Why more people are retaining exposure to stocks and shares New research[1] suggests that UK adults are planning to use equity investments to help them outstrip inflation and manage the rising cost of living. Over half (53%) of UK adults rate the rising cost of living as their number one fear for retirement, and almost… Continue reading Offsetting the negative effects of inflation
Category: Investment
Full nest households
The financial pressure on parents providing board to their adult offspring Parents with adult children living under their roof are spending £1,200* more than their Empty Nester counterparts each year on everyday household expenditure, bringing the total annual cost of ‘Full Nest Syndrome’ in the UK to £3.2 billion[1]. Meet the Full Nesters, a new… Continue reading Full nest households
Question time
Why planning for your future retirement requires answers We all look forward to stopping work, embarking on a new path and making the most of our new-found freedom. But with all the talk and concern about dwindling retirement funds and our shaky economy, many retirees and soon-to-be-retired boomers need to consider three very important questions,… Continue reading Question time
Save smart and make your existing money grow
5 tips to help you be more confident about your financial future 1 Always have some money that you can access easily and quickly for emergencies, before looking to invest for the longer term. It’s reassuring to know you’ve got money set aside to cover your rent, mortgage, food and utilities for a number of… Continue reading Save smart and make your existing money grow
A new-look NISA way to save and invest
Have you taken advantage of your larger tax-efficient allowance? The new Individual Savings Account (ISA) rules were introduced in July, giving savers and investors more flexibility and a larger tax-efficient allowance than ever before. Four out of ten people told the consumer organisation Which? that they would save more as a result of the annual… Continue reading A new-look NISA way to save and invest
What next for interest rates?
Why the days of ultra-low interest rates look numbered Inflation figures recently showed a sharper than expected drop in prices, cementing expectations that any rise in interest rates would be delayed until next year. ‘Smart’ money Until recently, the ‘smart’ money has been on a November rate rise. However, given the Bank of England’s weaker… Continue reading What next for interest rates?
Geo-political matters
Significant challenges for investors this year and beyond In the first half of the year, geo-political unrest has dominated the headlines. There have been significant challenges for investors in recent months – geo-political upheavals, economic growth and monetary policy. Once the summer is out of the way, the attention will turn to domestic political uncertainty. It’s… Continue reading Geo-political matters
Income generation
Withdrawing income without prematurely depleting your portfolio Investing for income is not simply about establishing a portfolio of income-generating investments. It is also about the strategies you use to withdraw income from this portfolio. To do this effectively, without prematurely depleting your portfolio, three of the key areas you need to consider. 1. When to draw… Continue reading Income generation
A NISA home for your investments
Providing you with increased simplicity and greater flexibility Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) have been around since 1999, providing a tax-efficient wrapper for savings and investments. However, in the recent Budget, the Chancellor, George Osborne, promised to increase the simplicity and flexibility of ISAs. As of 1 July 2014, there is now a single ISA which… Continue reading A NISA home for your investments
Demystifying quantitative easing
Reviving consumer spending and economic growth Since the global financial crisis, both the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve have used the policy of quantitative easing (QE) to try to revive consumer spending and economic growth. When the economy is struggling, cutting interest rates is the traditional way to get us to spend… Continue reading Demystifying quantitative easing
