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Many media outlets and pundits anticipated that the Chancellor’s Summer Economic Update would not contain major policy developments. Yet there was a range of announcements that will likely have important implications for the UK economy and household finances. As such, the Update has been characterised as a “mini budget” covering areas such as VAT, restaurant […]

This content is for information and inspiration purposes only. It should not be taken as financial or investment advice. To receive personalised, regulated financial advice regarding your affairs please consult an independent financial adviser. Anyone approaching or in retirement right now is bound to have many questions, as we enter April 2020. The stock market […]

If you didn’t start investing before the 2008 financial crisis, then you might not know how emotionally-searing that year was. Or perhaps you did go through it, but have blanked the pain from your memory! In the years since that time, the investments markets have generally performed quite well for many UK investors (not without […]

In 2018 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) estimates that nearly £15m was lost in total to pension scammers, with the average person losing £82,000. What makes the figures even more alarming is that over one-third of pension savers admitted to the FCA that they would be vulnerable to popular methods used by scammers (e.g. discussing […]

Since the 2008 financial crisis, greater legal restrictions on mortgage lenders have made it considerably harder to apply for a mortgage loan. No longer is it possible simply to walk into a bank with your most recent payslips and expect approval. These days, you need to go to more considerable lengths to not only prove […]

Broadly speaking there are at least three types of pensions available to UK citizens: The state pension Workplace pensions Personal pensions The first two are fairly straightforward. Your state pension is money handed to you from the government once you reach your state pension age (which can vary for each person), whilst your workplace pension […]

Across the UK, millions of people in their fifties and sixties are waking up to the painful consequences of a “mid-life crisis” in savings. With wages failing to grow substantially and living costs rising, many are sleepwalking towards an uncomfortable or even impoverished retirement. Some research even suggests that as many as one in five […]

The UK State Pension pays out no more than £113 per week. In today’s economic climate, this is insufficient to meet the costs of living, including groceries, heating, utilities and clothing. One way to demonstrate this is to look at the Consumer Price Index. In June this year, for example, the CPI rose by a […]

With the festive season and 2015 fast approaching, it is essential that we recognise the fact that as a result of the 2014 Budget, enhanced by the recent Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, pension schemes are reinforced as the most flexible and tax efficient savings method for an individual and for those who benefit on his/her death. […]

Remember the Allied Dunbar TV campaign shown around ten years ago “There may be trouble ahead?” The campaign used a series of family situations where people have to re-plan their lives because something unexpected happens. “Let’s face the music and dance“. A decade later, it appears that far too many people are still not protecting […]