Taking a more gradual approach to retirement The nature of retirement has changed – it is no longer a matter of leaving the workplace with a golden carriage clock and entering a quiet life of leisure.

Why the days of ultra-low interest rates look numbered Inflation figures recently showed a sharper than expected drop in prices, cementing expectations that any rise in interest rates would be delayed until next year.

Have you considered tidying up your arrangements? It would appear we are now increasingly becoming a ‘consolidation nation’, with many people combining their different contracts and services to make them easier to manage. It’s a growing trend, and new innovations are coming into the market all the time to tempt consumers. The recent launch of […]

UK adults forced to borrow money from family members More than one in four (28%) UK adults have been forced to borrow money from family members, according to new research. With the average amount borrowed by individuals standing at £2,123, the collective family lending economy is now worth around £31billion. Family Generations & Financial Pressures […]

Have you taken advantage of your larger tax-efficient allowance? The new Individual Savings Account (ISA) rules were introduced in July, giving savers and investors more flexibility and a larger tax-efficient allowance than ever before. Four out of ten people told the consumer organisation Which? that they would save more as a result of the annual […]

Diversifying your assets helps spread risk by lessening the potential for losses Most investors are used to hearing the term ‘diversification’ – but it has a broader meaning than many realise. Diversification is the process of investing in areas that have little or no relation to each other. This is called a ‘low correlation’.

How to influence the income you’ll receive in your retirement On 10 July this year, the Office for Budget Responsibility warned that many of us might not be eligible for a State Pension until we reach the age of 70. That’s the minimum age AT WHICH the Government will be able to afford to pay […]

How to UNLOCK your assets from unnecessary tax £325,000 The first £325,000 value of your estate is called the ‘Nil Rate Band’ because although it is taxable to Inheritance Tax (IHT), it is taxed at 0% (tax year 2014/15).

Further clarity on the new rules for pensions published by the Government Retirement should be an exciting time, and these days there’s more scope than ever to arrange your finances the way you want them. For example, you could continue to work and take your pension benefits. That flexibility is great, but it does mean […]

Millions of over-40s expect to carry on working until they physically can’t continue One in five Britons admitted that they are planning to ‘work until they drop’ in order to have a comfortable retirement, a study from Aviva has revealed. Worries about being able to afford their ‘ideal retirement’ means millions of over-40s are expecting […]