Britons not researching their investments because it’s ‘time consuming’ and ‘complicated’ A new survey conducted by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) reveals that 44% of UK adults who hold investments of between £100 and £50,000 wish they had spent more time researching their investment before making a decision[1]. However, this task is commonly neglected due to its perceived complexity – it ranked much lower than other tasks like choosing a holiday, buying a house and checking social media. The findings also highlighted the risk of in ..read more

Protecting against the financial impact that a serious illness can cause People are increasingly becoming more concerned about the possibility of being affected by a critical illness such as cancer, stroke or heart attack, according to new research findings[1]. This is reflected in the fact that searches for ‘critical illness insurance’ have skyrocketed, with, on average, 6,800 people searching for ‘critical illness cover’ every month, mostly asked on Google. With rising rates of serious illnesses like cancer (one in two chance of getting it at some point in one’s lifetime, according to NHS es ..read more

Planning your finances to be sustainable for the long term is key There are signs and targets that can signal that you are prepared to retire, but it can be difficult to figure out when you are truly ready to retire. We may think of retirement as being centred around a particular age or monetary amount. When we get to ‘X’ years old or have ‘Y’ amount of money, we can move on to our ‘golden years’. The turbulent times we’re living through have given many people pause for thought to consider their work-life balance and think more seriously about what makes them happy. While happiness for many i ..read more

Making the right preparation for future generations Financial planning can be a daunting and uncomfortable conversation for many, but thankfully attitudes towards talking about money are changing. Wealth succession should be an integral part of your financial plan as early as possible – because the right preparation now can have positive long-term impacts on future generations. Despite the uncertain economic climate, families are doing their utmost to ensure they can leave behind a secure financial future for their children and grandchildren. According to predictions, the amount of wealth pas ..read more

How to protect your pension income against inflationary pressures For anyone feeling the effects of rising inflation rates, it’s important to ensure that your retirement fund isn’t significantly impacted. While this can be challenging in such an uncertain economic climate, there are measures you can take to ensure that your savings don’t suffer. Here are some tips to help you protect your pension income for the future. Postponing retirement Retiring later can have multiple advantages. It can be a financially wise decision to postpone retirement when inflation is high. Postponing retirement al ..read more

Dad teaches a little girl to ride a children’s bike on the road in spring. Happy family. A father teaches his daughter to ride a bike in the park at sunset. Daddy and kid play together outdoorsHow professional financial advice benefits both you and your family When it comes to managing your finances, the wealth of resources now available can make it easy to try and go it alone. However, obtaining the right advice from a qualified professional financial adviser will ensure you are able to plan ahead by including expectations for items such as inflation, market declines and your protection requi ..read more

Ways to potentially reduce your Capital Gains Tax liability Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a form of taxation imposed on profits earned from the sale of certain types of assets. Gains are calculated by subtracting the purchase price and related expenses (such as sales charges) from the selling price. They are generally taxed at a rate higher than income taxes in order to discourage speculation. If you plan to sell assets that have appreciated in value, such as real estate, stocks or bonds, it is important to be aware of CGT and how it can affect your bottom line. Proper planning can help you minim ..read more

Choosing an investment style that best suits your needs Investment styles are professional strategies used to create and manage portfolios. Different styles can range from aggressive growth to conservative investments. Depending on the investor’s goals, interests and risk tolerance level, they can choose a style that best suits their needs. For example, an investor looking for quick returns may opt for a more aggressive approach while a more cautious investor might prefer a slower growth strategy. Knowing one’s investment style is important in order to make informed decisions about how to mana ..read more

Major long-term ramifications for financial health and wellbeing A perfect storm of global and domestic factors has contributed to spiralling inflation in the UK, triggering a cost of living crisis. This is pushing up the prices of food, fuel and housing. This crisis is by far the top concern for UK consumers: 58% are very worried about it, rising to 69% of women, according to research[1]. Three-quarters of those aged 50 and over are also worried about how the cost of living will impact their retirement with one in two (53%) fearing that they won’t have enough income to survive financially whe ..read more

Harder to support bigger financial commitments of older generation parents Many people want to do what they can to ensure they maximise the amount they leave to their family and minimise Inheritance Tax, but working out how much you can afford to give away during your lifetime isn’t easy. With finances being stretched in all directions, it can be incredibly stressful if you want to support your children in the short term, while making sure you don’t find yourself struggling further down the line. New research has shown that the a oldest of the millennial generation would prefer their parents t ..read more