Focus on long-term horizons Time in the market, not timing the market During this difficult time, fear and worry are understandable, particularly as the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak led to the biggest daily drop in the FTSE 100 since the financial crisis of 1987. Trying to second-guess the impact of events such as the coronavirus or the recent stock market volatility – or even attempting to make a bet on them – rarely pays off. Instead, investors who focus on long-term

Coronavirus impact on the global economy It’s more important than ever to stay the course The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is first and foremost a human tragedy, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. It is also having a growing impact on the global economy. The markets have been extremely volatile as investors weigh the effect of the coronavirus against measures aimed at easing its economic impact. Therefore, it’s hard to say how this will affect investments in the short term. Even

Retirement savings longevity Are you facing a pensions challenge? We all want to ensure we have sufficient funds when we retire so we can spend our time the way that we want to. But how realistic are your current retirement plans? Our average life expectancy will soon exceed 90 years for the first time ever, according to an international study[1] that suggests people will be living far longer in 2030, with the gap between men and women starting to close.

Planning for tomorrow Will my retirement income be enough to live on comfortably? The questions our clients almost always ask us are: ‘Will I be able to retire when I want to? Will I run out of money? How can I guarantee the kind of retirement I want?’ Worryingly, it’s been well documented that many Britons aren’t saving enough in their pension for their retirement. Figures published by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)[1] in September 2019 show that the annual

Preserving your legacy How to keep your wealth in the family Are you worried about leaving an inheritance to your loved ones and then having them pay tax on your legacy? No one likes to think about a time when they won’t be here, but unfortunately the reality is that some people aren’t prepared financially. Estates that pass on to a spouse, registered civil partner or charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT), even if the value of such estates

Time to give your pension pot a boost? Planning ahead for the financial future you want Planning for retirement can be both exciting and daunting. It’s essential to structure your affairs to make sure you have enough money when you eventually retire. To give your pension pot a boost, one option to consider if your pension savings are more than your annual allowance is to take advantage of the ‘carry forward’ rules for unused annual allowances from previous years and

Top 4 tips for good tax planning What should I consider before the end of this tax year? The end of the 2019/20 tax year is fast approaching, and there are a number of valuable allowances and reliefs that will be lost if they are not used before the deadline. These opportunities include, but are not limited to, four important areas of tax planning. We’ve summarised these allowances below and suggest that if appropriate to your particular situation, these areas

Pension consolidation Simplifying and maximising retirement benefits The employment landscape has evolved significantly over the last few decades, and changing jobs multiple times before retirement is now very much the norm. As a result, many people have multiple pensions set up, as they have been automatically enrolled into a new pension scheme each time they have started a new job. When you have several pension pots, things can become complicated. If you have accumulated a number of pension pots over

Retirement matters There’s a lot to look forward to In your 50s, it’s important to make retirement planning a priority if you haven’t done so already. At this age, retirement is no longer a distant concept, and time is short if your plans aren’t on track. This means it’s crucial to think about your retirement income goals and the steps that you need to take to achieve those goals. Variables to consider One of the most important things to do

Bullish millennials Putting money to work earlier allows more time for savings to grow Millennials are more bullish than any other generation about their retirement savings, a major new study has found[1]. But with time on their side, should they be doing more? Almost two fifths (38%) of millennial investors (aged between 18 and 37) globally are very confident they are saving enough now so they won’t run out of money in their retirement. That is more than 29% for

How do I plan for my retirement? Self-employed business owners face unique challenges Saving for retirement can be more challenging when you are self-employed, as there is no one to organise a pension for you and no employer making contributions on your behalf. On top of that, self-employed workers often don’t have a regular income, so many will focus on setting aside money as a safety net if they cannot work. New research shows[1] that some self-employed workers are heading