Insights

Insights

  • Business owners, is your firm vulnerable to scams? The amount lost to fraud has increased by 35%

    As a business owner, have you thought about how vulnerable your firm is to scams? The pandemic has led to many businesses changing how they operate, and fraudsters are taking advantage. According to the latest UK Finance figures, covering the first half of 2021, fraud against businesses has increased by [...]

    Published On: March 14, 2022
  • 5 things the FIRE movement has in common with financial planning

    The FIRE movement is a small but growing lifestyle movement. It stands for “financial independence, retire early”, and challenges the traditional path of working until you’re in your 60s before retiring. While the steps FIRE members take can be extreme, it does share some of its core principles with financial [...]

    Published On: March 14, 2022
  • Why retirees need to consider the effect of inflation on their long-term income

    As you may know, inflation (or the “cost of living”) has been rising at a faster pace than usual. If you’re retired, the effect of inflation can be more pronounced and it’s important to understand how it could affect your lifestyle now and in the future. The Bank of England [...]

    Published On: March 14, 2022
  • Guide: 5 important lessons that Napoleon can teach you about growing your wealth

    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 [...]

    Published On: February 15, 2022
  • Your complete 2021/22 end of tax year guide

    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 [...]

    Published On: January 21, 2022
  • Do you have realistic investment expectations?

    When you invest, how much do you expect to receive in return? A survey suggests that some investors have unrealistic expectations that could affect their long-term financial security. Research from Aegon found that half of UK adults have put money into investments because interest rates are low. While this can [...]

    Published On: December 21, 2021
  • Guide: Building a nest egg – How to create financial security for your children and grandchildren

    As a parent or grandparent, you may be thinking about ways you can build a nest egg for children or grandchildren. It’s a step that can give them financial security as they become independent. According to the Royal Mint’s 2021 Savings Report, 93% of parents say a savings account [...]

    Published On: December 16, 2021
  • 7 positive habits that could improve your wellbeing

    As we head into a new year, it’s common to think about the changes you could make to your life to improve your wellbeing and reach your goals. Taking steps to instil positive habits at the start of 2022 could set you up for greater wellbeing in the long term. [...]

    Published On: December 1, 2021
  • COP26: What does the outcome mean for investors?

    The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) took place in November in Glasgow. The climate change summit brought together countries to discuss how they can tackle the global issue. It was the first time since COP21, which took place in 2015, that parties were expected to enhance their commitments to climate [...]

    Published On: December 1, 2021
  • The pension gap: Life expectancy means women need to save more for retirement

    The pension gap between men and women is closing. But, once life expectancy is taken into consideration, women still need to save an extra £185,000 for retirement, on average, according to the Scottish Widows 2021 Women and Retirement report. The report finds that young women in their 20s today can [...]

    Published On: December 1, 2021
  • 5 retirement challenges you could face and what to do about them

    Whether retirement is over a decade away or just around the corner, you could face significant challenges that may affect the lifestyle you want. Learning more about these potential obstacles and taking steps to reduce their impact now could make heading into retirement smoother. Almost half of people see retirement [...]

    Published On: December 1, 2021
  • 100 years of pension tax relief: Millions of high earners are still missing out

    Pension tax relief has been boosting pension pots for 100 years. Over your working life, it’s an incentive that can add thousands of pounds to your retirement savings. While incredibly valuable, research suggests many high earners are still missing out on their full tax relief entitlement. Pension tax relief has [...]

    Published On: December 1, 2021