As the rate of inflation continues to rise, it’s more important than ever that those approaching retirement consider how the rising cost of living could affect them. For some people, delaying or changing plans could mean they have greater financial security later in life.

According to Aegon, maintaining living standards is the top retirement aspiration among people receiving financial advice. 

In the 12 months to June 2022, prices increased by 9.4%. As day-to-day costs rise at a quicker pace than normal, it can make it much more diffi...

The State Pension is often an important part of your retirement income, so should you top up your National Insurance contributions (NICs) to increase it?

Even if you have other pensions or income in retirement, your State Pension can be valuable. As it’ll be paid from when you reach State Pension Age for the rest of your life, it can provide some financial security that you can build on and so may affect other decisions you make.

For the 2022/23 tax year, the full State Pension is £185.15 a week

Before you consider whether you should to...

Money and financial decisions are often seen as a personal matter. However, making your family part of the financial planning process and discussing your goals with them can be valuable.

A report from M&G Wealth found that 33% of advised families share the same adviser, with around 57% of those sharing the same adviser as their parents.

If you’re used to keeping your finances separate, it can be difficult to begin sharing an adviser and discussing opportunities or concerns you have with others. However, sharing a financial planner doesn’...

A trend among modern retirees to increase their spending as they get older could mean that some run out of money during their lifetime. The new research is an important reminder to consider how your spending needs will change during your retirement.

Traditionally, spending has been higher during the initial few years of retirement as retirees tick off milestone goals and bucket list items before spending settles down. And in recent decades, as people live longer, spending has also increased in later years as some people have needed to pay...

Getting the most out of retirement and reaching your goals requires planning.

Not thinking about your post-work years until you reach that milestone can mean that a retirement that promised much, falls short. While you might daydream about giving up work, pinning down the details, from your lifestyle to your income, means you’re more likely to turn your dream into a reality.

This guide can help you start to think about the retirement you want and the steps you need to take to secure it. Among the questions it can help you answer are:

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Throughout March, the war in Ukraine continued to dominate headlines and affect investment portfolios around the world.

Many companies, from well-known businesses like L’Oréal and Coca-Cola to smaller firms, have withdrawn operations from Russia, including online sales. Others, such as Unilever and Nestlé, have halted investment in the country but are continuing to provide some goods.

This has led to some volatility within the markets, although they did rally towards the end of the month.

Sanctions on Russia mean the price of some goods...

The 2022/23 tax year has only just started, but you should already start thinking about how you’ll use your allowances over the next 12 months. It can help maximise your assets.

In the 2022/23 tax year you can deposit up to £20,000 into ISAs. If you don’t use this allowance before the end of the tax year, you lose it. You can save or invest tax-efficiently through an ISA, so making full use of your allowance can help your money go further.

The period from February to the beginning of April is sometimes dubbed “ISA season” as savers and i...

Individuals aged between 40 and 60 – dubbed “midlifers” – are facing time and financial pressures as they try to support their families. Many are feeling the strain and don’t have the resources to focus on their own goals, and financial planning could help.

According to a survey from Legal & General, 6 million midlifers are finding themselves caught in the middle of providing financial support to adult children and providing unpaid care to ageing relatives. On top of this, it’s a crucial period for securing their own financial future and ...

Have you watched the Tinder Swindler or Puppet Master on Netflix and wondered how people could fall for the scams?

Watching the stories unfold through a screen means you can spot the red flags and inconsistencies, but when a scammer is targeting you, it can be much harder than you think to look at your situation objectively.

Over the last few months, TV shows showing huge scams that fraudsters have pulled off have become incredibly popular.

The Tinder Swindler racked up 45.8 million views in the first week it was available on Netflix, a...