With the cost of living increasing and our electricity bills looking more like Elton John’s florist bill, we thought it even more pertinent to tax plan this season and maximise our savings. While tax planning is an important part of financial planning, it is not the only part. It is essential that any tax planning […]
Category: Financial Planning
According to UK Finance, a collective voice for the UK banking and finance industry representing around 300 firms, fraud is on the rise as fraudsters look to take advantage of people who are spending more time online, as our work and private lives change more to a virtual world. Their most recent report shows that […]
Category: Financial Planning, Money Management
They say that more relationships break down over money issues than anything else other than infidelity. So how can you win at the game of money and stay in a happy relationship?
Category: Financial Planning
How much is enough for you to retire? What’s your number? None of us are getting any younger and time flies faster as we age, so it’s important to plan ahead for retirement, a period of our life that could last 40 years. My wife gets frustrated with me when I spend more time planning […]
Category: Retirement & Pensions, Saving & Investing
Life is never a straight line; we have highs and lows. Our spending is no different. I was speaking with my children this week and explained that when you have an expensive month, like we did in December, it’s right to reign in the spending a little in January, to offset, otherwise you could easily find yourself in debt.
Category: Debt Repayment
How would you feel if I were to ask you about the future? Are you optimistic, excited, worried, or simply unsure? In my annual letter that I sent to my clients in December, I expressed how optimistic and excited I am for the future and investing. Many have struggled financially during the pandemic, and they […]
Category: Saving & Investing
The overall cost of dying is increasing. It’s now at an all-time high of £9,263 for a basic funeral, professional fees and a send-off, according to SunLife . Over the last 15 years this has increased at almost 6%pa – a rate far higher than inflation. Because of the rising costs, in recent years it […]
Category: Financial Planning
In the triple-whammy of the pandemic, recession and Brexit uncertainty, you might be forgiven for thinking there was nothing to be done with your money if you’re in a position to save. But there is.
Category: Saving & Investing
The government announced two major policy changes that are likely to directly affect your finances. A much-anticipated National Insurance rise will result in an increased burden on workers and employers, including for the first time, those above State Pension Age. And the government has suspended the State Pension triple lock, meaning that pensioners will […]
Category: Financial News & Events, Financial Planning
September is World Alzheimer’s Month and 21 September is World Alzheimer’s Day, an international campaign to raise awareness and highlight issues faced by people affected by dementia. Globally, dementia is one of the biggest challenges we face, with nearly 50 million people living with the condition worldwide. In my book The Money Plan I talk […]
Category: Financial News & Events
Amid the doom and gloom of the last eighteen months, something positive: £16.6bn of consumer credit was repaid last year, the most repaid since the Bank of England records began in 1993 and the first annual net reduction since 2011. While it has been tough on our finances, it’s also led to big changes in […]
Category: Financial News & Events
We have heard two major policy announcements from the government this week, that are likely to directly affect your finances. A much-anticipated National Insurance rise will result in an increased burden on workers and employers, including for the first time, those above State Pension Age. And, on a not so surprising note, due to the […]
Category: Financial News & Events
As an optimist, I like to look for some of the benefits we have gained over these last 18 months or so as we slowly emerge from the restrictions imposed on us. It’s essential we use this period to organise our finances, take lessons and secure our future. Part of that means supporting local businesses whenever you can.
Category: Financial News & Events
If you know your numbers, money isn’t as complicated as you might think. Clarity gives you the enthusiasm to make better decisions and live the life you want to live. I often refer to ALIE as every financial planners best friend; assets, liabilities, income and expenditure. The last 18 months may have played havoc with […]
Category: Financial Planning, Money Management
This week has been one of the most difficult in my life. My very good friend Kevin, who I’ve known since my school days, died suddenly of a stroke, age 47. Kevin and I were eight-year-old kids when we first met, running around on the school playground, kicking a ball and thinking we’d live forever.
Category: Financial Planning
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads reading. I love being a dad, and even as an experienced financial planner, raising my kids Olly and Bella has taught me plenty about family finances. On average, a couple spends just over £75,000 raising a child from birth to 18 years old according to the Child Poverty […]
Category: Financial Planning
What is inflation? When too many pounds chase too few goods or services, the demand for those goods and services increases. This can cause prices to rise, which over time is what we refer to as inflation. There are two measures of inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Retail Prices Index (RPI). They’re […]
Category: Financial Planning
It seems crazy to me that at 18 years old you can be expected to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. Deciding your career for maybe the next 50 years is somewhat unrealistic. If the choice you made didn’t work out and now you find yourself out of work or without the money to learn the skills you need to forge a new career – you can be trapped in a vicious circle. Luckily help is now at hand with the new government loan scheme called an “Advanced Learner Loan”. Read this article to discover more.
Category: Goal Setting, Money Management
If your debts have become overwhelming and you don’t know where to turn, help is at hand. This month the government launched a new initiative called “Breathing Space”. The scheme has been designed to allow people struggling with debt to take 60 days as a breather. What does this mean in reality? Well once a […]
Category: Debt Repayment, Financial News & Events
Thousands of married women who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 have been underpaid their state pension for more than two decades. Documents revealed in the budget last month highlighted that approximately 200,000 pensioners have potentially been underpaid up to £3bn between them in state pension entitlement, with individuals entitled to an average pay out of £13,500 to make up the shortfall.
Category: Retirement & Pensions
Effective budgeting should be transformative, not draining
November 10, 2023
Step by step is the way to get on top of your money matters
January 15, 2023
Change up your money habits in 2022
January 6, 2023
Looking back on 2022 to move forward in 2023
December 27, 2022
A gift your grandchildren won’t forget
December 18, 2022
