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How to Create the Life You Want (Part II)
In our previous article, we talked about how to start laying out a financial plan to achieve your life goals (e.g. travelling the world in retirement). That post looked specifically at drawing up a “road map” and set of SMART goals towards this end. In this article, we’re going to focus more on the […]
Posted in Blog
How to Navigate Pensions during Divorce
When a couple decides to dissolve their marriage or civil partnership, many people think that the family home is the most important asset to distribute. However, pensions are often neglected – despite the fact that these might actually be more valuable than the equity in the property. Divorce is an unpleasant topic and pensions […]
Posted in Pensions
Tips on Saving for the True Cost of University
For many years now, students looking to enter university have faced the prospect of annual fees of over £9000. With many courses being 3+ years in length, young people are understandably often now thinking twice before submitting their UCAS applications. This is not to mention the living costs that will pile up the costs even […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Does Reducing Inheritance Tax Mean Losing Control?
Inheritance tax (IHT) is a painful tax to face. Given that you want to pass on a meaningful legacy to your loved ones, it is little wonder people are interested in ways to legitimately reduce their IHT liability. Unfortunately, one of the consequences of some approaches to IHT planning is loss of control over […]
Posted in Financial Planning
How to Create the Life You Want (Part I)
All of us only get one life. It is a shame, therefore, that many people drift along without a plan to realise the dreams they might have for the future. The good news is, with some careful forward planning, many of these same people still have time to realise their life goals – whatever they […]
Posted in Financial Planning
A Guide to Weathering Stock Market Turbulence
Market turbulence occurs when the stock market suddenly, and unexpectedly, rises and falls within a short space of time. It can be highly disconcerting for investors who have their assets tied up with these stocks, especially when these decline in value. In such times, there is often a strong emotional and social pressure to pull […]
Posted in Investments
A Simple Guide to Asset Allocation
Investing presents great potential rewards in the form of monetary return, but it also involves risk. The amount you get back from your investment – and the degree of risk involved – depends heavily on the type of asset you invest in. UK government bonds, for instance, are generally seen as “lower risk” and “lower […]
Posted in Investments
Is Equity Release Right for You?
Equity release is not a decision to take rashly. That said, it can be a powerful way to unlock a significant set of cash if you really need it. In brief, equity release is the process of taking some of the equity in your property and converting it into cash. You can take the full […]
Posted in Financial Planning
2018 Budget Highlights
Philip Hammond, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, published the 2018 Budget to Parliament on 29th October. Many people are rightly asking, how will this budget affect me? On the higher level, the Budget spoke about the economy. Notably, the deficit has reduced from 9.9% in 2009/10 to 1.1% today, and 3m more people are in […]
Posted in Blog
10 Quick, Useful Property Search Tips for First-Time Buyers
Getting onto the property ladder and purchasing a house is likely going to be one of the biggest buying decisions you’ll ever make. You therefore need to be really sure that you’re avoiding the common errors committed by first-time buyers, which can end up becoming very costly. In this guide, our financial advisers are going to share some […]
Posted in Financial Planning