A decade ago, the introduction of Pension Freedoms shook up retirement planning and gave retirees more options than ever. Before 2015, if you had a defined contribution (DC) pension, the common route was to use the money accumulated to purchase an annuity. The annuity would then provide you with a regular income, usually for the rest of your life. While an annuity can be valuable in some circumstances, it isn’t flexible. To give retirees more choice, Pension Freedoms were int

Creating a financial plan can seem complicated, especially if you need to take into account your partner’s views, assets, and goals. At times, you might have conflicting ideas about what is “right” and it can be a difficult situation to navigate. Working with a financial planner as a couple could help you overcome some of the key challenges you might encounter when building a financial plan with a partner. Challenge 1: Starting money conversations Talking about money is somet

Whether you analysed the text in school or have watched the film, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the tantalising story of Jay Gatsby. Indeed, 100 years after The Great Gatsby was first published, it’s still synonymous with the hedonism of the Jazz Age in New York City in the 1920s, from lavish parties to opulent mansions. And a century later, there is an important money lesson you can learn from its pages. On the surface, the obvious money lesson might seem like it’s how t

2025 has already been eventful for investors. Many factors are influencing market volatility, and one cause you might have overlooked is the emotions of investors. Read on to find out why fear and anxiety might lead to the value of investments falling. US president Donald Trump entered the White House for a second term in January. Since then, his policies have caused global uncertainty, particularly the introduction of tariffs on goods imported into the US. Indeed, Forbes re

We’re only weeks into 2025, and it’s already been one filled with market volatility and uncertainty. At times like this, being part of a crowd might feel comforting, but following the investment decisions of others could lead to choices that aren’t right for you. Political and economic uncertainty means investors may already have experienced the value of their investments falling this year. In fact, towards the end of January, you might have been affected by the value of US t

A cashflow model is a valuable tool that lets you understand how the value of your estate and individual assets might change in the future. But, to get the most out of it, you need to look beyond the numbers. A cashflow model provides a graphical representation of all your assets, such as investments, property and pension, as well as income, expenditures and debt. It forecasts how each of these will change over time. To start, you’ll need to input information into a cashflow

While financial challenges often come up when those nearing retirement are asked about their concerns, emotional obstacles could be just as important. A financial plan might include looking at areas like your pensions and investments, but it could help you emotionally prepare for retirement as well. Here are five ways a financial plan could improve your wellbeing and confidence when you retire. 1. Financial confidence could ease concerns when you retire One of the key concern

For many pensioners, the State Pension provides a foundation to build their retirement income. Whether you’re already claiming the State Pension or it’s still some years away, here’s what you need to know in 2025/26. In the 2025/26 tax year, you can claim the State Pension from the age of 66. However, the age will gradually start to increase from 6 May 2026 to 67, and it’s expected to rise further in the future. You won’t automatically receive the State Pension when you reach

Getting older unfortunately might mean getting used to new limitations. However, making healthy lifestyle changes can improve your quality of life no matter what age you start at. So, instead of staying stuck in your ways, read on to discover five easy steps you can take to improve your health later in life. 1. Improve your sleep hygiene Adults should have between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. If you’re lacking in this department – whether you are sleeping too mu

Concerns around potential trade wars following President Trump’s inauguration weighed on investment markets in January 2025, but there was positive news too. Read on to discover some of the factors that may have affected the performance of your investments. Keep in mind that short-term market movements are part of investing and taking a long-term view is an important investment strategy for many people. UK Headline figures were positive for the UK. UK inflation fell to 2.5% i