Equity release product standard introduced
All equity release plans sold to new customers from 28 March 2022 must feature penalty-free partial loan repayments, enabling customers to reduce their loan size and save money on interest. The new standard introduced by the Equity Release Council (ERC) could save customers millions of pounds. While ERC standards aren’t legally binding, almost 700 firms […]
When in (financial) doubt – talk it out!
According to a recent survey1, 90% of households are worried about rising prices. Financial worries can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety; nearly one in five people say they have lost sleep over soaring prices in recent months2. Money and wealth often feel like a bit of a taboo topic for families. Research3 […]
Property trends shaping 2022
The pandemic was a tumultuous time for us all – and the property market was not immune. As things begin to normalise, some pre-pandemic patterns are returning to property trends. Double speed Q1 2022 was the fifth busiest quarter since 2007, according to HM Revenue and Customs. Likewise, data1 analysis has found that UK properties […]
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 […]
2022’s buy-to-let hotspots
Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester and Luton have been hailed the best top five cities for landlords to invest in this year, based on analysis of key indicators impacting buy-to-let desirability (including average total rent, the best short-term returns through yield and long-term return through house price growth).1 Investors have been eschewing London, which has slipped […]
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 […]
Investors tap into holiday let demand
Pandemic-related travel restrictions have unleashed huge demand for UK-based rentals among British holidaymakers – with buy-to-let investors scrambling to take advantage. According to figures1, holiday let mortgage availability has trebled since 2020, giving would-be investors ample opportunity to tap into this demand. There are now 231 buy-to let mortgages eligible for holiday lets on the […]
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 […]