Half of pensioners plan to work past retirement age The onwards march of ‘pretirement’ – where people scale back on work or slow their retirement plans down rather than giving up entirely – is continuing, according to new research[1]. A recent study found half (50%) of those retiring during 2018 are considering working past State Pension age. This is the sixth consecutive…

Worrying increase on last year’s figure The over-65s in the UK are expected to owe around £86 billion by the end of 2018, according to latest figures from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) and More 2 Life. Total debt had increased on last year’s figure of £78 billion, as borrowing grew £35 billion in just three years. The…

More retirees drawing pensions without LPAs People are generally living longer these days. Increasingly, more people are living well into their 80s and 90s – and some even longer. This may mean you have a long time to budget for. That’s why it is very important to consider all of your options carefully and think about what will matter to you…

Top reasons people gave for not taking out protection There are many things to consider when looking to protect you and your family. It may not be the most exciting of subjects, but it answers one of our most basic desires – to keep safe all that we hold dear. The State of the Protection Nation report[1] reveals that the top reason people…

How a simple list can help your loved ones after your death Although it may not feel like it, your family finances are probably more precarious than you think. It’s all well and good when the breadwinners are healthy and working, but if something unfortunate were to happen, the outlook for those around you could change instantly. Research from Macmillan[1] highlights…

More than 100,000 people transferred out of Defined Benefit (DB) pensions in 2017/18[1]. A DB pension scheme is one where the amount you’re paid is based on how many years you’ve worked for your employer and the salary you’ve earned. The figures show that a large number of people are still transferring out of traditional salary-related pensions, but whether this is…

Visualising what really matters to you is the key to the planning process Have you ever thought about writing a letter to yourself to describe your ideal future life, long-term life goals and the process of how to plan for them? Imagining what you want your life to be like in the long term when you retire can help you think…

As one of Matthew Douglas’ Directors, Russell has been running most Saturday mornings in Reigate Priory park in order to be able to support a very worthy local cause (and obviously to try to keep fit!). LeatherHead Start is a former Night Hostel and began offering the following services as of June 2011: Emergency, direct access, short-term accommodation for homeless men and women…

Time to bring your investments together? If you have accumulated a number of Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) over the years, keeping them all in one place could give you better control and help you save money. There’s a common misconception that you can’t move your existing ISAs from one provider to another. Transferring your ISAs doesn’t affect its tax-efficient status, but you…

The bank that likes to say ‘yes’ Forget the Lamborghini – 2.4 million UK grandparents[1] have either raided their pension to support their grandchildren or plan to in the future. According to research from LV=, a quarter of generous grandparents (25%) who have already given away money to their grandchildren[2] have taken the funds from their pension. A further one in…