Are the best things in life really free?
Recent research1 shows that many of life’s most enjoyable events come with a hefty price tag. The research calculates that going to university, buying a house, getting married, having two children and then retiring could, on average, add up to £566,659 over the course of a lifetime. This is a huge sum and illustrates the need […]
Planning your pension in the new world of work
Not long ago, work meant a 9-to-5 role, probably spent with the same employer and ending abruptly when you reached retirement age. Things are very different today. People tend to move jobs more frequently and many more of us are self-employed, thanks to the rise of the gig economy. Those past State Pension age are […]
Rise in 10-year fixed mortgages
Despite mortgage rates being at their lowest level for years, two increases in the base rate in under a year, have prompted many mortgage holders to consider their options. Some providers have started to offer 10-year fixed rate mortgages, guaranteeing a consistent payment for a decade. Recent research1 revealed that over half of respondents to their […]
Where we spend our money
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in 2017, we spent more of our money in shops than we did online, but the growth of online sales is increasing rapidly, going up by 15.9% in comparison with 2016, to £59.8bn. The sharp rise in online sales means that store closures on […]
Make 2019 the year you get the protection you need
If you haven’t got proper insurance in place for you, your family and your valuables, then you could be vulnerable if you faced one of life’s unexpected crises. Insurance cover doesn’t just pay out if you die, it can also give you the satisfaction of knowing that if you fall ill, have an accident or […]
Time to top up your ISA?
If you’re planning to save into your ISA this tax year, don’t leave it too late and miss out on this great way to save tax-efficiently; remember you can’t carry any unused allowance over to the next tax year, so timing is important. The ISA allowance for the 2018-19 tax year is a generous £20,000 […]
Trends in baby boomer retirement plans
Living through decades of increasing prosperity has undoubtedly given baby boomers a lot of advantages, but they can also face a number of challenges. Today, many feel pressured into working past their normal retirement date, often because of the number of demands being made on their finances by their families. If they are unable to […]
Gifting early to avoid IHT
With the Government announcing a dramatic rise in probate fees, many people are considering reducing the size of their estate to minimise the Inheritance Tax (IHT) and probate fees that will be payable on their death. In the most extreme cases, estates worth over £2 million will pay £6,000 in probate fees, in addition to […]
Number of working women aged 60-64 has doubled
Employment statistics show that more women are staying in the workplace for longer, with 48.5% in this age bracket in employment1, compared with just 23.4% back in 1998. This is attributed variously to the short-notice rise in the state pension age from 60 to 65 or 66 currently affecting many women born in the 1950s, […]
How to side-step retirement remorse
The good news is that most pensioners thoroughly enjoy the freedom that retirement brings. They can pursue their hobbies, take more holidays and spend more time with their family and friends. When people have regrets, it’s often to do with the way they planned for their retirement and the decisions they did or didn’t take […]