Generous grandparents

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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 six (16%) plan to use their pension for this reason once they reach retirement age. Continue reading…

Diversification, diversification, diversification

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Portfolio building requires different characteristics to evaluate

There are many ways to invest and different types of investments. But when looking to build an appropriate diversified portfolio, investors have a number of different characteristics to evaluate. For example, is the investment designed to provide growth or income? Is it domestic or international? Does it have a maturity? Another consideration is whether the investment is actively or passively managed. Continue reading…

Art of bond investing

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Portfolio balancing, negating stock market volatility and lowering risk

Bonds have historically been an alternative way to balance a portfolio and negate stock market volatility, and they are treated as lower risk. The art of investing is all about mixing assets to build a portfolio aligned to your investment outlook and attitude to risk, with shares and bonds as primary components. For investors, bonds can provide a stream of returns. Continue reading…

Pension freedoms

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Running out of money remains the biggest retirement fear for over-55s

On 6 April 2015, the Government introduced ‘pension freedoms’, and with it major changes to people’s private pension provision. Once you reach the age of 55 years, you now have much more freedom to access your pension savings or pension pot and to decide what to do with this money Continue reading…

Cultivating the art of patience

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Sticking with a long-term commitment to your investments

If you want to give your investments the best chance of earning a return, then it’s a good idea to cultivate the art of patience. The best returns tend to come from sticking with a long-term commitment to your investments. Continue reading…

Money’s too tight to mention

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Financial impact on annual retirement income after divorce

First comes marriage, then for some couples comes divorce. But a stable marriage is one of the best paths to building and maintaining wealth. Divorce, on the other hand, is expensive. Possessions, money, financial assets and debt acquired during (and sometimes before) marriage are divided between former spouses. Putting a price tag on a divorce is tricky. Continue reading…

Making the most of your pensions

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Have you accumulated multiple plans that need reviewing?

By the time we have been working for a decade or two, it is not uncommon to have accumulated multiple pension plans. There’s no wrong time to start thinking about pension consolidation, but you might find yourself thinking about it if you’re starting a new job or nearing retirement. Continue reading…

Protection matters

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Families face a precarious situation if the worst were to happen

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but most people start to think about cover to help protect their family financially once they have children. But research from Scottish Widows[1] reveals that 60% of women in the UK with dependent children have no life cover, leaving their families in a precarious situation if the worst were to happen. Continue reading…

This time next year we’ll be ‘million-heirs’

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Larger individual wealth and expectation of substantial inheritances

With estate planning, you can decide what happens to your money and possessions – even your pets – if something happens to you. But estate planning is useful in other ways too: it can help you minimise any Inheritance Tax liability and ensure your wishes are carried out in the event of your death or if you need to go into care. Continue reading…

Retirement rewards

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Common planning mistakes lead to an opaque future

With increasing life expectancy and rising cost of living, the need to plan for one’s golden years is essential. Although retirement is one of the most distant financial goals, it is in our own interest not to ignore it. And almost three quarters (73%) of people aged 45 or over are longing for the day when their life is no longer confined by their working routine, according to new research[1]. Continue reading…