Serenity

Spend only what you can afford and save what you can

August 12, 2013 by TIna

If we judge UK personal savings as still too low and overall consumer debt as still too high, then we are in a situation where a few reminders about not deluding ourselves about what we can each afford, will not go amiss.

1. Don’t buy a house you can barely afford because you expect your income to rise later. For someone working and signing on for a mortgage, it might be natural to assume the payments will become more affordable as your income grows.

Are people trying to better manage their money?

August 12, 2013 by TIna

Category: savings & Uncategorized

People are changing their financial behaviours and developing more positive money habits to manage their money. This is evidenced in the findings of a major new study published in August 2013 by the Money Advice Service (MAS). However, the report also reveals that half of UK adults struggle to keep up with their bills and credit commitments. This figure is up from one in three in 2006.

Is an Annuity in Your Future?

August 02, 2013 by TIna

Category: Uncategorized

Interest rates are low at the moment – and Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, has just announced a new policy initiative which is likely to see them stay low for some time.

Interest rates are one of the key determinants of annuity rates, so it looks like those rates will also stay low for some time to come. Does this mean that annuities will fall further out of favour?

August Market Commentary

August 01, 2013 by TIna

Category: Uncategorized

There was good news and bad news for the world economy in July – as ever, commentators were divided on whether the glass was half full or half empty…

The price of gold has been steadily falling since its peak of $1,900 an ounce in August 2011. At the beginning of July it stood at less than $1,250 – which surely heralds a worldwide return of confidence. After all, gold is traditionally held as a hedge against economic uncertainty and downright financial Armageddon.

The single tier pension – how will this affect you?

July 31, 2013 by TIna

Category: Uncategorized

The single-tier pension will be introduced from 6 April 2016, which means that all women born on or after 6 April 1953 will reach State Pension age after the introduction of single tier and will receive a single-tier pension, as will every man born on or after 6 April 1951. As long as they meet the minimum qualifying period, these people will be able to get a single-tier pension.

One million workers aged 65 and over…

July 31, 2013 by TIna

Category: Uncategorized

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) recently showed that there are now more than one million people in the workforce aged 65 or over. This is the highest number since the ONS started collating this data, back in 1971.

Our insights

Spend only what you can afford and save what you can

Are people trying to better manage their money?

Is an Annuity in Your Future?

August Market Commentary

The single tier pension – how will this affect you?

One million workers aged 65 and over…

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