Money – In the news
What’s on your playlist this year? Over the years, several studies have proven that investors can enter emotional relationships with the stocks in which they invest. Research has reinforced the concept that equity prices are not only driven by analysis of a company’s prospects but also by external factors which can directly impact investor mood. […]
The housing market – what does 2022 hold in store?
Key drivers in the housing market in 2021 were a continuing desire for homes with more indoor and outdoor space, a mismatch in supply and demand, and the temporary cut in Stamp Duty. The resulting property boom, which according to Zoopla culminated in 1.5 million homes having changed hands last year, also saw UK house […]
Be pension prepared in 2022
If you have little idea how to prepare for retirement, then join the club. Nearly half (47%) of working age Brits are a bit lost when it comes to their pension savings1. Research has also revealed that just 28% feel secure in their understanding of how to manage their pension in the run-up to retirement, […]
Budget update
In the run up to the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor pledged an additional £1.8bn to assist housing supply via land regeneration. The additional funds are aimed at delivering 160,000 new homes and comprises of two parts: • £300m to be distributed to councils and combined authorities to help them unlock smaller brownfield sites for housing […]
Building financial resilience in the new year
The start of a new year is always the perfect time to take control of your finances and grasp any opportunities that may lie ahead. This year the case is even more compelling with rising inflation and tax increases set to challenge household budgets up and down the country. So now really is the ideal […]
Government invests heavily in flood alleviation
The government is investing over £860m during 2021-22 to protect homes and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion. It is part of a £5.2bn package to be spent over the next six years, the details of which are set out in the Flood and Coastal Erosion Investment Plan, published on 29 July. It will, the […]
Annexes: not just for Granny
Converting existing outbuildings into residential space used to be the preserve of those whose elderly parents had grown too frail or dependent to live alone – hence the term ‘Granny annex’. Now, however, annexes are coming in useful for a wide variety of purposes. So popular are they, in fact, that councils received approximately 9,000 […]
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 […]
Regulator notes vital insurance need
Earlier this year, the Financial Conduct Authority published the results of its latest Financial Lives Survey. These showed, among other things, that COVID-19 had presented a severe test for the population’s finances, and that about a quarter of UK adults displayed signs of low financial resilience. Such signs include over-indebtedness, low levels of savings and […]