magazine archive
magazine archive
Money Matters
How to invest £200 a month
Thursday 19 Oct 2017Investing isn’t just for wealthy people with enormous lump sums of money at their disposal. It’s possible to build up a sizeable nest egg by saving just £200 a month. How you put that money to work depends on whether you’re new to investing or already have a solid portfolio. It is fair to say that...
Should I quit my defined benefit pension scheme?
Thursday 12 Oct 2017Tens of thousands of savers have ditched the security of a defined benefit (DB) pension since the launch of pension freedoms in April 2015. This type of pension usually pays out a guaranteed, inflation-linked sum in retirement. Individuals have switched in favour of managing their own retirement...
Should I consolidate my pensions?
Thursday 12 Oct 2017If you’ve changed jobs several times you’ve probably got lots of pensions with different providers. It can be difficult to keep track of how much money you’re building up, which makes consolidating your pensions into one pot a tempting option. But transferring can sometimes result in high charges...
How much are YOU saving for retirement?
Thursday 05 Oct 2017Last week we were treated to a slew of statistics from both the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The figures paint a fascinating picture of the way retirement is changing in the UK, as well as the challenges faced by both individuals and governments. Here...
How to switch to a stocks and shares ISA
Thursday 05 Oct 2017If you’re fed up with the low interest rates offered by cash ISAs it could be time to switch to a stocks and shares ISA. Transferring your money correctly will ensure your tax-free allowance remains intact. Why switch to stocks and shares? Interest rates are extremely low which means the annual...
Navigating the lifetime allowance at death
Thursday 28 Sep 2017Thousands of savers have already been caught by the lifetime allowance, the limit which restricts how much you can save in a pension throughout your life to £1m. According to a Freedom of Information request submitted by The Telegraph , the taxman raked in £120m in lifetime allowance charges in...
Tax-saving tips for higher earners
Thursday 28 Sep 2017The Government has cracked down on tax avoidance schemes but there are still plenty of legitimate ways for higher earners to reduce their tax bill. The more tax wrappers and annual allowances you use, the more money you’ll be able to save and invest for your future. Maximise your ISA allowance...
Are you paying too much for your investments?
Thursday 21 Sep 2017Before 2013 people generally paid in the region of 1.5% for an actively managed UK equity fund. Even if you used a financial adviser and/or invested via a platform this was potentially the only charge you paid, as they received a portion of the 1.5% from the fund group as a rebate. For example, for...
How to give your children’s finances a kick start
Thursday 21 Sep 2017Investing a relatively small amount of money can make a huge difference to your children’s financial security in later life. One of the best ways to invest is through a Junior ISA. Income and capital gains are tax-free and your child can’t withdraw any money until they turn 18. There are cash...
How to determine your investment goals
Thursday 14 Sep 2017Having a financial goal is an important first step when it comes to investing. It can be tricky to determine what your goal is, so we’ve come up with a few ideas and some accompanying investment strategies to help you on your way. Why do I need a goal? There are lots of reasons why it is important...