Investment risk and volatility – how to keep your cool
With interest rates currently at very low levels, and inflation starting to climb, savers aren’t seeing great returns. So, many are considering putting their money into the stock market. However, adjusting to a world where stock prices can rise and fall, often by a wide margin on just one day, can take a bit of […]
Does how you invest reflect your generation?
The way we view our savings and investment reflects when we were born, to a remarkable degree. Those aged 51 to 70 (Baby-Boomers), for instance, are more likely to feel that they have been particularly lucky with their cash. This generation saved hard for the future, and relied less on loans and credit card borrowing. […]
Why diversifying your assets could be the best strategy for 2017
As the government begins the process of leaving the EU, this year looks likely to mark a significant watershed for the UK economy and its relationship with the rest of Europe. On the international stage, there is considerable uncertainty about what the Trump administration will mean for business and trade, both in the US and […]
Happy 5th birthday to the junior ISA
Last November, the Junior Individual Savings Account (JISA) celebrated its 5th birthday. In the 2015-16 tax year alone, over £920m was paid into 738,000 accounts, and the average amount saved was £1,248 per account. JISAs have proved very popular as a means of saving tax-efficiently, not least because once they have been set up by […]
Power of attorney – why numbers are rocketing
There has been a huge rise in the number of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) created, prompted no doubt by 2016 figures showing that dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have overtaken heart disease and cancer to become the biggest cause of death in the UK. Figures for the first eight months of 2016 show that there […]
The peace of mind that protection policies can provide
A recent study shows that many families are overlooking the benefits that protection insurance policies can provide and the peace of mind they can bring. Life cover may be one of those things you’ve been meaning to sort out for a while but haven’t yet ticked off your list. It’s undoubtedly one of the most […]
Does it make sense to combine your pension pots?
The days when people began their careers with one employer and stayed there until they retired are long gone. It’s estimated that depending on where you live, people now have an average of between six and 11 different jobs during their careers. This can mean that over the years they end up with pension entitlements […]
Savers looking to mix LISAS with pensions
Savvy savers are planning to save both in their pension plan and in the Lifetime Individual Savings Account (LISA), following its launch this April. The new LISA has been designed as a savings vehicle for those aged 18 to 40 who want to save up to £4,000 a year. The government offers a big incentive […]
60% of UK adults don’t have any form of life insurance
A recent survey1 has revealed that up to 60% of adults don’t have any form of life insurance. When asked why this is the case, the answers vary. Some people simply don’t want to think about life’s unexpected events and don’t believe it could ever happen to them. Here are a few stark statistics. It […]
Interest-only mortgage maturities fuel equity release boom
The Financial Conduct Authority has flagged up 2017-2018 as a period in which a wave of interest-only mortgages sold in the 1990s and early 2000s will reach maturity. It estimates that almost half of these homeowners will not have the funds available to pay off their loan and that many will explore equity release as […]