Investments
Cashflow planning: visualising financial journeys
Cashflow planning is a bit of a buzz phrase around financial planning at the moment as advisers seek to show clients how their financial journey will unfold if it continues its current trajectory or with positive and negative impacts. In my mind, cashflow planning is simply showing whether a client’s objectives are attainable using current [...]
How investors are supporting environmental and ethical causes
When many of us think about our legacy, we think financially. How much could we leave our descendants and how should it be structured? Both very common questions for financial advisers, but increasingly people are considering the legacy of the planet and the society they’re leaving behind and want to make a financial difference. This [...]
What is the value of financial advice? £40,000 apparently
According to Royal London and The International Longevity Centre, people who take financial advice are on average £40,000 better off than those who don’t.[i] Clearly, the value of advice is subjective down to an individual level, but this report explores the impact of receiving advice during the period 2001-2007 on consumer outcomes in 2012-14. It [...]
How to avoid a pension scam
Pension scams are becoming more frequent and costing victims an average of £91,000. According to recent data from Action Fraud, more than £23m was lost to scammers in 2017. Pension freedom has created many opportunities for scammers to target people approaching retirement with access to their retirement funds. Pension scams in numbers A total of [...]
How to fund a long-term retirement
With retirements that could span decades rather than years, Simon Morris, Head of Strategic Partners at Premier Asset Management, discusses an investment approach that retirees could consider when looking for a sustainable, long-term income stream to meet their needs. Providing a sustainable income One key issue for retirees is how they can obtain a decent, [...]
Will low savings account rates ever bounce back?
For years after the 2008 financial crisis we were all told that savings rates had dropped because the Bank of England base rate had dropped. Gone were the days of 4-5 per cent, while 0.25 became the new normal for easy access accounts. When the base rate was raised last year for the first time [...]
The Impact of Sequential Returns Risk on Retirement Income Planning
Why professional advice is essential for keeping clients on track in the face of sequential returns risk Assets fluctuate in value, it’s the nature of investing. But watching a new portfolio experience volatility can be painful for an investor who has prioritised retirement income planning. Long-term investors can choose to weather these ups and downs [...]
The importance of advice when encashing a bond
in Investments, Tax
If your bond is ready for encashment, remind yourself of the rules before you act.
Using trusts to preserve wealth for future generations
Varied and versatile, your adviser may discuss trusts with you when making their recommendation. They’re a useful part of an adviser’s tool box – allowing you to set aside assets for specified beneficiaries. Find out more about how they can be used, and the controls you can set.