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Managing risk vs reward when pension planning

Avoiding taking a risk could be holding you back from many things; such as ticking skydiving off your bucket list or joining the local amateur dramatics club. It could also mean that you are taking money away from yourself in retirement. By being overly cautious with your pension investments now, you could be robbing your future self of income which would make your retirement much more comfortable. How do over-50s feel about investment risk? According to research from the London Institute of…
18th July 2018

Disconnected: How moving services online could lose pensioners money

The internet is often a point of contention among families. But, whether you think it has brought the world closer together, or driven us apart, one thing is true; it has infiltrated most parts of life and there are some things that are becoming difficult to do without using it. Unfortunately, one of those processes is accessing important benefits which many older people rely on to support themselves financially. Now, we assume that, as you are reading this online, you might be quite comfortable ‘surfing…
18th July 2018

Failure to prepare: Many over-50s are not prepared for life after retirement

A lack of preparation could mean that today’s over-50s are heading for disaster when they reach retirement. In fact, research from the London Institute of Banking & Finance shows that half of people approaching retirement do not feel well prepared for it. To illustrate: 35% worry about how they will manage financially in retirement 38% say they will have to work longer than they had planned 47% need to save more for retirement There are several factors causing a misalignment in retirement…
18th July 2018

Living inheritances gain prominence as reason for Equity Release

A report from Key Retirement has shown that approximately 30 retired homeowners give money released from their home to relatives each day and these ‘financial gifts’ are shown to be the fastest-growing reason behind Equity Release. Over the past year, the number of people giving Equity Release money away to relatives has grown by 4%. The reasons for giving financial gifts The average age for accessing equity has fallen from 72 to 71, with many looking to help their children or grandchildren…
28th June 2018

Five reasons not to let Pension Freedoms go to your head

Throughout the 2017/18 financial year, flexible pension withdrawals totalled more than £6.5 billion, the highest it has been since the introduction of Pension Freedoms in 2015 (Source: HMRC). In the first three months of 2018 alone, just under £1.7 billion was taken from pension funds by 222,000 people; an average of £7,644 per person. Of course, some of those people will be making withdrawals as part of a sensible and sustainable plan. Others, however, may be letting the new-found Pension Freedoms go…
28th June 2018

Key information for interest-only mortgage holders

According to UK Finance, the number of outstanding interest-only mortgages has fallen by 46% since 2012. Unfortunately, the issue of interest-only mortgage holders, with no way to make their final repayments, is still a reality for some. If you have an interest-only mortgage, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about and whether you should be concerned about your own arrangements. It is likely that you will have many questions, so we have endeavoured to cover all the main points:…
28th June 2018

Child or Grandchild off to uni this September? Three things to teach them before they go

Watching your kids or grandkids go off to university brings many feelings: Pride: At how well they have done until this point. Nostalgia: Where did the time go? It only seems like yesterday they started nursery! Freedom: It’s time to turn that box room into a home gym at last! Utter terror: How will they survive in the big, wide world, without you to protect them? …And many more besides. But, there is another emotion which should begin to manifest in the months remaining before…
24th May 2018

How do you look after your finances? The protections you should know about

With new data from The Money Charity showing that almost 10 million people in the UK have no savings, it’s time to talk about financial protection again. It can be easy to feel like your finances are under control. You have two incomes coming into the household, the bills are paid in full and on time and your credit is manageable. Maybe you even have spare cash for holidays and treats? You’re sorted. But what happens if your household suddenly loses an…
24th May 2018

Three things to consider before using your pension to help relatives

There’s nothing new about retirees helping younger generations financially. Whether it’s to cover the seemingly ever-rising costs of living, or just to make sure they’re able to enjoy their spare time, giving money to children and grandchildren has become something of a tradition in some families. However, research from Prudential has shown that the amounts being given away by many pensioners is reaching new heights, with those due to stop working this year predicted to hand over an average of £4,300 to…
24th May 2018

The true value of increased pension contributions

You probably know that the minimum pension contributions have increased for those who have been auto-enrolled. Previously, the contributions for both you and your employer were 1%, but since the 6th April, this has increased to 3% for you and 2% for your employer. These are minimum amounts only, and either party can choose to contribute a bigger percentage each month. Qualifying earnings The required amount contributed by you and your employer will be calculated based on your qualifying earnings, for 2018 this is your…
19th April 2018

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