Each year, many people spend the last few days of January frantically going through paperwork to meet the tax return deadline. There are, of course, others who can smugly say that they had the return filed the previous April. But aside from avoiding the panic of HMRC deadlines, there are many other benefits to … Continued
There is a famous saying by Philip Pullman, author of the Dark Materials trilogy: ‘After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.’ Stories teach us about the world and the people around us, but most importantly, they teach us about ourselves. The stories that are most … Continued
It’s the time of year when many of us will be making resolutions in the hope we can better ourselves in the year ahead. Usually these involve improving our health and fitness or embarking on a long-held ambition such as writing a novel. But what about making some resolutions regarding your finances? At … Continued
Traditionally, the time for reflecting on the past and what will come is New Year’s Eve. But is this necessarily the best time to do this? As anyone who has worked with a Serenity Financial planner will know, there is one exercise which involves reflecting on your current average day, week and year, and then … Continued
Can money make us happier? Studies reveal that happiness may not depend simply on how much wealth you have, but on how you spend it… Throughout our lives it is ingrained into our mentality that if we wish to be happy, we need more money. How many times have we wished we might win the lottery and … Continued
Assuming the US presidential election took place yesterday, this is how to position your portfolio – Andy Hart You will all now know that yesterday (8 November 2016) was a historic day for our planet. The new leader of the free world was announced. So how should you position your portfolio in the light of … Continued
“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men, gang aft agley”. So said Robert Burns in his poem ‘To a Mouse’, lyrically summing up the idea that no matter how well we prepare, there are always factors beyond our control that can cause our ‘best laid’ plans to unravel. Whilst the same can be said … Continued
How would you rate your risk tolerance? Are you the kind of person who would happily opt for ‘double or nothing’ on a TV game show if you’d won the value of your home, or do you prefer to forsake the chance for greater reward in return for peace of mind and a greater degree … Continued
A powerful exercise we use at Serenity Financial Planning is to ask clients to plan out their ideal day. Not only does this help you to identify the main lifestyle changes that would make day to day life much happier, it also helps you to make more conscious day to day decisions about how … Continued
Managing your finances in a way that helps you to live a life that is filled with joy, meaning and purpose may seem complex, but it all starts with some surprisingly simple questions. “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life,” said Henry David Thoreau. Certainly creating a financial plan which enables you to live … Continued
