Generally speaking, and subject to investment charges and performance, the more you save and the earlier you start saving the better shape your finances are going to be in when you need to draw on them.

So why is it then that many of us are reluctant to put money aside for a rainy day, a specific objective, or – perhaps most importantly – our retirement?

Start early!

Helping your child understand the value of money from an early age could help them develop a healthy savings habit that sets them on a good footing for life.

You could do th...

When you take out a mortgage we would always recommend you take out appropriate life insurance too, so that you know your monthly mortgage payments are covered if things go awry.

If you’re buying on your own, a single life insurance plan will probably do the trick, but if you’re going into joint property ownership, a joint plan may be more appropriate. So, which is best for you?

Property ownership

When it comes to joint ownership, there are two main types:

1. Joint Tenant

Where both individuals each own 50% of the property and have equa...

It’s been over three years since the April 2015 pensions changes which scrapped compulsory annuities and gave pensioners greater choice over how to take their retirement income.

This historic change to UK pension legislation opened up a range of investment opportunities for pensioners. With increased control of their pension, investors can seek to position their portfolios to deliver the income required, while retaining – and perhaps even growing – their invested capital.

Generating income in a low interest rate environment

While the chan...

According to an online survey of 2,000 adults by Royal London, half of those surveyed believe life insurance is essential for someone with a mortgage or dependants and yet only 60% of people with a mortgage have life cover.

While 60% of those surveyed with a mortgage have a life insurance policy, just 29% have critical illness cover and 19% have income protection insurance, suggesting that better education is needed to help make people more aware of the benefits of taking out protection.

We believe some kind of protection insurance should ...

The prestigious ‘Chartered Financial Planner’, designated by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), is the industry’s gold standard for financial planning firms.

Achieving Chartered status means an adviser, or financial planning firm, has committed to the highest levels of technical and professional knowledge and competence. They have successfully completed advanced professional qualifications and can demonstrate an ongoing commitment to continuing professional development and adherence to an industry standard Code of Ethics.

Although th...

According to a survey by Lloyds Bank, 45 per cent of empty nesters have no plans to downsize, despite the potential windfall moving to a smaller place could create.

For these empty nesters then, life seems pretty comfortable, but their new-found wellbeing could be at risk if a study by the London School of Economics (LSE) is anything to go by.

Boomerang offspring
The LSE study is based on findings from people over 50 from 17 European countries taken between 2007 and 2015. It suggests the boomerang population is growing because of the incre...

With a number of major sporting events happening this summer you might feel inspired to dig out your sportswear and get involved. Just make sure you’re prepared for the inevitable knocks, bumps and breaks that might leave you having to take time off work.

Watching world-famous athletes and sporting legends competing at the top of their game may inspire you to get involved, even if it’s just at grass-roots level at your local leisure centre or sports ground.

Grass-roots sports play a crucial role in keeping us, our children and our communit...

The first half of 2018 had no shortage of political tussles and diplomatic standoffs to deliberate on. Here, we consider some of the big economic events across the globe that have kept us busy, including incidents that have come completely from leftfield.

UK
Brexit has understandably dominated the headlines, and no doubt will continue to be the big topic of conversation for many months to come. In March, it was announced that the UK and EU had agreed terms for the Brexit transition period, which lasts from ‘Brexit day’ on 29 March 2019 unt...

The Junior Individual Savings Account (ISA) was introduced in 2011, 12 years after the launch of the original ISA in 1999, which recently celebrated its 18th birthday

In a nutshell, the Junior ISA is a long-term, tax-free savings account for children. It effectively replaced the Child Trust Fund and aims to enable parents to save a tax-efficient nest egg for their children.

There are two types of Junior ISA and your child can have one or both types:

• A cash Junior ISA, where you won’t pay tax on interest on the cash you save.

• A stocks...