How would your family cope financially if you passed away? It may be a difficult question to consider, but it could also be an important one. Understanding the challenges your family could face may mean you’re able to identify steps to protect them, including taking out financial protection if appropriate. 

Financial protection is a type of insurance that would pay out when certain conditions are met to provide a financial safety net when the unexpected happens.

If you’re considering how to provide for your family should the worst happen...

Economic data suggesting some developed countries, including the US, could fall into a recession continued to affect investment markets in September 2024. Read on to discover other factors that may have affected the performance of your investments.  

UK

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows inflation remained stable at 2.2% in the 12 months to August. The figure is slightly above the Bank of England’s (BoE) 2% target.

Despite speculation that inflation data would lead to the BoE cutting interest rates, the Bank opted ...

High inflation has been a hot topic over the last couple of years, and as its pace stabilises, you might think it no longer needs to be part of your financial plan. Yet, skipping inflation when calculating your long-term finances could leave you with a shortfall. 

The government sets the Bank of England (BoE) a target of keeping inflation at 2%. 

The BoE explains that inflation that is too high or moves around a lot makes it hard for businesses to set the right prices and for people to plan their spending. However, inflation that is too ...

Purchasing an annuity could provide you with a regular income throughout retirement. And rising annuity rates could help your pension savings go further.

An annuity is something you buy, often with the money saved in your pension, which then provides a guaranteed income. The annuity rate offered affects the income you’d receive and it can vary between providers.

If you’re nearing retirement, the good news is that annuity rates have increased. According to the Standard Life Annuity Rate Tracker, the average annuity rate for a healthy 65-y...

More than 70% of Brits think Inheritance Tax (IHT) is unfair, according to a poll carried out by Tax Policy Associates in 2023. You might consider how other countries handle taxing assets when you pass away to be “fairer”, read on to find out more. 

Over the last few months, you’ve read about how IHT works in the UK and some of the steps you may take to reduce a potential bill. 

In the UK, IHT is a type of tax that’s levied on the estate of someone who has passed away if the total value exceeds certain thresholds. The portion of estates ...

What’s stopping you from retiring sooner? For many, it’s not just finances that are holding them back but their mindset too. If the excitement of retiring is also mixed with nerves, a financial plan could give you the confidence boost you need to take a step back from work.

Finances may play a role in the hesitancy to retire for some people. Yet, others are in a financial position to retire but are still worried about taking that next step. It’s easy to see why you might not want to plunge straight into retirement – it could represent a h...

Often one of the biggest benefits of a bespoke financial plan is that it allows you to devise a blueprint to follow, with your goals placed at the centre. It’s a strategy that could help you focus on what you want to achieve in life and make working with a professional even more valuable to you.

Over the last few months, you’ve read about how a financial plan could help you grow your wealth and the value of non-tangible benefits, like feeling more confident about your finances. Now, read on to discover how financial planning might help...

When you think about what you want the future to look like, it’s probably not the value of your assets that comes to mind first. Instead, you might think about the experiences you want or the wellbeing of your loved ones 

Yet, to build the life you want, money is usually an important factor. While you often hear that “money can’t buy happiness”, the reality is that your financial circumstances are likely to play a role in whether you can secure the lifestyle you want. 

By making your financial plan as much about happiness as your weal...

Imagine you could time travel to understand how your financial decisions today might affect your lifestyle in 10 or 20 years. You may be in a better position to turn your goals into a reality. Read on to find out how working with a financial planner could give you a glimpse into the future.

Time travel films and books offer plenty of warnings about the perils of changing the timeline – even a seemingly small change can have a huge impact. With this in mind, a “time travelling” financial plan could help you make better decisions as it c...