Do you find pension information confusing? You’re not alone; 50% of people in the UK describe the information they receive about their pension as “overwhelming”, according to a Standard Life study.

Fortunately, there are places where you can seek guidance or advice. The survey found 83% of people think financial advisers offer useful support.

If you’re not sure if your pension is on the right track, a financial planner could help put your mind at ease. Here are four reasons why. 

1. A financial planner can cut through jargon

Pension in...

Inheritance Tax (IHT) can affect what you leave behind for loved ones. It’s essential you understand if it’s something you need to think about, as there could be steps you can take to reduce a potential bill.

Over the last few months, you’ve read about what estate planning is and how to calculate the value of your estate. Mitigating an IHT bill should be an important part of your estate plan if you could be liable for it. Read on to find out when IHT is due.

The standard rate of Inheritance Tax is 40%

With a standard rate of 40%, IHT co...

On Wednesday 15 March 2023, chancellor Jeremy Hunt presented his spring Budget.

Focusing on the government's aims to halve inflation, reduce public debt, and boost economic growth, Hunt delivered his first official Budget alongside the latest economic and fiscal outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

“Despite continuing global instability, the OBR report today that inflation in the UK will fall from 10.7% in the final quarter of last year to 2.9% by the end of 2023.”

Hunt opened his speech by admitting that, in the aut...

Just six months ago, Kwasi Kwarteng stood up in the House of Commons and delivered his controversial “mini-Budget”.

The announcements ultimately brought down the short-lived Truss administration, with current chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announcing a series of policy measures in November 2022 aimed at calming the markets.

Having taken “difficult decisions to deliver stability and sound money”, the chancellor has delivered the next part of his plan: “a Budget for growth”.

Read on to find out who were the winners and losers from the 2023 spri...

Last year, chancellor Jeremy Hunt made some key announcements during the autumn statement that could affect how much tax you pay from April. Reviewing your financial plan could help you understand if you’ll be affected and make changes if necessary.

In sharp contrast to the mini-Budget delivered by former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng in September, Hunt’s statement, delivered just two months later, increased taxes. As a result, you may find that you need to update your existing financial plan or that the amount of tax you pay increases.

The ...

When a new tax year starts, your pension Annual Allowance resets. Maximising your allowance could help you reach retirement goals and it can be a tax-efficient way to invest for the long term.

The Annual Allowance limits how much can be added to your pension each tax year while retaining tax relief benefits. It covers all pension contributions, including those made by your employer and other third parties.

For most pension savers, their Annual Allowance is 100% of their annual income up to £40,000. If you haven’t made the most of your al...

With so much doom and gloom in the headlines every day, it can be easy to overlook the positive new stories, but there are plenty of them. From scientific innovations to projects that protect the natural world, here are some feel-good stories from 2022 that you may have missed.

1. The COVAX vaccination programme surpassed the 1 billion milestone

At the start of 2022, the COVAX vaccination programme reached a milestone – it delivered more than 1 billion Covid-19 vaccines. The United Nations-backed vaccine-sharing programme delivers the mu...

2022 ended with uncertainty and volatility that’s persisted for much of the year. Read on to find out what happened in December and how it affected investment markets.

Looking ahead, uncertainty is likely to be something investors will need to negotiate in 2023 too. As economies continue to struggle with high levels of inflation, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon warned that “bumpy times” were still ahead.

Keep in mind that volatility is part of investing and you should keep your long-term plan in mind when reviewing performance. You shoul...

Fewer workers are choosing to give up work on a set date. In fact, 34% of over-55s that haven’t given up work yet are gradually phasing into retirement, according to Legal & General figures.

A phased retirement can take many forms. You may decide to reduce your working hours or change your role to one that has fewer responsibilities. Others are taking the opportunity to become self-employed or even set up their own business. A phased retirement means you can ease into the next chapter of your life and create a work-life balance that suits...