Pension planning for the self-employed
There are 4.8 million self-employed people in the UK and only a third have any kind of pension arrangement. A shocking statistic when you consider that State support is shrinking and we’re all living longer. Saving for a pension when you’re self-employed is not as straightforward as it is for an employed person, who might […]
What the budget means for personal finance
The budget was expected. The emergency meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England, by definition, was not. Both had meaningful implications for personal finance. Interest rates were cut from 0.75% to 0.25% (and have since been cut again to 0.1%) The initial cut sent interest rates back to where they were […]
Crystallising Your Pension Plan
The extra freedom granted by the pension changes introduced in April 2015 is good news for all pension savers. However, the increased options could lead to many people making the wrong decisions and paying unnecessary tax, making professional financial advice all the more important. In the event of your death, the money and estate that […]
The search for a reliable retirement income
It’s been almost four years since the April 2015 pensions changes which scrapped compulsory annuities and gave pensioners greater choice over how to take their retirement income. This historic change to UK pension legislation opened up a range of investment opportunities for pensioners. With increased control of their pension, investors can seek to position their […]
Don't fall for a pension scam
Frank Field, Labour MP and chair of an influential parliamentary committee, has called for legislative action to help keep pension savings safe. This comes after Police data shows that more than £43m of people’s retirement savings have been lost to fraud since the pension freedom reforms were announced. Figures from The Pensions Regulator estimate that […]
First Time Savers
The news is always full of stats about first-time buyers: in 2016 there were an estimated 335,750 first-time buyers – the highest figure since 359,900 in 2007 the average first-time deposit has more than doubled since 2007 to more than £32,000 • the average price of a first home broke through the £200,000 barrier for […]
