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Articles of interest

Perfect storm
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

Feeling the pinch
Women more vulnerable to cost-of-living crisis. Throughout their lives, women face a number of challenges that can place them at a financial disadvantage compared to their male counterparts. This can include inequality of pay at work, taking career breaks or taking part-time positions due to an expectation they will take on greater responsibility for family commitments. This often leaves them less financially resilient and in the context of the cost of living crisis, where everyone is feeling the pinch, it

Tracing old and lost pensions
Nearly half of pension holders have lost track of some of their pension pots. The lost pensions challenge in the UK has grown significantly in recent years, further exacerbated by the pandemic, which resulted in a large proportion of people moving jobs. A recent Pension Policy Institute research briefing calculated the total value of lost pension pots has grown to £26.6 billion in 2022[1]. If you’ve worked for several employers throughout your career, you might have accumulated multiple pension plans.

Time to get your retirement plans in motion?
Three in five Britons feel stressed about later life planning. It’s only natural, in a world where most people are worried about things that are beyond their control – the rising cost of living, increasing inflation and interest rates that haven’t been seen for years – that you may also feel out of your depth when it comes to things like pensions and later life preparations. When it comes to later life planning, more than three in five people (61%)

Taxing times
Time for a tax health check? With the current tax year having begun on 6 April 2022, the clock is ticking and it is important to utilise all the tax reliefs and allowances available to you before 5 April 2023 in order to minimise any potential liabilities. Personal tax planning should be at the top of your agenda as the end of the current tax year is not too far away. Taking action now may give you the opportunity to

Millennials willing to forgo inheritance
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

‘Phased retirement’
Pre-retirees starting their plans but will rising living costs halt their plans? Retiring early is a dream for many people and it is achievable for people who have been able to plan, save into a pension over a long period and taken financial advice to help them plan their finances. However, it can become a financial problem if retirement is forced upon people before they have had time to prepare. It’s estimated that to maintain your current lifestyle, you’ll need

Don’t miss the ISA deadline
Use your tax-efficient allowance or lose it forever! Time is running out to take advantage of this year’s Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowances. You get one ISA allowance per tax year. So use it or lose it soon, when the tax year ends on 5 April. Any unused ISA allowance will not be rolled over into the new tax year. On 6 April when the new tax year starts, if you haven’t used all of your or your children’s ISA

Chancellor retains state pension triple lock
State pension is set for a record-breaking increase from April 2023. If you’re currently receiving or have been looking into the State Pension, then you’ve probably heard of the ‘triple lock’. But what is it? The triple lock was introduced in 2010. Its purpose is to make sure that the State Pension doesn’t lose value over time. The triple lock aims to protect pensioners against the impact of inflation. If the State Pension didn’t change but the price of goods

No ‘one-size-fits-all’ protection solution
Helping you feel confident your family’s finances are secure. With a New Year comes resolutions. Everyone should make a resolution to review their protection and estate plans. A solid plan will help you feel confident your family’s finances are secure. The uncertainty of the past couple of years has shown how important it is to have a robust plan in place for securing your family’s finances. While no one knows what is around the corner, reviewing your protection, updating your

Leaving a tax-efficient legacy
Considering the rule of seven when making financial gifts. You’ve worked to build up your wealth. But now it’s time to make plans so your loved ones can get the most from the estate you intend to leave behind. If you think you might be affected by Inheritance Tax, it can be tempting to hold off making plans to do anything about it. But the truth is that it’s better to plan earlier for Inheritance Tax. Estate planning is an

Doing the right thing for the planet
Four in five looking to change jobs demand green pensions. When you first start paying into your employer’s pension, your contributions, along with employer contributions and tax relief, will be invested through a default fund. You will usually have several fund options to choose from. Increasingly, new research has identified that people are choosing to work for employers that provide ‘green pensions’[1]. Today’s workers expect employers to show true leadership and offer pensions which are invested responsibly. Investments in high