Reached your half-century? How to plan for retirement
Once you reach 50, it’s time to get serious about planning your retirement. True, it could still seem ages away, and you may not be thinking of giving up work anytime soon. However, putting a retirement plan together will help you understand what your finances will look like when you decide to take life easy. […]
First-time buyers need 13 times their salary to buy a home
Despite signs that the housing market is slowing down, especially in London, house prices have remained high due to the shortage of supply. This has meant that affordability has continued to be a major issue, especially in the south of the country. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that first-time buyers in London […]
Why bad maths could cost you a fortune
How much are your possessions worth? Having enough insurance is almost as important as having insurance in the first place. When it comes to applying for a policy, it’s important to provide the right figures, as getting them wrong could have serious consequences. “Guesstimating” the value of your household contents could leave you under insured […]
Half of pensioners plan to work on into retirement
Retirement is a much more fluid concept than it once was. According to a recent survey1, 54% of respondents who were considering working into retirement, or who were already doing so, said they valued the opportunity to keep active in mind and body. Around 8% of those scheduled to retire in 2018 have postponed their […]
What are the main asset classes?
With investing, the old saying ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’ rings true. To improve the potential for long-term gains and spread risk, the best advice is to diversify your investment across a range of companies, asset classes and geographical regions. This helps to minimise the impact a poor performing economic region or […]
How interest-only mortgages have evolved
Before the financial crisis in 2008, many borrowers opted for an interest-only mortgage. This was a cheaper option for them, as they only paid interest each month. Borrowers were expected to have adequate plans in place to repay the capital at the end of the mortgage term, as was the original intention with endowment mortgages. […]
Is your family financially-savvy?
Do you discuss financial matters with your children? In the UK, we can be very reticent when it comes to having family conversations about money. But as our children grow, they need to know the financial basics in order that one day they can successfully manage their own money. So, knowing how to draw up […]
What’s in store for the global economy?
The last few months have seen the release of positive economic reports and grounds for optimism remain with regards to future growth rates, certainly in terms of the US economy. However, while no one is currently predicting the onset of a sharp slowdown or recession, there are signs that the global economy may be starting […]
Four-fifths of properties are now sold below asking price
With property prices stabilising across the UK and falling in London, what steps can you take to ensure you get a good price if you’re planning to sell your home? With four-fifths of properties now sold below asking price1, experts agree that being realistic about price can be key to getting a sale. Over-pricing can […]
Life insurance – is it time to review your plans?
We all experience life-changing events such as moving to a new home and taking out a bigger mortgage, getting married, having children, retiring, but how many of us remember to update our protection policies to cover the financial commitments these all bring to our lives? It’s easy to overlook the need to review your cover […]