In April 2028, the age you can usually access your pension, known as the “normal minimum pension age” (NMPA), will rise from 55 to 57. So, if you hope to retire at 55, you might need to update your retirement plan.

Even if your planned retirement date seems far away, creating a plan now could help you bridge a potential shortfall so you’re still able to give up work when you’re ready to.

As well as the NMPA, the State Pension Age is set to rise. From 6 May 2026, the age you can claim the State Pension will gradually increase from 66 to 6...

Passing on your wealth to loved ones could transform their lives and mean they have more opportunities in the future. However, to get the most out of the “great wealth transfer”, younger generations need to be prepared to manage their inheritance.

According to September 2024 data from Vanguard, it’s estimated $18.3 trillion (£13.45 trillion) in wealth will be transferred globally by 2030. It’s expected to be the largest intergenerational transfer of assets in history, leading to it being dubbed the great wealth transfer.

In the UK alone,...

Are you planning a city break this summer? With so many destinations to choose from and pros and cons to weigh up, deciding on a location might feel overwhelming.

Luckily, Which? recently released the results of a survey where they asked over 1,500 members to rate their experiences of world travel over the last year, taking into consideration almost 2,500 city visits.

Each location was marked on seven criteria, including:

• Quality of food and drink

• Cultural sights

• Tourist attractions

• Ease of getting around

• Shoppin...

Trade wars and fears that tariffs could spark recessions meant investment market volatility continued in March 2025. Read on to find out more about some of the factors that may have affected the value of your investments recently. 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development slashed the growth forecast among advanced economies this year due to concerns about trade wars. The organisation now expects the global economy to grow by 3.1% in 2025 – down from the previous forecast of 3.3%.

As investors sought to move money into “...

Geopolitical tensions have led to a bumpy start to 2025 for investors. If you’re worried about volatility and what it might mean for your long-term finances, there are reasons to remain calm despite the uncertainty. 

The ongoing war in Ukraine has resulted in some anxiety in Europe, with the UK and other countries committing to increasing defence spending. In addition, the new Trump administration in the US has imposed several trade tariffs on partners and suggested more will follow.

As a result, many companies and sectors have seen shar...

Data released by Scotland’s largest health board has highlighted the potential challenges families could face if a loved one doesn’t have a Power of Attorney in place. 

According to a BBC report, in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, a third of patients who are delayed getting out of hospital are stuck because they don’t have a Power of Attorney, the Scottish equivalent of the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) available to residents of England and Wales. This means there isn’t someone to make decisions on behalf of a patient if they no longer h...

An incoming change to the way pensions will be taxed when they’re inherited might mean you’re rethinking how you use your pension. Before you dive into updating your retirement plan, it’s important to understand what the changes could mean for you and how to balance passing on wealth with your retirement aspirations. 

During the Autumn Budget in October 2024, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that from April 2027 unspent pensions are likely to be included in Inheritance Tax (IHT) calculations. The government predicts the move will affect...

Worrying about your finances in retirement could dampen your excitement as you start the next chapter of your life. As you’ll often be responsible for generating your own income once you give up work, it’s not surprising that a February 2025 report from Which? revealed half of over-55s are worried about running out of money.  

Indeed, just 27% of those who have retired or are nearing the milestone said they weren’t concerned about draining their pension or other assets in retirement. 

Some apprehension about your finances as you retire i...

If it’s been some time since you reviewed your pension, going through these practical tasks could help you get more out of your retirement savings in 2025. 

As retirement could be years away, it’s easy for your pension to slip off your list of priorities. In fact, a survey from The People’s Pension suggests that almost a fifth of savers have never reviewed how much is in their pension. What’s more, a third of people don’t know how much they’ve saved for their retirement. 

It could mean some savers are missing out on opportunities to boos...