If you thought your pension was just your retirement savings then think again. As well as ensuring your financial certainty when you want to stop working, a pension is a great way to support future generations. This is because defined contribution pensions are one of the most tax-efficient ways of passing on your wealth. No […]
Category archives: General Financial News
What advice would you give to your younger self?
A survey1 has found that 51% of people would tell themselves to start saving as soon as they can. Meanwhile, 41% would say to take more care of their health, and a third would advise worrying less about what other people think. How old do you feel? The same report also asked UK adults when […]
Making sure you’re sufficiently insured in your ‘middle years’
Research1 has found that people in their 30s and 40s could be slipping through the net when it comes to protection cover. The data highlights that those in this age bracket are more likely to have inadequate protection cover for their mortgage, should the worst happen. Has your protection caught up? Many people experience significant […]
What you need to know about behavioural investment
Have you ever made an irrational or impulsive purchase you’ve later regretted? We all make decisions based on our emotions or personal biases, but when it comes to investing, such mistakes can be very costly. What is behavioural investment? Behavioural investment is an approach that acknowledges how our emotions and our biases can sometimes make […]
Financial wellbeing has many facets
According to research1, 81% of the UK’s wealthiest individuals are ‘stressed’ about their finances, suggesting financial wellbeing is about more than just the totality of your wealth. So, virtually everyone has concerns about what their financial future will look like. Planning for the future The prime concerns for individuals centred around future planning and retirement, […]
Your bonus, your pension?
Receiving a bonus at work as a reward for a job well done is highly satisfying, but with bonuses subject to Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions, you face losing a significant portion of your hard-earned money. A bonus may even push you into a higher tax band, meaning that you receive an even smaller […]
Money – In the news
Financial goals fall by the wayside A poll has found that 57% of adults had money-related goals for 2024, such as reducing debt and wanting more disposable income1. However, two-thirds (67%) had given up on achieving their financial aims by the end of Q1; 16% said this was due to having unrealistic expectations, and 10% […]
ISAs: 25 years and counting
Since being launched on 6 April 1999 as successor to PEPs and TESSAs, the Individual Savings Account (ISA) has become an integral part of the UK savings and investment landscape. Worth celebrating By any measure, the humble ISA has been a huge success. The latest HMRC figures show that more than 22 million UK adults […]
Why home bias’ could mean missing out on investment returns
Does your investment portfolio suffer from too much ‘home bias’? It’s natural for investors to stay close to home when thinking about investing, contemplating well-known UK companies or UK-focused funds rather than looking further afield. But if your portfolio becomes too heavily concentrated in the UK, you risk missing out on valuable diversification benefits and […]
In the news
Are you a magpie investor? Almost one in ten (9%) adults are. These so-called magpie investors buy luxury items hoping for an increase in value and an attractive return, according to new research1. The assets invested in include jewellery, watches, collectibles, classic cars, art, wine, whisky, and accessories such as clothes and handbags. Magpie investors […]