Nine in ten adults make stark spending decisions as anxiety runs high. The pressure of spiralling living costs is a major concern among many UK households, with the vast majority looking to make significant lifestyle changes in response to price rises. According to new research[1], 95% of adults in the UK say they are worried about the anticipated rise in the cost of living in 2022. Women are the most worried, with a third (33%) mentioning they are extremely worried

Britons saved almost £4bn as a result of the Omicron variant. New research[1] has highlighted Britons saved almost £4bn[2] as a result of the Omicron variant disrupting social plans during the festive period. The identification of the new variant and the subsequent surge in positive cases caused many to put festive plans on hold this year, resulting in 35% of people saving money, with an average saving of £212 per person. 1% of people cancelled bigger plans over Christmas, resulting

Five principles of investing everyone should know. Are your investments working as hard as they could be? With so many options out there, it can be confusing. We can help you navigate your options and provide a personalised recommendation based on your investment goals. The following five principles will help you get on top of some key issues that affect everyone who invests their money. 1. Set investment goals Successful investing begins by setting measurable and attainable investment goals and

Why now is the time to make sure you protect your wealth. The word ‘inflation’ had barely featured in the market’s vocabulary in the last three decades until it suddenly started to come back with a vengeance in 2021. As higher inflation looks set to persist in 2022, finding ways to generate a return on investments greater than inflation will be a key investment theme – otherwise your wealth falls in real terms. Spending spree There are two basic reasons

Staying on track to achieving specific financial goals. All of your financial decisions and activities have an effect on your financial health. To help improve your financial health during this period of rising inflation and interest rates, we look at three areas that could help keep you on track to achieving your specific financial goals. Beat the National Insurance rise The National Insurance rise from April this year is going ahead for workers and employers despite pressure to reverse the

Savers still recognise the importance of long-term planning. Britain’s cost-of-living crunch has hit the country hard, with inflation at its highest level in three decades, petrol prices spiralling, retail price increases rising to their highest levels in ten years and, most recently, Ofgem announcing a 54% price hike in energy bills affecting 22 million households. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been forced to announce an emergency £350 of support per household to help with the cost of heating. As a result,

Bolstering your retirement lifestyle as you approach retirement. Have you ever wondered what you need to consider as you approach retirement? Whatever your concept of what is a good pension pot, one certainty is that relying on the State Pension alone will not give you a good enough pension to live on comfortably through your retirement. ‘Will I be able to retire when I want to?’ ‘Will I run out of money?’ ‘How can I guarantee the kind of retirement

You work, you save and then you retire. A full and happy retirement is a priority for many. But no two people are alike. A ’one-size-fits-all’ system cannot accurately account for everyone’s individual lifestyle choices, so it makes sense that the way you prepare for your future is likely to be different from others. On the surface, retirement planning hasn’t changed all that much over the years. You work, you save and then you retire. But while the mechanics may

Don’t miss the deadline to give your pension savings a boost. As another extraordinary financial year comes to a close, it’s more important than ever to make good use of your annual pension allowances. Giving your pension savings a boost and assessing where you stand will give you peace of mind that you are on track to enjoying the retirement you are planning for. The 2021/22 tax year ends on 5 April. Staying on top of your retirement plans is

Millions battling with financial hardship, relationship stress and sleepless nights. Fear, worry, and stress are normal responses to perceived or real threats, and at times when we are faced with uncertainty or the unknown. So it is normal and understandable that people are experiencing fear in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic and the resulting economic impact has negatively affected many people’s mental health. Nearly half of UK adults (47%) have experienced mental health challenges during the pandemic,

Women are being urged to think about their long term savings. Imagine reaching retirement age and discovering that, despite years of saving, you don’t have enough money to get by. Worse still, suppose you’re unable to pay for the right kind of care in your old age. If you and your partner separate or your spouse dies unexpectedly – will you have sufficient funds to see you through retirement? Now, all of these might sound like worst case scenarios but,

Is your wealth protected from the damaging effects of inflation? Many people underestimate the damaging effect of low interest and high inflation on their cash savings. A continued period of low interest rates on cash savings and rising inflation could pose a real risk to savers in 2022 even if the Bank of England (BoE) moves to increase interest rates further in the coming months. Savers with large amounts of money sitting in cash should not to be lulled into