Monthly Archives: September 2017

UK pension savings gap

The need for a greater awareness of what must be saved today

If savers want a particular standard of living at retirement, then they will need a greater awareness of what must be saved today.

Gender income gap

Minimising the impact on your retirement income

The gap between women’s and men’s annual average expected retirement incomes in 2017 has grown by £1,000 in the last year, according to new research[1].

Navigating market volatility

Protecting your portfolio from the ups and downs of investing

No particular investment consistently outperforms other investments. One of the most effective ways to manage investment risk is to spread your money across a range of assets that, historically, have tended to perform differently in the same circumstances. This is called ‘diversification’.

Retirement taxation

Understanding the bottom line

Retired households handed over an average of £7,400 each in tax last year – the equivalent of nearly 30% of their annual income, according to analysis of newly released data[1] by Prudential.

Tax matters

Improving your chance of a better retirement income

Every client’s story is different. Each one is unique. We invest significant time to understand your very personal circumstances. We do this for all our clients, and setting your retirement income target is an essential part of this process. The income you receive in retirement will depend upon four factors: how much is contributed, how well your investments perform, when you retire, and how you take your income.

Average age of divorce at an all-time-high

Forecasting the long-term effects of the settlement

The financial ramifications of a divorce can be devastating. The average age of divorce has reached an all-time high at 45 years and 11 months for men and 43 years and six months for women, according to data released from ONS[1].

Sleepwalking into a pension shortfall

Auto-enrolment shouldn’t be seen as a silver bullet

How much money you should be saving for your retirement is a key question when visualising the type of retirement lifestyle you want. However, the 13th annual Scottish Widows Retirement Report reveals that, despite the success of auto-enrolment – 80% of 22 to 29-year-olds are paying something into a pension – 70% of them are not putting away enough. This puts at risk their ability to achieve their desired income of just over £23,000 a year for a comfortable retirement.

Financial protection

Are you prepared if life throws something unexpected your way?

A critical illness could happen to any one of us. If it does happen, having the right cover could help to minimise the financial impact on you and your loved ones. More than a third of people (36%) believe they would get no kind of support from their employer if they were diagnosed with cancer, according to new research from Canada Life[1].

Long -term investing

How to fund a fulfilling life beyond our working years

Healthier lifestyles and medical advances mean that many of us can expect to enjoy longer lifespans than previous generations. However, this creates a significant challenge both for society as a whole and for us all as individuals – how to fund a fulfilling life beyond our working years.

Setting up a trust

Reduce how much IHT your estate will have to pay on your death

The structures into which you can transfer your assets can have lasting consequences for you and your family, and it is crucial that you choose the right ones. The right structures can protect assets and give your family lasting benefits. A trust can be used to reduce how much Inheritance Tax your estate will have to pay on your death.