Autumn: Time to hunker down and get organised As the year progresses to the season of ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’, thoughts inevitably turn to hunkering down with hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows as the nights draw in. Autumn is a season traditionally associated with change, as well as themes of comfort, preservation and protection; a time to get things in order. Time to prepare In many ways, autumn is the perfect time to get things done and that is […]
Your Window on WEALTH- Summer 2021 As the country emerges from lockdown, an increasing sense of optimism seems to have filled the air with a much more familiar feel returning this summer. And there’s plenty to look forward to over the coming months, with a host of major sporting events including the Olympics to excite and enthral us, audiences returning to theatres and concert halls across the land, and the rearranged Chelsea Flower Show set to extend summer into late […]
New investors spring into action With interest rates plummeting to record lows, savers are discovering that cash is not always king. This is encouraging a new band of investors to dip their toes in the investment market. While some families have suffered financially during the pandemic, many have saved significant sums due to a reduction in spending on non-essential items. Official data1 shows the UK household savings ratio soared from 9.5% in the first three months of 2020 to a record […]
Glimmers of hope for the New Year Over the past year, our vulnerabilities have been starkly exposed by coronavirus, and the pandemic continues to present an array of challenges on many different levels. Economic frailties have also been laid bare but, as we enter a new year, shoots of optimism are beginning to emerge, with rising hopes of recovery in 2021 and beyond. A gradual recovery The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) final 2020 assessment of global economic prospects was entitled […]
Your Window on Wealth AUTUMN 2020 Coronavirus – a black swan event? When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the severity of its impact on global societies and economies was shocking. Yet critics are insisting that the repercussions could (and should) have been foreseen. Does this make it a ‘black swan’ event? Originally coined by financial theorist and writer Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the term ‘black swan’ has come to denote any event that: • Is extremely rare • Has a severe impact • […]
Keep your retirement plans on track The COVID-19 pandemic is having a widespread impact on all aspects of our finances, including retirement planning. However, while recent stock market volatility undoubtedly poses a challenge, particularly for those close to retirement, it is important not to allow the outbreak to derail your plans. A resilient retirement plan One thing the pandemic has vividly highlighted is the importance of developing a resilient retirement plan. Although market turbulence will impact all pension holders, those […]
In the current climate, there is uncertainty in all of our lives with both health and financial concerns. However, while we are all understandably focusing on the here and now, it might be worth using this time to take a step back and review your long-term financial wellbeing as well. This newsletter takes a look at some of the areas you might want to consider. Of course, we are on hand to support you through any challenges ahead. Make time […]
Financial resolutions for a prosperous New Year The New Year period is a common time for people to take stock of their finances and make resolutions designed to boost their financial wellbeing. And a new study has found the likelihood of success in this area is heavily linked to receiving professional advice and the establishment of clear financial objectives. Advice is key to success The recently released research1 actually provides a quantitative measure of the value attributed to advice when […]
How much do you need to retire comfortably? People on an average salary who wish to retire at the age of 65 will now typically require a pension pot of almost £450,000 in order to fund their retirement until they are 100 years old, recent analysis has found1. Never too early to start saving The research also shows that an individual who starts saving into a pension at 25 years of age will need to invest around £235 a month […]
The Intergenerational Fairness Debate Continues The House of Lords Committee on Intergenerational Fairness and Provision has called on the government to take steps to make society fairer by supporting younger people, particularly in the employment market and the provision of housing. A change of perspective needed Peers believe that ‘outdated’ age-specific benefits for older people should be replaced with support for the young to ‘deliver a fairer society’. The Committee – made up of Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and […]