Individuals aged between 40 and 60 – dubbed “midlifers” – are facing time and financial pressures as they try to support their families. Many are feeling the strain and don’t have the resources to focus on their own goals, and financial planning could help.

According to a survey from Legal & General, 6 million midlifers are finding themselves caught in the middle of providing financial support to adult children and providing unpaid care to ageing relatives. On top of this, it’s a crucial period for securing their own financial future and ...

Have you watched the Tinder Swindler or Puppet Master on Netflix and wondered how people could fall for the scams?

Watching the stories unfold through a screen means you can spot the red flags and inconsistencies, but when a scammer is targeting you, it can be much harder than you think to look at your situation objectively.

Over the last few months, TV shows showing huge scams that fraudsters have pulled off have become incredibly popular.

The Tinder Swindler racked up 45.8 million views in the first week it was available on Netflix, a...

When you retire, your income may be coming from multiple sources, and it may not be regular. This can lead to some retirees being overtaxed. While you can claim back overpaid tax, it could affect your plans and you may not realise you’ve paid too much.

Understanding your tax liability can help you manage your budget and income in retirement.

Retirees have overpaid around £835 million in tax since 2015

In the last quarter of 2021 alone, HMRC returned more than £42 million in overpaid tax to those accessing their pension, according to an ...

If you’re nearing retirement, you may be starting to think about planning the next stage of your life.

What steps spring to mind? You may prioritise organising your pension, claiming your State Pension, or reviewing how much you have in a savings account. These steps are important for creating security, yet good retirement planning goes further than your finances.

So, what should retirement planning include? Setting out lifestyle goals is crucial for building a retirement plan that means you get the most out of your life.

Here are five ...

In 1793, a vast army of the French First Republic locked horns with a combined force of Royalists and their foreign allies at the port city of Toulon. It was in this battle that a young artillery officer caught the attention of his superiors, demonstrating not only a high level of organisational skill, but also tactical brilliance and the charisma needed to inspire his men.

This officer was, of course, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Siege of Toulon would be the first major stepping stone in his long and glorious career.

When you’re looking ...

The 2021/22 tax year ends on Monday 5 April 2022. This is the date when many allowances reset, and it could be your last opportunity to make use of some of them.

Keeping track of how you’ve used your allowances can reduce your tax liability and help you boost your wealth. Reviewing your finances ahead of the tax year end could reduce the amount of tax you pay and improve your financial security in the future.

This guide covers seven allowances and exemptions you should consider making use of to ensure you’re ready for the new tax year:

When you think about writing or updating your will, who you want to benefit from your estate is often the first consideration. However, just as important is how you want to split up the assets you have. There are several options to think about.

A will is the only way to make sure your assets are passed on to who you want. As well as naming beneficiaries in a will, you can also specify how you want your estate divided up. This means you have control over who receives which assets or how larger assets are divided.

Gifts within a will are k...

As 2021 drew to a close, the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences continued to affect economies.

The first case of the Omicron variant was reported in South Africa at the end of November 2021. It quickly spread and some counties began to reintroduce restrictions and offer booster vaccine shots. As before, the measures taken to reduce the spread of Omicron affected many businesses, particularly those in the travel and hospitality sectors.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also warned that surging inflatio...

If you’re yet to retire, the financial decisions you make now could affect how comfortable your retirement is. As the end of the tax year approaches, maximising your allowances can improve your finances now and when you retire.

The 2021/22 tax year will end on Tuesday 5 April 2022. On this date, some of the allowances and exemptions that could help your money go further will reset. By using these two allowances before the deadline, you can tax-efficiently increase how much money you have for retirement.

1. Pension Annual Allowance

While...