An annuity provides simplicity and provides you with a guaranteed income for lifetime or a fixed term period. Whereas drawdown (FAD) provides flexibility in that you have control of the pot in future, but it remains subject to investment risk and could run out in future, but you control it […]
Why does my pension go up and down in value
Your pension should be seen as a long term investment product, but unfortunately it will go up and down on a daily basis. This is because it’s invested in the stock market, bonds, gilts etc. rather than sitting in a simple cash account. By taking such actions by your pension […]
What is the 50 / 30 / 20 rule
The 50 / 30 / 20 rule is a relatively simple budget method that allows an individual to allocate net income into 3 respective categories. These being 50% for needs (so call essential living costs), 30% for wants (discretionary or leisure spending) and 20% for savings / debt. This simple […]
how does increase in state pension age affect me
So how does the rise in UK state pension age affect me ? The rise in the UK state pension age, increasing to 67 between 2026-2028 and potentially 68 later, means you will may likely have to work longer. Plus you may have to bridge a funding gap with private […]
5 common ISA mistakes (and how to avoid them)
With numerous different types of ISA’s available, it’s no wonder the mistakes are made. So what are the most common pitfalls to avoid. If you have have already opened your account, or about to. It’s pay to recap and revisit some simple mistakes to avoid. Not using an ISA to […]
Simple steps to spring clean your ISA
Spring is normally a great time to get your affairs in order. This could also apply to the world of personal finance and your investing habits. It could be seen as agreed time to review things, and make things work better for you in future. So you can improve your […]
How to stay calm when investing
As we have seen in the news lately, how does someone stay calm. The world of personal finance, investing will react badly to short term market events and sentiment. Such as the Iran / middle east conflict taking place now as of March 2026. Firstly, no matter what you do […]
How to buy silver (in the UK)
So how does somebody buy silver with the UK ! The thought of buying silver seems to be in the news on a daily basis, thanks to the recent surge in Gold and commodities. As we are constantly bombarded by news that GOLD is going Galactic. Although the spotlight may […]
7 simple steps to build wealth
The idea of building wealth, requires discipline, effort, time and investment ! But it can be achieved by anybody if you follow some simple steps. And above all, think long term. The plan should be considered boring and predictable, it’s not a get rich quick journey. However, you can achieve […]
What is dividend tax (in the UK)
Dividend tax in the UK is a personal tax on any dividends received over certain levels. It is normally applied to individual or company shares payments exceeding annual allowances. The level of tax payable will depend upon your annual allowance during the tax year (April 6th to April 5th). Depending […]
What is salary sacrifice – when dealing with pensions !
Quite simply, if you employer offers you salary sacrifice. You choose to give up some or all of any income or salary in return for any specific benefit. The range of benefits offered will obviously vary between companies and different employers. But they will form the following main categories: By […]
What is revenge saving !
It is a new relevant new term in the world of personal finance in that, people are saying “enough” to so called impulsive spending. Which causes financial stress or worry, uncertainty, regret on an instant decision, whim or spare of the moment decision. So instead people are trying to channel […]
What is talk money week ?
Talk Money Week is an annual campaign that hopefully encourages open discussions, conversations and engagement into personal finance. Financial well-being, money management where individuals become connected with their finances. The subject of personal finance, or the world of investing can appear too complex and confusing to most people. As we […]
How do UK pensions work – (simple guide)
What is a pension? Quite simply, a pension is a tax-efficient way of saving money for your later retirement. There are different types of pensions in the UK. As a result of previous actions, it does confuse a lot of people. Mainly because the rules keep changing and also because we […]
What is pension awareness week !
Pension Awareness Week for 2025, runs from the 15th to 19th September 2025. It is a national campaign designed to boost understanding of pensions and encourage people to take control of their retirement planning. It has been running for several years now, with the aim of getting employee’s, employer’s and […]
How much tax-free cash can I take from my pension ?
Under current UK pension rules, you can usually take up to 25% from each of your pensions as tax-free lump sums, provided the total amount taken is less than £268,275. This can be applicable across numerous DB & DC pensions, you aren’t restricted to accessing tax-free sum from only 1 […]
When can I access my pension !
Under current UK pension rules, the earliest you can access your private or workplace pension is set to age 55. This is known as the minimum pension age and has been effective since 6th April 2010. Prior to this date it could have been aged 50, an individual could still […]
How to create passive income !
The idea of creating an income stream in which you get paid without working is nothing new. It’s actually the fundamental basis of any investing or future retirement plan. Whereby someone can increase and generate additional sources of income. In recent times, it has become somewhat trendy and fashionable and […]
The Intelligent Investor – Book review
The book “The Intelligent Investor” written by Benjamin Graham back in 1949, is considered the investment bible for modern day investors. According to the world’s most successful investors, it has been the go to book for information on how to become a great investor. The book highlights great wisdom into […]
What are dividends and how do they work ?
So what exactly is a dividend, it can be seen as most of the most important parts or reasons to invest within a specific or certain stock or company. Firstly, let’s explain what exactly a dividend is ? A dividend is a portion of the company’s profits or earnings paid […]
How to create a simple investment portfolio
So do do I build a simple Investment portfolio ? For those of you new to investing. The idea of creating an investment portfolio may seem daunting and frightening but it shouldn’t be. You need to get the basics right and it ultimately depends on 2 things when starting out. […]
What is a stocks & shares ISA ?
A stocks and shares ISA (individual savings account) is an account in the UK, that allows an individual to save or invest a limited amount within a tax-free investment wrapper. You can invest across numerous types of investments such as company shares, funds, ETF’s, investment trusts or bonds. It is […]
Do I need a financial lifetime plan ?
For the vast majority of people the idea of personal finances and the world of savings and investing can appear daunting, confusing and complicated. Probably because we are never taught the basics from school education or our parents as the subject is considered taboo to discuss. But have your ever […]
What is a trivial pension lump sum payment !
Under current UK pension rules, the trivial commutation lump sum rules allows an individual to access certain benefits from age 55 (MPA) or from age 57 after April 2028, as a complete one-off lump sum payment. As long as their total benefits across all their schemes don’t exceed £ 30,000 […]
where are my pensions contributions invested ?
Thanks to the introduction of Auto Enrolment (AE) back in 2012, most people employed are automatically enrolled into a workplace Defined Contribution (DC) pension plan. But have you ever asked yourself, or even considered where are my monthly contributions invested. Where do my contributions actually go, after they are deducted […]