If you’re nearing retirement, you may be starting to think about planning the next stage of your life.

What steps spring to mind? You may prioritise organising your pension, claiming your State Pension, or reviewing how much you have in a savings account. These steps are important for creating security, yet good retirement planning goes further than your finances.

So, what should retirement planning include? Setting out lifestyle goals is crucial for building a retirement plan that means you get the most out of your life.

Here are five ...

In 1793, a vast army of the French First Republic locked horns with a combined force of Royalists and their foreign allies at the port city of Toulon. It was in this battle that a young artillery officer caught the attention of his superiors, demonstrating not only a high level of organisational skill, but also tactical brilliance and the charisma needed to inspire his men.

This officer was, of course, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Siege of Toulon would be the first major stepping stone in his long and glorious career.

When you’re looking ...

The 2021/22 tax year ends on Monday 5 April 2022. This is the date when many allowances reset, and it could be your last opportunity to make use of some of them.

Keeping track of how you’ve used your allowances can reduce your tax liability and help you boost your wealth. Reviewing your finances ahead of the tax year end could reduce the amount of tax you pay and improve your financial security in the future.

This guide covers seven allowances and exemptions you should consider making use of to ensure you’re ready for the new tax year:

When you think about writing or updating your will, who you want to benefit from your estate is often the first consideration. However, just as important is how you want to split up the assets you have. There are several options to think about.

A will is the only way to make sure your assets are passed on to who you want. As well as naming beneficiaries in a will, you can also specify how you want your estate divided up. This means you have control over who receives which assets or how larger assets are divided.

Gifts within a will are k...

As 2021 drew to a close, the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences continued to affect economies.

The first case of the Omicron variant was reported in South Africa at the end of November 2021. It quickly spread and some counties began to reintroduce restrictions and offer booster vaccine shots. As before, the measures taken to reduce the spread of Omicron affected many businesses, particularly those in the travel and hospitality sectors.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also warned that surging inflatio...

If you’re yet to retire, the financial decisions you make now could affect how comfortable your retirement is. As the end of the tax year approaches, maximising your allowances can improve your finances now and when you retire.

The 2021/22 tax year will end on Tuesday 5 April 2022. On this date, some of the allowances and exemptions that could help your money go further will reset. By using these two allowances before the deadline, you can tax-efficiently increase how much money you have for retirement.

1. Pension Annual Allowance

While...

If you’re yet to retire, the financial decisions you make now could affect how comfortable your retirement is. As the end of the tax year approaches, maximising your allowances can improve your finances now and when you retire.

The 2021/22 tax year will end on Tuesday 5 April 2022. On this date, some of the allowances and exemptions that could help your money go further will reset. By using these two allowances before the deadline, you can tax-efficiently increase how much money you have for retirement.

1. Pension Annual Allowance

While...

If you’ll be retiring this year, you may be looking forward to more free time to focus on what you enjoy. As you start making plans, you need to set out your expectations and how you’ll create an income. To do that, a bit of planning is required, and these eight steps are a great place to start.

1. Set a retirement date

The first step is to decide exactly when you want to retire. It can help ensure you have everything in order.

A phased approach to retirement is becoming more popular. Whether you want to cut down your working hours or s...

If you’re creating a financial plan as a couple, you should consider the effect one of you passing away could have. If one person’s income or assets are vital for the household’s financial security, it could leave the other in financial difficulty should they pass away.

One of the questions couples sometimes ask is: “Will my partner be financially secure if I pass away?” It’s a difficult topic to discuss. Yet, it can help you put a plan in place that gives you both confidence in the future even if the worst should happen. Financial planni...