Views

Our latest news, views and opinions for the business, financial and investing sectors, including personal finance.

Thinking ahead

How our retirement plans may change in response to the coronavirus pandemic The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has touched virtually every part of our lives and is having a widespread impact across all aspects of financial life, including retirement plans. As a result, a significant number of people aged over 50…

Risk of retirement longevity

Maximising investment returns over a longer life expectancy There are lots of variables in retirement: how long people will live for, the costs of goods and services they will need, interest rates available on their accumulated savings, and so on. But once you have retired, investing is anything but straightforward.…

Making the most of Surplus Income during Lockdown

In general life more so than in finances, the coronavirus crisis has underlined what is really important. But this is also being reflected in our experience of how people are dealing with financial matters during this time.   A new polymer £20 note was issued on 20th February. I have…

Keeping your wealth in the family when you’re gone

Nobody likes to think about their death, it's a taboo subject and the reason why so many people die without leaving a will, or efficiently planning for their finances after they're gone. This can lead to tax burdens on spouse and family that could be avoided if planned for correctly.…

Wealth management during volatile times – portfolio diversification is key

We're living in unprecedented times. With most of the world on lockdown and most economies on pause, now is the perfect time to be looking at your portfolio and assessing your risk, and more importantly, deciding whether your wealth management practices are ready for when we eventually emerge from the…

Making the most of your tax allowances this year

March 2020 will no doubt be looked back on as one of the most volatile in history. The coronavirus pandemic has affected our lives more than any other crisis in recent history, and its effects are likely to be felt for a long time yet. With the markets being rocked,…

Is it time to explore your ISA options?

An Individual Savings Account (ISA) enables you to save in a simple, tax-efficient way, while generally giving you instant access to your money. This gives you short, medium and long-term saving options, and with the end of the current tax year not too far away, it’s essential to make the…

Are you prepared for retirement?

You work hard to enjoy your current lifestyle, but are you doing enough to ensure that you will continue to enjoy it in retirement? Many of us live for today, and simply aren't putting enough away, but saving into a private pension plan can help you retire sooner rather than…

How do self employed business owners plan for retirement?

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…

What does wealth look like to you?

  Whether it’s stopping smoking, losing weight, eating more healthily or getting fitter, most of us have probably made at least one New Year’s resolution, but how many of us will actually go on to achieve it? We all have different financial goals and aspirations in life, yet these goals…