One of the key decisions you need to make when investing is how much investment risk you want to take.

Weighing up the level of risk you’re willing to be exposed to can be challenging. It’s often one that’s ruled by emotions and your personal attitude to risk. While these factors should play a role, they aren’t the only areas you should be considering. Whether you’re reviewing your pension or building a personal investment portfolio, balancing risk is a crucial part of the process.

If it’s a step you’re taking, keeping these six points i...

Pensioners are increasingly taking advantage of the Pension Freedoms introduced in 2015. While the move offered far more flexibility in how you take an income in retirement, it also means there’s more responsibility on your shoulders too. For retirees that have chosen to leave some or all of their pension invested, protecting its value and the income it provides is important.

Flexi-Access Drawdown allows pensioners to leave some or all their pension invested, rather than purchasing an Annuity that provides a guaranteed income. It’s an att...

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...