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Are you heading for a savings crisis in mid-life?
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 […]
Posted in Uncategorized
Four ways to increase your mortgage borrowing amount
We attach great importance to buying a home. After all, this could be the place where you spend the rest of your life, raising a family and later enjoying a well-earned retirement. For most people, getting hold of their dream property will involve taking out a mortgage (unless you are one of the few who […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Ten Easy, Practical Tips for Saving Money
Many of us started out in 2019 with a resolution to spend money more sensibly. Perhaps you are largely on track with that goal. Or, as in the case of most people, maybe not! Either way, as we approach the year’s half-way point it is usually a great time to review your spending plan, income […]
Posted in Financial Planning
What is Asset Allocation and What are the Benefits?
Before you invest, it’s important to know how much risk you are prepared to tolerate. After all, there is no such thing as a risk-free investment. There are just gradations of risk and gradations of return probability. If someone approaches you with a proposal for a “high-return, low-risk/risk-free” investment opportunity, then it is almost certainly […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Learn from the millionaires about how to save money
Becoming a millionaire is neither quick nor easy for most people, and the reality is that the majority of us will never reach millionaire status. Yet it cannot hurt to examine the mindsets, habits and behaviours of people who have attained this status to see if there’s anything we can learn when it comes to […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Divorce: 5 key financial considerations you need to make
Divorce is an unpleasant subject and difficult for everyone involved, particularly any children. Yet, of course, it happens and you need to be able to not only navigate the minefield of emotions and stress involved but also the finances too. What will happen to the family home? What about the debts you have accrued together […]
Posted in Financial Planning
8 things to do just before your retirement
It used to be the case that many people worked in the same company or organisation for many decades, and then retired with a generous pension. Those days are long gone! Today, final salary pension schemes have been steadily replaced with defined contribution schemes, people are living longer, workers have more diverse careers and the […]
Posted in Pensions
When You’re Tempted by Tax-Free Cash at 55
In 2015 the UK government introduced the new pension freedoms which allowed people to access their pension pots much more easily. Essentially, from this point, you could withdraw all of your pension in one go if you wanted to (although not without a tax penalty). Lots of people were particularly excited about the fact that […]
Posted in Financial Planning
How to Manage the Money when Someone Dies
When someone you care about passes away, the days and weeks afterwards can feel like an overwhelming haze. The last thing you have the energy for taxes, inheritance or funeral arrangements – but they do need to be dealt with. Where do you even begin with all of this? Who do you need to deal […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Is Your Child Missing out on £2,000 from the Government?
Did you know that your child might have over £2,000 held in a forgotten bank account? In 2005, the Labour government set up an initiative called the Child Trust Fund. It allowed both the government and also parents to put money into a special account for their children, provided they were born after 1st September […]
Posted in Blog