Only a quarter of Britons believe they will be better off than their parents when they retire

Research [1] from Schroders reveals that just 26 per cent (10.3 million) of Britons believe they will be better off than their parents’ generation when they retire. The findings reveal that 44 per cent (17.2 million) of people believe they will be worse off in retirement than their parents, fostering feelings of jealousy of a perceived ‘golden generation’ of pensioners who have benefited from significant gains in the value of their property and generous final salary pensions. Read more…

Let us help you find the right wealth structure or combination of structures

Inheritance tax (IHT) doesn’t only affect the very wealthy. Rising property prices over the past few decades have meant it’s now an issue for an increasing number of people in the UK. So what steps can you take to ensure that your money goes to your loved ones and not to the taxman? Read more…

7 steps to surviving investment volatility

Many investors may have had a roller-coaster ride recently. Fallout from the eurozone crisis has created the most turbulent period in world stock markets since the downturn began in 2008. However, amid all this gloom there is some good news. The simple truth is that volatility is a fact of investment life; you’re often better served staying in the markets over the long term than pulling out. Here’s why, and how, you can do it. Read more…

Don’t minimise your chance of achieving your goals

Risk is a fact of life for any investor. Thanks to inflation, there’s even risk in doing nothing. To earn rewards you have to assume some level of risk. If you minimise risk you may also minimise your chance of achieving your goals. Read more…

You may decide to use a trust to pass assets to beneficiaries, particularly those who aren’t immediately able to look after their own affairs. If you do use a trust to give something away, this removes it from your estate provided you don’t use it or get any benefit from it. But bear in mind that gifts into trust may be liable to inheritance tax (IHT). Read more…

Effective inheritance tax planning could save your beneficiaries thousands of pounds, maybe even hundreds of thousands depending on the size of your estate. At its simplest, inheritance tax (IHT) is the tax payable on your estate when you die if the value of your estate exceeds a certain amount. Read more…

The Future of Long Term Care report, launched by retirement specialist LV=, shows that as life expectancy in the UK increases, the number of people who will need to make use of formal long-term care services will grow from 840,184 today to 1.1 million by 2025, an increase of 37 per cent. Read more…

With so many different protection options available, making the right decision to protect your personal and financial situation can seem overwhelming. There is a plethora of protection solutions which could help ensure that a lump sum, or a replacement income, becomes available to you in the event that it is needed. We can make sure that you are able to take the right decisions to deliver peace of mind for you and your family in the event of death, if you are too ill to work or if you are diagnosed with a critical illness. Read more…

Most people, during their career, accumulate a number of different pension plans. Keeping your pension savings in a number of different plans may result in lost investment opportunities and unnecessary exposure to risk. However not all consolidation of pensions will be in your best interests. You should always look carefully into the possible benefits and drawbacks and if unsure seek professional advice. Read more…

Nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of UK adults aged 55 and over are unaware that certain medical conditions could entitle them to a higher level of pension income through their annuity provider, according to research [1] from MGM Advantage. Read more…