Guide: Everything you need to know about annuities when creating a retirement income

When you retire, you will often have a range of choices available to you about how you access your pension. One such method is an annuity, which could provide you with a reliable income.

If you’re not sure how annuities work or if they could be right for you, this guide explains the essentials you need to know. It could help you feel more confident making decisions about your pension and retirement income.

Read the guide to discover:

  1. How an annuity works
  2. The different types of annuities available
  3. The advantages and disadvantages of choosing an annuity
  4. Some key questions to consider if you think an annuity is right for you.

Download ‘Everything you need to know about annuities when creating a retirement income’ now to read about annuities and how they could create financial security in retirement.

Intergenerational wealth planning: Your options when passing on wealth to the next generation 

Ensuring your family is financially secure for the long term is a common goal. If it’s one of your priorities, intergenerational wealth planning could help you create a plan that suits you and your loved ones.

There’s more than one way to pass on wealth to your family. Each option has advantages and drawbacks that you need to weigh up to understand what’s right for you and your beneficiaries. This useful guide covers three main options:

  1. Gifting assets during your lifetime
  2. Using a trust to pass on wealth
  3. Leaving an inheritance

The guide also explains some of the key things you need to consider before you pass on wealth. For instance, if you gifted assets now, could you face financial insecurity later in life? Or could your estate be liable for Inheritance Tax when you pass away?

You can also read about the benefits of involving your family in the financial planning process.

Guide: How to manage the harmful effects of inflation on your wealth

For the last year, inflation has been high. If you’re worried about the effects of the rising cost of living, this guide could help you.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show, in the 12 months to April 2023, the rate of inflation was 8.7%. This is far above the Bank of England’s target of 2%, and for much of the last year, the rate has been in double digits.

The guide explains why needing to spend more to maintain your lifestyle could affect your long-term plans and how inflation could reduce the value of your assets in real terms.

You can also discover some of the steps you could take to “beat” inflation, including:

  1. Making the most of suitable allowances
  2. Shopping around for the best interest rate
  3. Considering if investing is right for you
  4. Reviewing your budget
  5. Focusing on your long-term plan.

Your guide to pension consolidation: The pros and cons you need to know

Do you have multiple pensions? It could make it difficult to manage your pension savings during your working life and when you retire. In some cases, consolidating them could be beneficial.

This guide explains what you need to know about transferring your pension savings, so you have fewer pots to manage. It could help you feel more in control of your retirement and, in some cases, reduce the amount you’re paying in fees.

However, there are reasons why consolidating your pension may not be right for you, including:

  • You have a defined benefit (DB) pension
  • Your pension has additional benefits
  • You may need to pay an exit fee
  • You could benefit from using “small pot” privileges. 

Download “Your guide to pension consolidation: The pros and cons you need to know” now to read more about pension consolidation and understand if it could be the right decision for you.

The 2022/23 end of tax year guide: 7 allowances to make use of before 5 April 2023

The 2022/23 tax year ends on Wednesday 5 April. After this date, many allowances reset, and it could be your last chance to use some of them.

Allowances can help your money go further by reducing your tax liability. Reviewing your finances before the deadline could help you identify some allowances that could be right for you.

This guide explains how seven useful allowances work:

  1. Marriage Allowance
  2. ISA allowance
  3. Dividend Allowance
  4. Capital Gains Tax annual exempt amount
  5. Pension Annual Allowance
  6. Inheritance Tax annual exemption
  7. Gifts from your income.

Download your copy of ‘The 2022/23 end of tax year guide: 7 allowances to make use of before 5 April 2023’ to find out more. 

If you have any questions about your financial plan and which allowances make sense for you, please get in touch. 

Guide: 10 new year resolutions that could boost your financial wellbeing

At the start of a new year, it’s common to reflect on what you want to achieve over the next 12 months and to set out some goals. It’s the perfect time to think about how you could improve your financial wellbeing too.

Around a third of Brits setting a new year resolution want to save more money. As well as boosting your savings account, there are other positive steps you can take to improve your financial wellbeing, such as:

  • Reviewing your current mortgage deal
  • Creating a plan to invest regularly
  • Increasing your pension contributions
  • Getting your estate plan in order.

Download your copy of “10 new year resolutions that could boost your financial wellbeing” to start thinking about how the financial decisions you make in 2023 could help you meet long-term goals.

Guide: 12 of the best Christmas markets to enjoy in the UK and Europe in 2022

If you want some festive cheer, a Christmas market is perfect. 

From stalls filled with seasonal treats to entertainment like carol singers, they can really put you in the mood for the holidays. Whether you want to visit an event locally or combine it with a weekend away in Europe, there are hundreds of Christmas markets to choose from. 

Download our latest guide to discover some of the best Christmas markets to visit this year and what sets them apart. From the St Nicholas Fair in picturesque York to Strasbourg France, which is dubbed the “Capital of Christmas”, there’s something for everyone. 

Guide: Financial wellbeing: 6 ways to help you make better financial decisions

Humans are hard-wired to make poor financial decisions. It’s just in our DNA.

Financial wellbeing is a broad topic, covering all aspects of the relationship between money and our long-term happiness. It covers a wide variety of subjects, including how to manage money better, and how to use money to generate wellbeing.

In some ways, financial wellbeing is about getting out of the bad habits we have acquired by linking money with success.

If you want to improve how you make financial decisions, this guide covers six steps to take:

  1. Understanding why you are bad with money
  2. Understand the sources of wellbeing
  3. Identify your objectives
  4. Don’t be a financial wellbeing junkie
  5. Connect with your future self
  6. How to give.

Download your copy of “Financial wellbeing: 6 ways to help you make better financial decisions” to learn more.

The parents’ guide to paying for university and student loans

As a parent, it is important to understand what expenses students face, how they will repay student loans in the future, and how you could offer support.

If your child will be going to university this year or is planning to further their education in the future, you undoubtedly feel proud. However, you may also worry about what it means for your child financially.

As a parent, it is important to understand what expenses students face, how they will repay student loans in the future, and how you could offer support. This could put your mind at ease and mean you could take steps that will allow your child to focus on their studies.

In this guide, read more about:

  • The cost of going to university, including tuition fees and living costs
  • How student loans work
  • How students can fund postgraduate education
  • What to consider if you want to make your child’s education part of your financial plan
  • And more…

Download your copy of “The parents’ guide to paying for university and student loans” to learn more.

Guide: Your complete guide to buy-to-let

Buy-to-let properties can provide an additional income stream and help you to support your goals. As a result, becoming a landlord is something you may have thought about.

For example, you may want to purchase a buy-to-let property to diversify your assets or provide children with an inheritance. One of the most common reasons is to fund retirement.

However, it’s also common to have concerns about buy-to-let. You may worry about understanding the regulations and tax requirements if you become a landlord.

If you’re thinking about investing in a property, there are some important things to consider first. This guide explains some of the essential things you need to know, including:

  • How a buy-to-let mortgage works
  • What taxes you may need to consider as a landlord
  • How to reduce tax liability
  • What to consider when you’re choosing a buy-to-let property
  • And more…

Download your copy of ‘Your complete guide to buy-to-let’ to learn more.

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