First of all, divorce rates are falling. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), there were 101,055 divorces in the United Kingdom in 2015. This is a 9 per cent reduction from 2014. Getting divorced can have an impact on your pension. The average age for getting divorced is increasing. Furthermore, for men, the [...]
People generally plan for the short term. We tend to concentrate on generating wealth and accumulating assets such as property or shares to protect our families. Both now and in retirement. However, what happens after we die? Arranging funeral expenses may be the only action we take. By doing this we are helping to build [...]
This, unfortunately is a question that our financial advisers we are being asked more and more by clients. So do you need a financial adviser? To start with all the assets of a divorcing couple will need to be valued. This is before any decisions can be taken as to how they should be shared. This [...]
Advances in medical science have seen life expectancy increase. Over two-thirds of the United Kingdom population, are now aged over fifty. That’s over 21 million people. Also for the first time in history, two-thirds of this number are aged over sixty. That’s fourteen million people. Half a million people are over ninety years old and [...]
Recent figures show that forty two percent of marriages in England and Wales now end in divorce. One of the age groups where divorce rates are rising in the over sixties. This maybe due to more financial independence. This is according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). So how can a financial adviser help? After [...]
Married couples and civil partners who no longer wish to live together but do not wish to terminate their marriage or civil partnership have the option of separating either informally or formally. This is also known as separation. What is an informal separation? An informal separation would require agreement on such issues as children, money, housing [...]
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has highlighted that thousands are at risk of financial harm or unnecessary tax bills. They state that since the new pension reforms were introduce in 2015 many savers are not taking independent financial advice. Large number of savers are opting for income drawdown plans when cashing in their pension funds. [...]
Launched in 2013 the Help to Buy mortgage scheme was meant to “help anyone who works hard and aspires to own their own home has that opportunity” So said the then economic secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Barclay. How does Help to Buy work. With the Help to Buy equity loan the government will lend you up [...]
Recent industry figure have shown that £1.25 billion has been borrowed in the first half of this year through equity release schemes. This amount is 34% higher than the same time last year. Equity release is for the over fifty five’s. The figures reveal that the average pensioner released over £70,500, using the money for [...]
Caroline was invited to an interesting event held at the Westminster Business Forum yesterday. The event was Chaired by Lord Northbrook and looked at ‘The future for financial advice and guidance – regulation and the role of technology’. These forums help to form government policy and allows the industry to give its views. The forum [...]
