Why it is good to talk about money this Christmas
With inflation at its highest level in more than 40 years, and energy and food bills continuing to head upwards, many are feeling the pinch – but perhaps even more so now that Christmas is fast approaching. According to a recent poll by PayPal, 58 percent of Brits are anxious about the cost-of-living crisis, and 44 percent are worried about financial pressure over the festive period. But significantly, 75 percent…
Are you saving enough money?
How much money do you have in your savings account? How long would your head stay above water if you lost your main source of income? These are important questions, particularly as the cost-of-living crisis bites, but several new studies have revealed that many people have a worryingly small amount of money saved up. According to the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), nine per cent of UK adults only…
Can you get tax relief on pension contributions?
Paying into a pension is a great way of making your personal situation more tax efficient whilst simultaneously saving for your retirement. By paying into a pension, you can receive significant tax relief on your contributions, with money that would otherwise be partly lost in tax. This can make a big difference when you are saving for the future and working to reach a certain level of lifestyle in…
Could professional financial advice help you through the cost-of-living crisis?
With soaring inflation and rising interest rates, many people are feeling justifiably anxious about making ends meet. That is partly because the key triggers of the cost-of-living crisis are beyond our control. It is easy to start feeling completely helpless. But there is something you can do that may ease any anxiety you have. Speaking to a regulated, professional financial adviser like ourselves could make the difference. According to…
What is the difference between an ISA and a Pension?
There are a number of crucial differences between pensions and ISAs, which are important to be aware of as you’re building a financial plan. Firstly, you can only get tax relief on pensions. But you can’t access your pension savings until you’re aged 55, whereas with a cash or stocks and shares ISA, you can access the funds any time you like. Let’s look at what this means when…
Set specific financial targets to achieve lifestyle goals
If you’re creating a financial plan, with a view to achieving certain ambitions in life, you need to make sure that it is clear and detailed. For instance, if you want to travel more in later life, you can’t simply say you will put money aside for holidays. Or if you want to retire early, simply putting money into a pension isn’t enough. In the first example, you need…
Get control of your old pensions
Very few of us have a job for life these days, with many of us moving through numerous roles and businesses as our careers progress. That means you’ll probably have several workplace pensions throughout your working life, and as time passes, it can be easy to lose track of them. You might have moved house since leaving a previous job, and your pension provider doesn’t have your new address.…
How planning for retirement can boost your health and wellbeing
Retirement is one of those major life events that can throw up all sorts of emotions, from excitement to blind panic. But your reaction to this looming milestone can depend largely on how you deal with it in advance. If you’re prepared for retirement and have taken the right advice, you can look forward to your post-working life with confidence rather than anxiety, which benefits both your physical and…
Could your property help you with retirement planning?
Do you know how much your home has gone up in value since you bought it? If you purchased your house more than 20 years ago, chances are it’s worth a great deal more than it was originally. According to Aviva, the average value of a property owned by 65 to 74-year-olds is now £287,000. To put this into perspective, the average house price in the UK 20 years…
Inheritance Tax payments have doubled in the last decade
In the past, Inheritance Tax would have been regarded by many only as something for the super-wealthy to have to think about. But the amount the government has collected in Inheritance Tax has doubled in the last decade, as more and more people are becoming liable to pay the charge. According to Treasury documents seen by the Mail on Sunday, total receipts from Inheritance Tax now stand at £5.4…
