Don’t let inflation reduce the value of your investment returns Inflation can have a significant impact on our finances in a number of ways. But what exactly does it mean? And what impact could it have on our savings and investments? It’s important to understand how inflation works, as well as the effects it has on our financial planning. As the…

Looking forward to having more time to explore faraway places? Retirement is a time for you to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Perhaps you’re looking forward to having more time to explore faraway places. Or maybe you dream of simply waking up each day and doing whatever takes your fancy. However you see your future, it helps to…

How much money will you will need to live on later in life? Divorce is undoubtedly one of the most difficult subjects to talk about. When relationships come to an end, there are so many things to consider – children, home and support are naturally the first things you would focus on. In fact, when you begin the process of separating…

Getting your tax affairs in order before 5 April This time of year is your last chance to get your tax affairs in order before the end of the 2018/19 tax year. We’ve provided a summary of some key tax and financial planning areas which may be appropriate to certain taxpayers and should be considered prior to the end of the…

Taking a closer look at what you’re spending as a family can help make significant savings It will not be too long before spring is finally upon us, and those winter months (even though we’ve had a really mild winter) will start to become a distant memory. But with spring comes a new tax year – the 2019/20 tax year is…

Experiencing a golden age without money worries Saving enough during our working life will not just give us freedom to manage our finances more flexibly, but it will also help us to secure a more comfortable lifestyle in retirement. Even though the baby boomers (the generation born between 1946 and 1964) are better off than any other generation, according to a…

A much needed boost to the nation’s savings A million more women in their 20s could be saving adequately for retirement if they were able to access emergency cash from their pension, according to new research[1]. The latest Women & Retirement report highlights that the current lack of flexibility in pensions is a barrier to saving and that introducing the ability…

New social phenomenon – the ‘sandwich generation’ In recent years, a growing realisation has formed that we’re in the middle of a new social phenomenon – the ‘sandwich generation’. The term ‘sandwich generation’ is often used to refer to those who care for both sick, disabled or older relatives and dependent children. With an ageing population and many people starting families…

Planning your next move for a comfortable retirement It can be a daunting prospect to think about selling the family home, but it is a decision that many decide is the right choice for them once the children have long moved out and the upkeep seems too onerous. However, people don’t often consider the impact this could have on their retirement,…

Plan to enjoy the kind of lifestyle you want in later life ‘Will I be able to afford the retirement lifestyle I want?’ is a question that many people ask but struggle to figure out. There are many ways to assess your likely income in retirement and work out how much you need to put away now to enjoy the kind…