Phasing into retirement: The emotional and financial benefits
Last month, you read about how retirement is changing, with almost half of workers aged over 50 exploring phasing into retirement. There are plenty of reasons why more people are considering a gradual retirement, including the emotional and financial benefits this option could offer. A gradual retirement could help you retain a sense of purpose…
How the benefits of your financial plan go beyond you to your family
A financial plan is rarely focused solely on the person making it. For many, a successful plan also benefits their family. When setting out your goals as part of your financial plan, your family might feature in them. Perhaps you want your retirement income to be enough so that you can treat them to an...
Investment market update: October 2025
October 2025 proved to be a positive month for many investors, with markets reaching record highs. Read on to find out more about what factors may have affected your portfolio’s performance. Remember to take a long-term view when assessing your investments and consider your risk profile when making decisions. Markets experienced record highs, but investor...
The difficult but important estate planning conversations to have with your family
An estate plan sets out how you’d like your assets to be managed and distributed during your life and when you pass away. It often involves thinking about difficult topics, such as what your funeral preferences or who you’d like to receive heirloom possessions. Once you’ve created an estate plan, it can be tempting to…
How financial planning could give you the confidence to spend more
The importance of saving is drummed into us from a very early age. As a child, for example, you may have had a moneybox and been encouraged to save your spare coins. As you get older, this extends into saving for university, saving up for a house, saving for retirement, and so on. But what...
Why successful investing starts with your mindset, not the markets
What’s the most important factor affecting the performance of your investments? Your mind might jump to the ups and downs of the market, and they do have an effect. When share prices rise, so too will the value of your portfolio. However, the markets aren’t the starting point of a successful investment: your mindset is....
Investment market update: September 2025
There were ups and downs for investors during September 2025, with disappointing economic data dampening the market at times. However, some positive outcomes also emerged. Read on to find out what might have influenced your investment portfolio’s recent performance. Investors turn to gold as market uncertainty continues in September 2025 The price of gold reached…
3 reasons why pension consolidation could boost your retirement income
Increasingly, UK savers are losing track of their pensions. In October 2024, research by Pensions UK found that the total value of lost pension pots had risen by 60% since 2018. Losing track of your pensions can be costly. Across the 3.3 million pension pots considered lost, the average fund value is £9,470 – rising…
Trick or treat: The “tricks” a financial plan could help you avoid
Taking control of your finances can be frightful. Complex rules that are easy to overlook could mean you fall for a “trick” when making financial decisions this Halloween, but a tailored financial plan could help you avoid falling for them. Here are five financial “tricks” that you might overlook when managing your money, and what…
How a cashflow model can turn retirement anxiety into excitement
Retiring should be a milestone you look forward to. It’s a chance to spend your time how you want and do the things you’ve been putting off because work has been in the way. Yet, sadly, research shows UK adults associate spending their retirement savings with negative words, and it could prevent them from enjoying…
Why stock market volatility can trigger financial bias
When markets experience volatility, even the most level-headed investor can let their emotions or other influences affect their decisions. Read on to find out why volatility can trigger financial biases and how these might affect you. For the average investor, it’s important to take a long-term approach. While returns cannot be guaranteed, investing over a…
Phasing into retirement: The flexible options you might consider
Traditionally, you’d go from full-time employment to retirement on a set date. Now, more workers are embracing retirement flexibility and choosing to phase gradually into the next stage of their lives. Indeed, a survey published in September 2024 by WTW found that 49% of UK workers aged over 50 are already phasing into retirement or…