Latest News & Views
Should I Make Changes To My Investment Strategy?
So the US stock market as measured by the S&P 500 index has officially entered ‘bear market’ territory. A bear market is when the relevant stock market has fallen 20% from its last peak. It doesn’t really mean anything apart from the symbolic 20% fall. It...
When You Don’t Pay Tax In Retirement
Is it true that you don’t pay tax in retirement? Well yes and no. It all depends on where your money is coming from. How much you can earn before you pay tax in retirement When it comes to retirement you still have to follow the same tax rules as...
Pension Increase Exchange (PIE)
A Pension Increase Exchange, also known as a PIE, maybe offered to you if you are part of a private sector defined benefit pension scheme and are approaching the scheme retirement age. The list of options when it comes to taking your defined benefit pension can be...
Is Now The Time To Secure Your Pension Income Based On Annuity Rates Today?
Annuity rates today are rising in the UK and a big reason for this is the rise in interest rates. So if you have considered using your pension to secure an annuity in the past but put it off because you thought annuity rates were too low, is now the time to go for...
Does Your Family Medical History Really Impact Your Life Expectancy?
Your life expectancy has massive implications for everything. In particular, the time you will have to do all the things you want to in life and how much money you are going to need to do those things. A common theme I experience with my clients is that they can’t...
What Happens When We Are All Passive Investors?
A passive investor doesn’t try to outwit the crowd. It uses the wisdom of the crowd to generate investment returns via passive funds, also known as index tracking funds. An active investor will try to beat the crowd. Spending more money on research (and subsequently...
Can Index Funds Still Influence The Companies They Hold?
Stewardship means taking care of something. The word stewardship is also often used in the investment world to describe how large investment funds monitor and engage in the companies they invest in. In fact, there is even a UK Stewardship Code administered by the...
How To Sort Out Your Old Pensions
If you believe you have old pensions but don’t know where they are or what they are worth then it could be difficult for you to retire. If you don’t know what you have, how will you know if you could retire or not? Don’t bury your head in the sand. Dealing with...
Investment Risk In Retirement
Choosing the right investment risk in retirement is absolutely crucial. It will impact: How much money you can spend in retirement. Whether your retirement savings pot will run out. What you can leave behind for your loved ones. How much stress you have to deal...
Trimming The Edges – Spring Statement 2022
The Spring Statement isn’t actually supposed to be the time when tax policies are announced. It’s supposed to be a general update on the health of the UK economy. However, due to events that have taken place over the last few years and months including the recent...
What Retirement Money Should You Spend First?
On the way up your wealth mountain it’s easier to know where to save your retirement money. Most people will understand the basics of Pensions and ISAs and if you are able to make the most of these allowances every year and invest wisely, you should be in a good...
Where To Invest After Maxing Out ISA and Pension
If you’re in a position to be maxing out your ISA and pension every year then this will set you up nicely for retirement. In terms of options, it’s good to be maxing out your ISA and pension because of the tax incentives offered. More on that in a moment. But what...
4 Reasons Why You Might Still Need Life Insurance In Retirement
It’s common to think that you don’t need life insurance in retirement. It’s likely that your mortgage will be paid off and you will be receiving your pensions. Even if you did want life insurance in retirement you may think it’s going to be expensive the older you...
Tax On Pension Drawdown – Messy Tax Codes
Using pension drawdown in retirement offers so much flexibility and the chance to keep growing your pension, however, the tax on pension drawdown can get very messy. It’s highly likely the first pension drawdown payment you receive will be taxed incorrectly and this...
Events That Make A Will Invalid
There are a number of events which may make a will invalid. It is, therefore, important that your will is kept under review to ensure that it can be used correctly when the time comes and your wishes are carried out as you intended them. 6 events that may make...
Use Debt Or Investments In Retirement
There are many reasons why you might be deciding on whether to use debt or investments in retirement. As in there is something you want or need to pay for and the choice is: 1. Do you use your savings and investments to pay out? OR2. Do you take out a loan and repay...
Awards
