Blogs & News

It can be tempting to look at cash when the markets are volatile, but in the context of long-term returns, historically that has not paid off. Looking back at the worst market conditions in recent memory, our advisers Stuart Johnstone and Graeme Wake explain…

Where mental health was once taboo and under-reported, the dial has been switched completely with journalists keen to emphasise the scale of the issues facing people in the UK today. A quick Google search returns a swathe of studies linking financial concerns with stress and eventually under-performance at work. For example: For example: Although measures [...]

Recent research found that employee engagement and productivity is HR leader’s primary concerns. Could an online benefits portal be the answer?

Wren Sterling has signed up to the Pension Transfer Gold Standard, a new mark of quality in the pension transfer market awarded by the Personal Finance Society (PFS). The Pension Transfer Gold Standard helps consumers recognise good practice, ethical and professional standards when seeking financial advice on pension transfers and firms must satisfy nine principles [...]

Depending on the kind of retirement you’d like to have, there are some guidelines which can help you calculate what you’ll need to save today for a comfortable retirement.

Life insurance can provide a cash lump sum to support your dependants when you die. How much this will be, who it will go to and how long the term of the policy is will depend on your individual circumstances.

Critical illness policies are designed to pay a lump sum on diagnosis of specified critical illness during the policy term. But just what does your policy cover?

A trust is a method of managing assets, and are commonly used for estate planning, minimising tax payments. Find out more about how they work and why they’re a helpful too in an adviser’s toolbox.

Estate planning sets out how your assets will be distributed, who they will go to, and when. Without making an estate plan or a Will, the Intestacy rules will be used to decide what happens to your assets.

Inheritance tax is a tax on the estate of someone who’s died. The executors of your Will need to pay any IHT before your assets can pass to your beneficiaries – which may prevent them from inheriting.

Ascot Lloyd recently announced its decision to exit the Master Trust market and it’s not alone. According to figures released by The Pensions Regulator, 38 Master Trusts have applied for authorisation from the 90 it was monitoring earlier this year – a significant drop in providers. TPR now requires all master trusts in operation before [...]

How are you supporting your employees as they approach retirement? At this time, as they prepare to leave your employment, failing to provide support can have consequences on their financial wellbeing for the rest of their lives. Commentary on recent research from the OBR and Legal & General.