy an annuity that provides a guaranteed income for life, many choose to invest throughout their retirement years. The challenge this brings is to deliver a […]
More homeowners climbing the ladder
There’s some better news for those who are looking to make their move up the housing ladder. Second-steppers, as they are often referred to, are mostly couples and young families seeking to move on from their first home to somewhere bigger. Figures from Lloyds Bank1 show that more than 370,000 homeowners were able to step […]
The hidden cost of retirement properties
In the glossy brochures often used to promote them, retirement complexes can look very attractive. With rising life expectancy meaning that many more of us are likely to live well into our 90s and beyond, they can be an appealing proposition, especially for those who don’t have immediate family to look after them. THE ADVANTAGES […]
Over £40m stolen from pensioners
Police reports show that since the introduction of the pension freedoms, more than £43m in retirement savings has been lost to fraud. Concerns have been raised in parliament, and the Work and Pensions Committee has held an inquiry that, amongst other things, heard evidence as to what might be done to prevent these potentially devastating […]
Borrowing age elevated by extra-long mortgages
The traditional 25-year mortgage may soon be a thing of the past as many firsttime buyers are choosing loan terms of 30, 35 or even 40 years. Data from estate agents Countrywide1, shows more than one third of mortgages taken out in 2017 are unlikely to be repaid until after the borrower has turned 65. […]