Numbers of those exceeding pension Annual Allowance on the rise In the past five years, the number of individuals whose yearly pension contributions breached the Annual Allowance (£40,000) has soared by more than 675%1. In the 2015-16 tax year, 5,460 people reported pension contributions exceeding the Annual Allowance in their self-assessment forms. For the 2019-20 […]
Author archives: charlie
News in Review
“The economy rebounded in May with growth across all main sectors” Data released from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week shows how the UK economy returned to growth in May, recording expansion of 0.5% during the month. After shrinking in April and March, the growth experienced in May was higher than the flat […]
Investor sentiment and super trends
A new investor sentiment survey1 shows that, while investors are concerned about both the economic impact of the war in Ukraine and rising inflation, they remain confident about the stock market outlook and are not adjusting their portfolios just yet. Two thirds of investors surveyed said they expect the ongoing conflict to result in higher […]
Equity release product standard update
All equity release plans sold to new customers from 28 March 2022 must feature penalty-free partial loan repayments, enabling customers to reduce their loan size and save money on interest. The new standard introduced by the Equity Release Council (ERC) could save customers millions of pounds. While ERC standards aren’t legally binding, almost 700 firms […]
Keeping up to speed with 2022 property trends
The pandemic was a tumultuous time for us all – and the property market was not immune. As things begin to normalise, some pre-pandemic patterns are returning to property trends. Double speed Q1 2022 was the fifth busiest quarter since 2007, according to HM Revenue and Customs. Likewise, data1 analysis has found that UK properties […]
Purposeful wealth – understanding your ‘why’
Most people would agree that wealth is not about hoarding money but the financial freedom and flexibility it affords to help us achieve our passions and goals. Wealth essentially has the capacity to create a powerful purpose within our lives, provided we are able to unlock its true value. A good starting point for unlocking […]
Your retirement – you reap what you sow
Hindsight, they say, is a wonderful thing and that is certainly true for many retirees struggling financially. Diligent planning at the earliest opportunity, however, can make all the difference between enjoying a comfortable retirement and enduring a regretful one. Retirement regrets Research constantly shows that people typically leave retirement planning too late and regret not […]
News in Review
“Getting the economy growing again has got to be the number one focus for all politicians” Political news came thick and fast over the last week or so. Following Boris Johnson’s resignation last Thursday, a timetable for succession has now been announced by the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, with potential contenders already jockeying for position as […]
In the driving seat
Many people have used the last couple of years to make positive life changes. Three in five people have questioned what is important in life, while half feel their priorities have changed1. Two in five credit the pandemic with encouraging them to build more long-term savings. However, one in four now feel less comfortable about […]
Economic Review – June 2022
Slowdown fears mount The latest gross domestic product (GDP) statistics show the UK economy unexpectedly shrank in April, increasing concerns about future growth prospects. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the economy shrank by 0.3% in April following a fall of 0.1% in March; this was the first contraction in […]