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. […]
Mortgage options for the over 55s
Following the Mortgage Market Review in 2014, banks and building societies were required to adopt stricter lending criteria and affordability checks, and as a result many lenders restricted both their maximum borrowing and repayment age. FACTORS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION Whatever their age and circumstances, older borrowers will need to go through the usual checks […]
What does retirement planning mean for you?
Retirement is often seen as the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. Planning for it isn’t just about getting your money organised, although that’s obviously very important. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to take the opportunity to completely change your lifestyle, move home, start a new business, travel the […]
Your ISA – Lump sum or regular savings
The good news is that since 6th April you can use this year’s ISA savings allowance to put your hard-earned cash to work in a tax-efficient way. The 2018–19 allowance is a generous 20,000, and it makes sense to take advantage of this savings opportunity as soon as possible in the year, rather than risk […]
One in ten Britons admit they are bad with money – how to buck the trend
A recent survey1 has shown that for many, building up their savings is not top of their agenda. Everyone should think about putting some money aside for emergencies, and for the bigger things in life like the deposit on a home, a child’s education or a wedding. So, for most of us having some cash that […]