Retirement confidence is unlikely to improve anytime soon maintains the Nucleus UK Retirement Confidence Index. Part of the problem, it suggests, is too few people prepared to pay for financial advice. The report, which we summarised last week, found that...
Saver ups and downs along the road to retirement (Birmingham Post article 04.01.2024)
How confident are people about their retirement prospects? Surprisingly upbeat, according to the inaugural Nucleus UK Retirement Confidence Index. However, advisers are circumspect about the outcome, believing the storm clouds are gathering. Whatever, there are some truths which cannot be...
Eastcote Wealth Management acquired by 7IM
Solihull-based Eastcote Wealth Management (EWM) has been bought by industry giant 7IM for an undisclosed but substantial sum. EWM is a well-established financial planning and independent advice firm. Its 12 financial planners act on around £430 million of assets for...
Lifetime allowance reluctant to release its death grip (Birmingham Post article 25.05.2023)
It is important to understand what will happen to your pension when you die, and what the tax implications will be of handing it on. How your workplace pension or one you’ve set up yourself might be paid to your...
Thumbs up on a new house purchase deal for renters (Birmingham Post article 18.05.2023
Rarely does the market see a ‘genuine’ new product arrive, but Skipton Building Society claims to have done just that with the introduction of a Track Record Mortgage for first time buyers. It will allow tenants with impeccable payment credentials...
Could China ‘do a Ukraine’? (Birmingham Post article 11.05.2023)
What is the next big shock coming the way of both investors and the world economy? Because, just like Covid, banking wobbles and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, there will be one as surely as night follows day. Market watchers increasingly...
Global shocks can scupper ill-prepared investors (Birmingham Post Article 04.05.2023)
I came across this phrase recently in respect to investing – “prepare, don’t predict”. It sums up perfectly how investors should consider their portfolios over the long term and ensure diversification. Here is just a very short list of events...
Relevant life policies remain highly relevant (Birmingham Post article 27.04.2023)
Providing life cover for your loved ones in the event of your death is sometimes overlooked and ‘put off until tomorrow’ when potentially it could be too late. It is hard to confront the Grim Reaper. Many people would rather...
Keep riding the volatility wave (Birmingham Post article 13.04.2023)
Markets have been bungee jumping through a number of peaks and troughs over the last 12-15 months with stability and confidence being relentlessly buffeted en route. No more so than in recent weeks. We have seen an 11th consecutive Bank...
Financial worries still with us but bank on avoiding the worst (Birmingham Post article 20.04.2023)
Turmoil in the banking sector is having a knock-on effect. Tighter financial conditions as banks are less willing to lend capital; interest rates may remain higher for longer to deal with inflation which puts pressure on borrowing costs; increased scrutiny...