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How are interest rates used to control the economy?
It is common knowledge that the Bank of England and other central banks use interest rates to control their economies. While not the only strategy central banks operate, it has been the go-to option for hundreds of years, a relatively blunt but effective instrument. In reality, using interest rates to control economies is a fine […]
Posted in Financial Planning
What are third way pension products?
Recently, we have seen an element of control given back to private pension fund holders and more flexibility in how they invest and receive their money in retirement. Many people perceive these long-term choices as fairly stark; they either move into drawdown, with an element of risk or acquire an annuity to provide an income […]
Posted in Pensions
Understanding Credit Scores: Your Path To Better Credit
Many of us understand the concept of credit scores in the broader context, but very often, the devil is in the details. In this article, we will look at how the credit scoring system works and how you can boost your rating – improving your access to credit in the future. What is a credit […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Importance Of Diversification On Your Investments
Ironically, the true value of diversification only becomes relevant when it is too late. Seen by some as an overly pessimistic or passive approach to investment, ignore it at your peril. While nobody is suggesting you shouldn’t consider or act on opportunities before you, your core approach should be balanced and long-term. We will now […]
Posted in Investments
Impact Of Inflation On Your Finances
Inflation has been in the news over the last couple of years, rising to double digits in the UK before turning down towards (hopefully) more manageable levels. This has prompted many people to consider the impact of inflation on their finances and whether they can protect their assets and investments in the future. In this […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Is Now The Right Time To Remortgage?
In reality, the only certainty with regards to interest rates and mortgage rates are the rates today, everything else is just conjecture. Looking back at December 2021, when interest rates began to rise from a historic low of 0.1%, who could have forecast such a meteoric rise? The decision not to increase rates in September […]
Posted in Mortgage
The Importance of Critical Illness Protection
Critical illness protection is one of the most common forms of insurance in the country. Helping you and your loved ones when you need it most, it’s often taken out for peace of mind rather than due to any underlying health issues. But is critical illness protection really worth it? Let’s explore what critical illness […]
Posted in Insurance
The Benefits of Discretionary Portfolio Management
Investing is a complex undertaking, but there are certain methods to maximise your rewards with minimal effort on your part. Discretionary portfolio management (DFM) is a popular tool to help investors achieve this, but what are the benefits of the approach? Let’s start with a definition of DFM before exploring some of the reasons to […]
Posted in Investments
Setting Up Workplace Pensions
Workplace pensions are mandatory for UK employers that employ at least one person. Also known as auto-enrolment, there are certain legal obligations you need to meet, from minimum contributions to sign-up timeframes and more. This article will tell you all you need to know about setting up a workplace pension, as well as advice on […]
Posted in Pensions
Intergenerational Wealth: Mitigating Tax Liabilities
Planning for the future is the cornerstone of wealth management, but there are lots of mistakes people make when coming up with a financial strategy. This article will seek to address these mistakes and mitigate one of the most common issues of intergenerational wealth planning – tax. What is intergenerational wealth planning? Simply […]
Posted in IHT Planning