Effective retirement planning often involves weaving together lots of different threads. As you think about your retirement, you might be unsure how to bring everything together, but a bespoke financial plan could put your mind at ease.

Over the last few months, you’ve read about the importance of deciding how you’ll retire, why you should set out your goals, and your options for accessing your pension. Now, read on to discover the challenges of bringing together these different strands of retirement planning and why a tailored financial ...

Taking a tax-free lump sum from your pension could be a fantastic way to kickstart your retirement plans. If it’s something you’re thinking about, it’s important to consider the long-term implications and understand how much you could withdraw from your pension before facing a tax bill, as the rules have changed in 2024/25.

Previously, you could take up to 25% of your pension as a tax-free lump sum. This could be through a single withdrawal or spread across several. However, following the removal of the pension Lifetime Allowance, there i...

Since they were introduced in 1999, ISAs have become a finance staple for many households thanks to providing a tax-efficient way to save and invest. As ISAs turn 25, chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled plans to launch a new UK ISA and has previously announced changes that could provide you with more flexibility.

Read on to find out what you need to know about ISAs.

The UK ISA could increase your allowance by £5,000

The government will carry out a consultation about the introduction of the UK ISA until June 2024. So, there are currently onl...

A lender rejecting your mortgage application can be stressful and time-consuming, and it might even mean you miss out on buying your dream home. A survey has found that most high net worth individuals aren’t securing their preferred mortgage. Read on to find out why and how a mortgage adviser could help you.

According to Mortgage Solutions, 90% of corporate executives, finance professionals and entrepreneurs with average earnings of more than £510,000 were rejected for a mortgage.

Between 2019 and 2024, 84% of high net worth applicants h...

While many economies are still struggling with high inflation there are signs that the pace is starting to slow, which could pave the way for interest rate cuts later this year.

To reflect this, the OECD has lifted its 2024 global growth forecast by 0.3%, when compared to the end of 2023, to 2.9%. However, the international organisation warned that central banks should ensure underlying price pressures were “fully contained” before they cut interest rates.

Market rallies around the world on 22 February highlighted how interconnected mark...

Financial worries can harm the mental wellbeing of employees, and research suggests it could negatively affect the productivity of businesses too. As an employer, offering financial advice to your team could be a win-win.

Inflation has led to the cost of living soaring, so it’s not surprising that more households are concerned about their finances. What may be unexpected is the material impact it could have on your business.

A report from Aegon found that 12% of private workers missed work due to financial concerns in 2023. On average, t...

Homeowners with fixed-rate mortgage deals that end in 2024 could face much higher repayments due to rising interest rates. If your mortgage deal expires this year, being proactive could help you manage your outgoings.

High inflation over the last couple of years has led to the Bank of England (BoE) increasing interest rates. In November 2021, the BoE base interest rate was just 0.1%. As of February 2024, the base rate is 5.25%.

When the BoE changes the base rate it affects the cost of borrowing, including the money you borrow through a m...

Paying off their mortgage is a goal for many homeowners, and research shows that more households now own their property outright. If you’re still making mortgage repayments, read on to find out how you could pay off your mortgage quicker.

According to a report in IFA Magazine, the number of households who own their property outright has gradually been increasing over the last three decades.

In 1992, just over a quarter of households owned their property outright, and around 43% were paying off a mortgage. By 2021/22, more than a third ow...

When your life is busy, fighting fatigue might seem like a never-ending battle. When common quick fixes – like a cup of coffee or a sugary snack – only make you feel worse when you crash, tiredness can seem like an unbeatable opponent. But they aren’t the only solution.

Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list of the seven ways to boost your energy levels, so you can reduce exhaustion.

1. Improve your sleep hygiene

The first step to beating tiredness is to examine the source. If you’re regularly getting less than seven hours of deep sleep...