News - Page 74 of 116 - Auto Enrolment

Equity release product standard introduced

All equity release plans sold to new customers from 28 March 2022 must feature penalty-free partial loan repayments, enabling customers to reduce their loan size and save money on interest. The new standard introduced by the Equity Release Council (ERC) could save customers millions of pounds. While ERC standards aren’t legally binding, almost 700 firms […]

When in (financial) doubt – talk it out!

According to a recent survey1, 90% of households are worried about rising prices. Financial worries can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety; nearly one in five people say they have lost sleep over soaring prices in recent months2. Money and wealth often feel like a bit of a taboo topic for families. Research3 […]

Property trends shaping 2022

The pandemic was a tumultuous time for us all – and the property market was not immune. As things begin to normalise, some pre-pandemic patterns are returning to property trends. Double speed Q1 2022 was the fifth busiest quarter since 2007, according to HM Revenue and Customs. Likewise, data1 analysis has found that UK properties […]

The power of purposeful wealth

Most people would agree that wealth is not about hoarding money but the financial freedom and flexibility it affords to help us achieve our passions and goals. Wealth essentially has the capacity to create a powerful purpose within our lives, provided we are able to unlock its true value. Understanding your ‘why’ A good starting […]

Come retirement, you reap what you sow

Hindsight, they say, is a wonderful thing and that is certainly true for many retirees struggling financially. Diligent planning at the earliest opportunity, however, can make all the difference between enjoying a comfortable retirement and enduring a regretful one. Retirement regrets Research constantly shows that people typically leave retirement planning too late and regret not […]

News in Review

“Getting the economy growing again has got to be the number one focus for all politicians” Political news came thick and fast over the last week or so. Following Boris Johnson’s resignation last Thursday, a timetable for succession has now been announced by the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, with potential contenders already jockeying for position as […]

Economic Review – June 2022

Slowdown fears mount The latest gross domestic product (GDP) statistics show the UK economy unexpectedly shrank in April, increasing concerns about future growth prospects. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the economy shrank by 0.3% in April following a fall of 0.1% in March; this was the first contraction in […]

Valuing financial advice

In recent times the importance of expert financial advice has become greater than ever, as people seek reassurance that their pensions, investments and protection plans are being professionally looked after during uncertain times. How to value financial advice Good financial outcomes are obviously important, but these can only be measured over the long term and […]

News in Review

“The property market has continued to perform very well so far this year” Despite a combination of economic and inflationary headwinds, homebuying demand remained strong during Q2 according to the most recent Homebuyer Hotspot’s Demand Index from GetAgent. In the second quarter of the year, buyer demand – based on the stock listed as sold, […]

News in Review

“Both retailers and their customers are in for hard times ahead” UK retail sales contracted in May as consumers reduced their spending, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last Friday. As prices continue to rise and the impact of inflation on household finances intensifies, retail sales volumes fell by 0.5% […]