It’s that time of the year when thousands of teenagers across the country are waiting to find out if they’ve been accepted to university. As your child or grandchild starts the next chapter of their life, it’s natural to feel some concern as well as pride in their achievements. Understanding what university means financially can help put some of your worries to rest.

According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, there are over 2.5 million students, with about 1.7 million studying for their first degree. It’s a figure that’s risen o...

Most people in the UK do not have any type of financial protection. While there may be a good reason for some, in others it’s a decision that’s sparked by myths. It could mean you’re missing out on financial protection that could provide financial security when you need it most.

According to the Financial Conduct Authority, less than half (47%) of UK adults have taken out any kind of financial protection. The most popular type of financial protection is life insurance, used by 31% of people. However, uptake of other types of financial pro...

Do you rely on your investments to deliver an income? If you do, the last year could have severely affected your income and may mean you’ve been forced to rely on other assets. As 2021 continues to present challenges for businesses around the world, can you still rely on your investments?

Traditionally, dividend-paying stocks have played an essential role in investment portfolios designed to deliver an income. A dividend is when a company distributes some of its earnings to shareholders, usually in cash. Dividends are usually paid by larg...

Interest rates have been below 1% for 12 years. If you’re a saver, that means you’ve likely been receiving very little interest from your savings. One alternative option you may be considering is an account with a prize draw, but are they worth it and do they make sense for you?

Premium Bonds have been around since 1956 and have become a popular way to save. Since then, many other banks and providers have started offering prize draw savings accounts to entice savers amid the low-interest-rate environment. Rather than paying interest on yo...

How much do you need to live the retirement lifestyle you want? It’s a question that’s on the mind of many people as they near their retirement date. Now research suggests that couples need an income of £26,000 to live comfortably, but if you want some luxurious extras, that needs to rise to £41,000.

Which? surveyed nearly 7,000 retirees to understand what they spend their money on and how it impacts the lifestyle they lead. The responses were split into three lifestyle categories – essential, comfortable, and luxury. The table below high...

Investing has been around for centuries and the basics haven’t changed as much as you might think. Technology has changed how we invest, but some of the investment lessons from the past are just as relevant today as they were in the 1600s.

Our latest guide looks at the foundations of modern investing, and what you can learn from the past, including:

• How the first stock markets came to be
• Why you should focus on the long term
• Why it’s important to diversify
• Why it’s impossible to consistently predict market movements
• How following t...

Since Pension Freedoms were introduced in 2015, retirees have had more choice when they access their pension. However, it also means you have more responsibility for generating an income later in life and it’s important to understand what your options are.

Our latest guide explains the basics you need to know, including:

• Why it’s important to have a retirement plan in place
• Your different options, such as buying an annuity or taking a flexible income
• The pros and cons of the different options available to you.

Download “Your retir...

There are more than five million self-employed workers in the UK, according to government statistics. This figure is rising, with around one in six people now working for themselves. There are advantages to being self-employed, but some workers could be missing out on benefits worth thousands of pounds compared to their traditionally employed contemporaries.

The average annual replacement cost of typical employee benefits is £9,586, according to calculations from Royal London. This means self-employed workers must earn almost £28 extra pe...

When discussing investments or reading the news, you may have heard the phrase “rebalancing”. It’s an important part of making sure your portfolio continues to reflect your goals, but it can be overlooked or misunderstood. Read on to learn what rebalancing involves and why it’s part of investment strategies.

Investing: A long-term game

Before we start looking at rebalancing, it’s important to understand how and why we invest with a long-term strategy.

It can be tempting to buy and sell stocks to try and maximise profits, especially duri...