Move to equalise male and female pension ages
Women will now start to qualify for the State Pension at the same age as men, currently set at 65. The move to equalise male and female pension ages began 25 years ago and has been gradually phased in. Your State Pension age is the earliest age you can start receiving your State Pension. It may be different to the age you can get a workplace or personal pension. Continue reading “State Pension”
Least financially resilient group delay life milestones due to financial insecurity
Life can get complicated when you hit your early thirties, which means your finances are starting to get serious. You might be in the middle of countless transitions, like moving up in your career, starting a business, buying a home, getting married, having children…and a whole lot more. Continue reading “Independence plan”
Busting the myths of investment companies’ performance
Saturday 15 September 2018 marked ten years since the collapse of Lehman Brothers. And with the bull market following the global financial crisis – now the longest in history in the US – it’s useful to revisit the past. The Association of Investment Companies (AIC)[1] has looked at the long-term performance of investment companies from just before the dot-com bubble burst in 2000 and just after the collapse of Lehman Brothers in October 2007. Continue reading “Dot-com crash to global financial crisis”
Building wealth for a solid financial future
As a parent, guardian or grandparent, you’ll want to provide the best future for your children or grandchildren that you can. Christmas is an excellent time to encourage children to start thinking about the value of money. Many children have hundreds of pounds spent on them at Christmas. But could that money be put to better use? Rather than buying yet more toys for your children or grandchildren, why not consider setting up a tax-efficient Junior ISA for them? Continue reading “Festive gifts”
Looming pensions saving crisis on the horizon
The number of people running their own businesses has soared since the financial crisis, with a significant number being set up by someone aged over 50. But an unhealthy number of self-employed workers in the UK do not currently save into a pension. Continue reading “Self-employed finances”
Job prospects, savings, safety nets and life expectancy
Rising housing costs, soaring student debt and low wage inflation have left many millennials with stretched budgets. They may get regularly mocked as Generation Snowflake obsessed with spending on luxuries, but new research[1] shows they are focused on saving for retirement and want more support. Continue reading “Generational finances”
Tax aspects require careful planning after recent government changes
Pensions have the reputation of being confusing, but they needn’t be. Private pensions are usually used by people who don’t have access to a workplace pension scheme, but you can also have one if you are employed or not working. They work in much the same way as workplace pension schemes, but you, rather than an employer, are responsible for choosing the provider and setting up your plan. Continue reading “Funding your golden years”
Build a portfolio that meets your needs
The earlier you commit to an investment strategy, the longer your money can work in the market. However, the world is an uncertain place at the moment. The deadline for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU is edging closer, and there is also the ongoing threat of an all-out trade war breaking out. Continue reading “Market exposure”
No longer the precursor to end-of-tax year planning
Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) provide the opportunity for appropriate investors to support the growth of small UK businesses and receive attractive tax reliefs in return. Introduced in 1995, VCTs enable smaller companies that may find it hard to get traditional finance, such as from banks. Continue reading “Investing for tax-free dividends”
Taking responsibility for funding our own retirement
Although each generation will likely face different challenges and opportunities, achieving retirement readiness will require actions common to us all. Continue reading “Pension freedoms”