Retirees now have a whole host of new options
The pension freedoms, introduced on 6 April 2015, have given retirees a whole host of new options. There is no longer a compulsory requirement to purchase an annuity (a guaranteed income for life for a fixed number of years) when you retire. The introduction of pension freedoms brought about fundamental changes to the way we can access our pension savings.
How much should you try to save to have a comfortable retirement?
The good news is that the number of people saving enough for a comfortable retirement has hit its highest ever level, with almost three in five Britons (59%) now saving adequately for the future[1]. This is a significant improvement from the 55% proportion recorded 12 months ago, suggesting this April’s auto-enrolment step-up had an immediate positive impact on saving habits.
Make the right decisions now to help your children or grandchildren in the future
Whether you want to teach your children or grandchildren smart money-management strategies, help them pay for university or set them up for financial success as adults, it’s important to jump-start saving and investing for them early on.
Would you still need a monthly income if you can’t work?
Have you ever considered what would happen to you or your loved ones if you couldn’t work due to a long-term illness or injury which results in a loss of earnings? It’s important to be able to keep your finances healthy as you recover.
Growing uncertainty over the future cost of care the main concern
Increasingly, we read and hear about how the Bank of Mum and Dad is being stretched to the limit, as children are making increasing calls on its limited resources. However, research shows that a quarter (24%) of over-55s[1] are not planning to pass on any wealth in their lifetime over fears they could face crippling care costs in old age.
Nine out of ten employees continue to work even while being ill
Feeling ill? Well, staying at home would seem to be the sensible course of action. However, for many, going to work while sick has become the norm. Employers are seeing more staff turning up to work while ill, according to a new survey[1].
Lending soars at Bank of Mum and Dad
The Bank of Mum and Dad has been branded as socially divisive and a symptom of Britain’s broken housing market as new figures reveal it is now one of the UK’s biggest mortgage lenders. Thousands of over-55s are generously gifting money as part of the Bank of Mum and Dad, using savings and even pensions to help their family onto the housing ladder, research has revealed[1].
Three quarters of UK employees say they won’t be able to retire by the age of 65
Britain is growing old, and not just proverbially. As the population is set to increase, the proportion of the population aged 85 and over is projected to double over the next 25 years[1], and the number of those working for longer rises with it. Recent figures[2] reveal that nearly three quarters of UK employees say they won’t be able to retire by the age of 65.
Significant gap between expectations and reality of what life in retirement will cost Generation Z
When most people envision their retirement, positive images start forming. We may picture spending our days lounging on the beach, travelling, practising our favourite hobbies, or having free time to spend with friends and taking the grandchildren on countless adventures.
Financial fraud nets millions for organised crime scammers
Fraudulent get-rich-quick schemes are netting millions for organised crime. But investment scams can be difficult to spot because they’re designed to look like genuine investments, with most scammers having a professional-looking website and documents.
