Providing the foundation for an exciting new chapter in your life

Nobody knows quite what the future holds. The good news is we are all living longer. Advances in medicine and healthier lifestyles have led to an increase in the average life expectancy of both males and females. Read the rest of this entry »

Holding a blend of assets to help you navigate the volatility of markets

One of the most effective ways to manage investment risk is to spread your money across a range of assets that, historically, have tended to perform differently in the same circumstances. This is called ‘diversification’. Read the rest of this entry »

Out of sight, out of mind

The extent to which pension policies are being forgotten has been revealed in research from Aviva.
A survey of almost ten thousand people who hold a pension has revealed that just under one in eight (13%) admitted they have at least one pension that they had forgotten about[1]. This is equal to more than 2.5 million pension policies currently sitting in the back of people’s minds[2]. Read the rest of this entry »

Are we seeing the return of inflation?

It has been easy to grow complacent about inflation in recent years. The rate of inflation has remained stubbornly low, but could inflation be finally returning to Western economies, aided by the ‘Trumpflation effect’? Read the rest of this entry »

Strategies to meet some of the most pressing global challenges ahead

Sustainable investing has gathered momentum across the world in the past decade as investors look for financial returns while helping to achieve a positive impact on the world around them. Read the rest of this entry »

How to look forward to what you want to accomplish

When was the last time you wrote down your goals? More importantly, when was the last time you revisited them? Read the rest of this entry »

Making the most of your money to achieve your financial objectives

To be in a position to navigate the financial aspects of your unique life’s journey, you need to regularly track your progress towards key goals such as paying off your mortgage, buying a second home, building a retirement fund or setting up an Inheritance Tax trust. Read the rest of this entry »

Making sure you can sustain the level of income you need

From stopping work altogether to a slow and gradual reduction of commitments – retirement means different things to different people. Making sure you can sustain the level of income you need as you move away from full-time employment or your business interests is key to a long and happy retirement. Read the rest of this entry »

Take full advantage of tax relief – annual and lifetime limits

Pensions are a highly tax-efficient form of saving, and if possible you should take full advantage of funding your pension contributions to the maximum allowable. You receive tax relief on contributions that you pay into your pension. Tax relief means some of your money that would have gone to the Government as tax goes into your pension instead. You can put as much as you want into your pension, but there are annual and lifetime limits on how much tax relief you get on your pension contributions. Read the rest of this entry »

Why monitoring the value of your pensions is important

A lifetime allowance puts a limit on the value of pension benefits that you can receive without having to pay a tax charge. The lifetime allowance is £1 million for the tax year 2016/17. Read the rest of this entry »