You’ve got savings, a pension, perhaps even stocks and shares. You’re on track… right? The truth is our financial health could do with a check-in every now and again, and making some small changes can pay dividends, especially in mid-life. Although you might have begun your adult life on the right foot, cut to thirty years later, and changes in …
Struggling to save for retirement? Try this tip
More than ever, UK savers are struggling to prioritise their pension, with over half saying they are likely to review or reduce their pension contributions in the wake of the pandemic. It’s true that it can be easy to think of pension contributions as a drain on your resources. And yet, despite travel restrictions, Britons were still expected to spend …
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs)
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can save families undue stress and expense if they are worried about the health or mental capacity of a relative. Lasting Power of Attorney’s (LPA’s) are not just for the old and the mentally incapacitated. Sadly, the pandemic is a reminder that no matter what age you are you could end up in hospital …
Increase in minimum pension age
The Government has confirmed that the normal minimum pension age will rise to 57 in 2028. This intention was originally included in the pension freedoms consultation paper in 2014 (see wording below) but wasn’t then passed into the subsequent legislation. The government… proposes to increase the age at which an individual can take their private pension savings at the same …
Making the annual allowance work for business owners
Running a successful business is hard work, so it’s understandable that most entrepreneurs are much more focussed on the here and now rather than planning for their retirement. As business fortunes fluctuate, this is where carry forward can come to the rescue. In more prosperous years, it allows clients to play ‘catch-up’ by paying much larger contributions into their pensions …
UK pensioners get a worse deal than Colombians
Pensioners in the UK languish way down the table when it comes to the quality of pension provision offered to the poorest and the self-employed. They’re worse off than counterparts in countries like Colombia, Chile, Australia and Germany. However, they do enjoy better benefits than those available in France, Italy, Spain and the US. This article was featured in a …
Trends in baby boomer retirement plans
Living through decades of increasing prosperity has undoubtedly given baby boomers a lot of advantages, but they can also face a number of challenges. Today, many feel pressured into working past their normal retirement date, often because of the number of demands being made on their finances by their families. If they are unable to work, they can have concerns …
Mortgages into Retirement
Mortgages have historically run for 25 years. They have over time developed and many lenders offer terms from between 5-35 years. However, some lenders are now allowing you to mortgage your property well into your retirement. How does it work? Lenders will assess affordability based on your current circumstances, which for many people, will result in greater levels of affordability, …