Useful Articles

Fraudsters employ increasingly advanced psychological tactics to persuade victims to invest

An estimated £1.2bn is lost to investment scams each year, with share sales, wine investments, land banking and carbon credits commonly used by fraudsters to target potential investors. A recent study by Citizen’s Advice found nine out of ten people would fail to spot common warning signs of a pension scam, such as unusually high investment returns, cold calling and offers of free financial advice. Continue reading “Beware of the scammers” →

Creating and maintaining the right investment strategy

Our life is an endless series of daily choices, and how we manage those choices determines the outcome of our life. We all want financial freedom, but how will we achieve it? Financial goal-setting is the key to building wealth. Continue reading “Financial freedom” →

Time to track and celebrate your wealth goals?

With the Christmas festivities now a distant memory, money matters are firmly on people’s minds this year according to recent research[1]. A poll of more than 3,500 UK adults[2] found the most common money goals are: putting more money into their savings accounts (21%); paying off their credit cards or loans (17%); and starting a regular savings habit (15%). Some people also plan to reduce their household expenses by switching energy suppliers and insurers (9%). Continue reading “Financial fitness” →

What will influence your retirement income needs?

Retirement is a time for you to do the things you’ve always wanted. When considering your retirement income needs, you need to consider the types of events you would like to happen after you retire that may impact your budget. Thinking about these early could help you when you’re deciding the best way to take your pension savings. Continue reading “Life events” →

Steps you could take to increase your eventual income

Even if retirement isn’t far away, there are steps you could take to increase your eventual retirement income. This applies both to your State Pension entitlement as well as to any personal or workplace pension pots. We’ve provided some areas to consider that you may wish to discuss with us to help you to meet your retirement goals. Continue reading “How to make the most of your retirement” →

Healthier lifestyles and feeling happier about financial planning for retirement

An increasing number of middle-aged Britons are getting healthier as they exercise more and eat better than they did when they were younger. Over-40s are turning to healthier lifestyles, with more than half rating themselves as more health-conscious than they were in their mid-20s, according to new research[1]. Continue reading “Why being over 40 is the new mid-20s” →

Reducing Inheritance Tax means taking action now

Without professional advice and careful financial planning, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) can become the single largest beneficiary of your estate following your death. A recent survey about Inheritance Tax (IHT)[1] shows that wealthy Britons over the age of 45 are either ignoring estate planning solutions or they have forgotten about the benefits these can provide. Only 27% of those surveyed have taken financial advice on IHT planning, despite all of them having a potential IHT liability. Continue reading “Wealth preservation” →

Make sure you don’t run out of money or face a reduced standard of living

Increasingly, more and more pensioners are keeping much of their pension invested after they retire. This means they’re faced with two very different risks when deciding what to do with their savings in retirement in a world of ‘pension freedoms’. Since April 2015, people who reach retirement have had much greater flexibility over how they use their pension funds to pay for their later years. Continue reading “Avoiding hidden dangers in retirement” →

Don’t let current global uncertainties affect your financial planning

It’s important not to let current global uncertainties affect your financial planning for the years ahead. People that stop their investment planning, particularly during market downturns, often miss out on opportunities to invest at lower prices. Continue reading “Market matters” →

How prepared are you for any financial shocks?

Over three million working couples are classed as ‘double income, no option’ (DINOs), which means they are potentially financially vulnerable if one of the two loses their earnings. Continue reading “Financial resilience” →