ukfinance

Introduction The following article is designed to give individuals an insight into the different ways we can invest in property. Whether it’s a direct investment into residential or commercial property or putting your faith in one of the many retail funds out there, there are many routes you can choose if you want to get access to this particular asset class. As well as focussing on the various methods of investing, we shall also look at the benefits and drawbacks of putting your money into... Read Full Story

All investors are taught early in their careers that the two dominant emotions in financial markets are fear and greed. Cold rational analysis of facts is all well and good but when emotion takes hold it over-rides everything else; to paraphrase one of the most important adages, JM Keynes preached that the markets can remain irrational longer than anyone can remain solvent. It is also a truism though that every scare story that has ever spooked markets has been highly credible at the time... Read Full Story

As time rolls on and the date for the beginning of the possibly the biggest ever changes to our pensions system, I thought it was a good time to speak out to all you employers and employees out there who will be effected by this. Make no mistake about it, employers are going to face additional cost and administration burdens under this new pension regime. However, the good news is that there is time to plan and prepare, but time is running out. There are four basic steps that can help... Read Full Story

The newly published seventh report on the state of retirement savings from Scottish Widows has just been released and it doesn’t make particularly pleasant reading. Whilst there does seem to be a slight increase in consumer understanding of pension provision, particularly in the public sector, the sad fact is that we are still a nation where around half the population still does not contribute adequately to a pension and around one-in-five is actually doing nothing at all. Here are some of... Read Full Story

I am increasingly talking to clients who have pensions, but who aren’t being given regular financial reviews or who aren’t having their attitude to risk assessed regularly. It is absolutely vital that you receive regular financial reviews on you pension and that you have your attitude to risk assessed at least annually to ensure your pension is performing in a way you want it to and that when you get to retirement you receive the amount of income you want and need to live a comfortable... Read Full Story

Measured progress There is much to be gleaned from the performance of markets over the first quarter of 2011. Ever since equity markets hit their most recent low point in March 2009 many have questioned the rationale for and the resilience of the rises in global share prices, arguing that markets were in denial about the continued parlous state of Western economies and their financial systems. Over the early stages of this year however, markets have withstood the very considerable headwinds... Read Full Story

The nuclear option The speed at which markets can shift direction is a constant source of amazement. It was only last autumn that the great fear was that the western world was following Japan into a multi-decade period of low growth and persistent deflation. Debts had to be repaid, it was argued, and the only way for this to be done was slowly and steadily. And until this was done there was no basis for a resumption sustainable growth in the UK, United States or Europe. But now this is all... Read Full Story

As promised here is an article on the changes to Unsecured Pensions( also known as drawdown).     Summary of the proposed changes    The age 75 rules on annuitisation, value protection lump sums, pension commencement lump sums (PCLS) and trivial commutation lump sums will be removed.    The age 75 rules on contributions and Lifetime Allowance checks will remain.  Pension funds will be able to remain in an Unsecured Pension (USP) indefinitely. This is referred to as “capped drawdown... Read Full Story

Well probably not but there has been enough changes in the last few months to cause more than a few heated debates amongst the many interested parties. Pensions are headline news and trust me that is not going to change anytime soon! Over the next week or two I’m going to be putting up a series of articles which will highlight stuff that could well be relevant to you. Changes such as the scrapping of the need to take annuity by age 75, the limits to how much you can put in a pension... Read Full Story

Your retirement could last decades. Life expectancy after retirement Retirement could last longer than you imagine… People often think of their pensions as a bit like savings accounts. So they pay money in while they’re working, and when they retire they think they can take that money out, as and when they need it. But that’s not actually how pensions work. Unless you have a “Defined Benefit” or “Final Salary” pension scheme, the reality is that you will have to purchase a retirement... Read Full Story