Are you planning to grow your investment portfolio this year? Are you interested in incorporating your ethics into the decision? More investors are choosing to invest sustainably, but it can seem complex. If it’s something you’re thinking about, we look at three key things to understand before you start moving your money.

Sustainable investment has gradually been moving into the mainstream. It’s about investing your money with the objective of backing companies that operate in a sustainable way, as well as thinking about profit.

You may ...

Retiring is a milestone many of us look forward to as it draws near. The prospect of leaving the world of work behind and having more free time to dedicate to the things you enjoy is certainly appealing. But research suggests that many of those approaching retirement don’t know when they can expect to receive their State Pension, putting their financial security and plans at risk.

The State Pension age has gradually been increasing for women over the last few years and it’s now increasing for all. Yet research commissioned by Age UK, sugg...

The long-awaited ban on pension cold calling came into effect on the 9^th January 2019. In a bid to protect pensioners being targeted by fraudsters, the ban has now been approved into law. It’s a move that should help the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and other organisations reduce pension fraud.

Previous figures released by the FCA and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) have shown how devastating pension scams can be. On average, victims lost £91,000 in 2017. It’s a significant sum that could have a long-lasting effect on retirement plans, ...

Will you be better or worse off because of today’s Budget? Our summary answers that question, please read on to find out.

Winners

Earners

The Chancellor brought forward an election pledge to increase both the Personal Allowance and Higher Rate tax band, affecting 32 million people. From April 2019, the Personal Allowance will increase to £12,500, while the higher rate tax threshold will be £50,000, rising from £11,850 and £46,351 respectively.

The National Living Wage will also increase to £8.21 from April 2019 from the current £7.83, re...

Just after 3.30 pm today the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, stood up to deliver the first Budget on a Monday since 1962 and the last before Brexit.

He started by saying this would be a Budget for "hard-working families … who live their lives far from this place ... and care little for the twists and turns of Westminster politics".

Nevertheless, he soon turned to Brexit although, as usual, he started with a review of the state of the UK economy.

The economy and public finances

The Chancellor said growth would be “resilient” and improve next ...

Many Brits are lacking a financial safety net to protect them from income shocks. It means they could be putting their home, possessions and lifestyle on the line, research suggests.

Family finances are stretched, and many are choosing not to put money away for a rainy day. However, with worries about what would happen if income were to unexpectedly stop, taking steps to boost financial resilience is important.

Research from Aegon found:

• 45% would rely on their savings if the main earner was unable to work for six months or more
• But ...

Investors are increasingly investing their money with sustainability concerns in mind, figures show. As October marks Good Money Week, we take a closer look at what ethical investing is and how the demand is growing.

It’s predicted that the UK’s demand for ethical investment will grow by 173% by 2027, according to research from Triodos Bank. With the projected total amounting to £48 billion, ethical investing is slowly moving into the mainstream. But what is it and how does it influence your investment choices?

What is ethical investment...

Investing can seem like a daunting process. But getting to grips with investing can lead to greater financial security and growth.

Whether you’re investing for the first time or expanding your portfolio, it’s important to understand how your objectives and situation should influence your decisions. Asking these seven questions beforehand can support you when it comes to making investment choices.

1. What are your goals?

Before you even start investing your money, you should have a realistic idea of what you’d like to achieve. Your goals...

The number of people saving into a Workplace Pension has reached a record high. But far from providing a comfortable retirement income, those making minimum contributions could face an unexpected shortfall when the time comes to giving up work.

Pensioners could have less than minimum wage to live on, despite making monthly pension contributions, according to Aviva.

Alistair McQueen, Head of Savings and Retirement at Aviva, said: “Millions of people are sleepwalking towards less than minimum wage at retirement.

“To their credit, millions...