Are you benefiting financially from your marital status? Tying the knot does bring financial advantages. Tax and pensions are probably the least romantic reasons for getting married, but there are a number of ways to benefit from your marital status.

Leaving your property and possessions to your loved ones There are compelling financial and emotional reasons for making a will. But why do so many of us shy away from it?

Housing and fuel costs are the largest single expense T he figures show that household costs fluctuate over time, with annual costs peaking at £45,000 when the head of the household is aged between 30 and 49, reflecting the costs of raising children.

Resisting the temptation to make short-term adjustments Some investors may have had a roller-coaster ride in recent years. A market fall can happen at any time. In years past, they’ve been triggered by natural disasters, oil price spikes, wars, bank collapses – and now there’s the eurozone debt crisis. The reality is that market swings […]

One in four retired homeowners hope to raise £62,000 by moving into a smaller home Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of the UK’s 10.4 million pensioners own their own home, although more than a quarter (26 per cent) expects to sell their property to raise money or simply to make their life easier, according […]

Almost two million retirees have less disposable income than an 11-year-old child “Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves” is an age-old saying dispensed to children as they learn the basics of money. However, adults may want to take heed of their own wise words before they reach retirement, as almost two […]

Take your money when it suits you Finding the right offshore investments can be a key factor in making the most of your wealth, and it’s not only for the wealthiest of investors. With a few well-advised decisions you could broaden your investment portfolio.

Attractive tax breaks as part of a diversified investment portfolio Enterprise Investment Schemes (EISs) are tax-efficient vehicles set up to encourage investment into small, unquoted trading companies. Following the changes announced in various Budgets, the EIS is the only tax-efficient investment offering a capital gains tax (CGT) deferral. CGT on the disposal of other assets […]

Wealthier investors taking a long-term view A Venture Capital Trust (VCT) is a company whose shares trade on the London stock market. A VCT aims to make money by investing in other companies. These are typically very small companies that are looking for further investment to help develop their business. The VCT often invests at […]

Not sacrificing your life principles in exchange for chasing the best financial returns For investors concerned about global warming and other environmental issues, there are a plethora of ethical investments that cover a multitude of different strategies. The terms ethical investment and socially responsible investmentí (SRI) are often used interchangeably to mean an approach to […]