Come retirement, you reap what you sow
Hindsight, they say, is a wonderful thing and that is certainly true for many retirees struggling financially. Diligent planning at the earliest opportunity, however, can make all the difference between enjoying a comfortable retirement and enduring a regretful one. Retirement regrets Research constantly shows that people typically leave retirement planning too late and regret not […]
Valuing financial advice
In recent times the importance of expert financial advice has become greater than ever, as people seek reassurance that their pensions, investments and protection plans are being professionally looked after during uncertain times. How to value financial advice Good financial outcomes are obviously important, but these can only be measured over the long term and […]
Back in the driving seat
Many people have used the last couple of years to make positive life changes. Three in five people have questioned what is important in life, while half feel their priorities have changed1. Two in five credit the pandemic with encouraging them to build more long-term savings. However, one in four now feel less comfortable about […]
Regulator sets out plans to get more people investing
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a new strategy to give consumers the confidence to invest, safe in the knowledge they are supported by a high-quality advice market; and to help them do so safely, which should lead to fewer people being scammed or investing in products that are too risky for their needs. […]
In your 40s? Your pension age might be changing
More than four in five people in their 40s are unaware that the age at which they can access their pension might be about to change, according to research from the Pensions Management Institute (PMI)1. Numbers game The normal minimum pension age (NMPA) is set to move from 55 to 57 in 2028, which will […]
Time to spring into action
Spring is very much a season of hope; a time to look forward and plan. While that’s not always easy amid a flurry of headlines concerning the cost-of-living and immense global political tensions, it’s important to look beyond short-term bouts of market volatility and ensure your financial objectives remain firmly aligned to your life goals […]
Financial advice and wellbeing go hand in hand
According to a recent study1, those who take financial advice are four times more likely than those without, to have high levels of financial wellbeing. The study also revealed that the average advised client accumulated almost three times more pension savings (£246,000), compared to non-advised people (£95,000). Advised clients also accumulated total non-pension savings of […]
Investing through the ages
Creating plans and setting goals are important at all stages of life, even if they inevitably change as we progress through life’s journey. Similarly, investment strategies also need to adapt as we move from one life stage to the next. Twenty and thirtysomethings Arguably, financial decisions made in early adulthood are more important than any […]
‘Flip the context’ to protect your savings
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed that over £2m was lost to pension scammers in the first five months of 2021. The average amount lost so far in 2021 is £50,949, compared to £23,689 in 2020. The FCA research shows that pension holders were nine times more likely to accept ‘advice’ from someone online […]
UK investors plan to continue lockdown habits
During the pandemic, many people have been able to significantly increase their investment contributions, as spending on travel, leisure and hospitality plummeted. Now, a poll1 has revealed that, far from reducing their investment contributions as restrictions loosen, 76% of UK investors intend to keep up their lockdown habits, with half planning on reducing everyday spending […]