Guides
7 valuable behaviours for successful investing
How do you grow your wealth when you’re investing? Choosing the “right” investments is just one of the ingredients needed for success. Indeed, your mindset and behaviours could have a much larger effect on the outcomes of your investments than you might think.
Your approach to investing could influence the decisions you make when you start building your portfolio, such as how much risk you take. It could also play a role in how you respond to market movements, which may have a knock-on effect on the long-term returns of your portfolio.
So, as well as considering which investments could help you reach your goals, you might also want to review your behaviours and the impact they could have.
This useful guide explains how some behaviours, such as being patient or staying calm during market volatility, could have a positive effect on your wealth.
Download ‘7 valuable behaviours for successful investing’ now to read more about the behaviours that might lead to improved investment outcomes.
If you have any questions about your investment portfolio or how investing could fit into your wider financial plan, please contact us to arrange a meeting.
Guide: 10 things you can learn about your financial plan from these ABBA hits
In April 1974, a Swedish foursome took to the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest. Performing eighth on the night, ABBA introduced themselves to a global audience, romping to victory with their hit ‘Waterloo’.
In the intervening five decades ABBA – made up of Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson – has become one of the world’s best-selling and most enduring artists.
To celebrate five decades of fantastic Swedish pop, this guide looks at what you can learn about managing your money from 10 iconic ABBA songs. From focusing on your long-term goals so you can have the “time of your life” to the importance of balancing risk when you “take a chance” on investing, you might be surprised at the lessons you could learn.
Download ‘10 things you can learn about your financial plan from these ABBA hits’ now to find out more about ABBA and what their catchy lyrics could teach you about managing your finances.
If you’d like to arrange a meeting with us to talk about your financial plan, please get in touch.
7 allowances you might want to use before the end of the 2023/24 tax year
When a new tax year starts, many allowances reset. So, checking if you could make use of allowances before Friday 5 April 2024, when the 2023/24 tax year ends, might be valuable.
This guide explores some of the allowances that could help your money go further. You might discover you could reduce your Income Tax liability by using the Marriage Allowance or find a tax-efficient way to save for your long-term goals by using an ISA or pension.
The guide explains seven key allowances:
- Marriage Allowance
- ISA allowance
- Junior ISA allowance
- Dividend Allowance
- Capital Gains Tax Annual Exempt Amount
- Pension Annual Allowance
- Inheritance Tax annual exemption.
Download “7 allowances you might want to use before the end of the 2023/24 tax year” to learn if you could potentially reduce your tax bill.
If you have any questions about which allowances are suitable for you or would like to create a plan for 2024/25, please contact us.
Guide: 10 incredible destinations to add to your bucket list
Seeing more of the world makes up many people’s bucket lists. Whether you want to be left in awe of natural sights, immerse yourself in a different culture, or see a historic monument, there are plenty of destinations to choose from.
Read our guide to discover 10 bucket list-worthy destinations that might tempt you to start planning your next trip right away.
Find out why these destinations could secure a spot on your bucket list.
- Visit Japan during the sakura season
- Take a cruise to Antarctica
- Discover sustainable tourism in Bhutan
- Hire a campervan to explore New Zealand
- Witness the wildebeest migration in Tanzania and Kenya
- See one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in Jordan
- Follow Inca paths in Peru
- Be inspired by nature in Canada
- Explore ancient Roman history in Italy
- Relax in the tropical paradise of French Polynesia.
Download “10 incredible destinations to add to your bucket list” now to find travel inspiration, whether you’re seeking an adventure or want to relax on a tropical island.
If travel is important to you, making it part of your budget and financial plan could help you see more of the world. Please contact us to discuss your aspirations and how we could help you build a long-term financial plan that reflects you.
The guide to using equity release to unlock property wealth later in life
Your home may be one of the largest assets you have. With property wealth often inaccessible, you may be considering using equity release to unlock some of the money tied up in your home.
According to the Equity Release Council, the average new customer unlocking property wealth releases almost £60,000. So, using equity release could provide a significant financial boost in your later years.
However, it can have a long-lasting effect on your finances so it’s crucial you understand what equity release means and whether it’s the right option for you.
This guide explains:
- How equity release works
- The potential pros and cons of using equity release
- Alternative options that you may want to consider.
Download your copy of “The guide to using equity release to unlock property wealth later in life” to learn more about equity release and some of the factors you may want to weigh up.
If you’re thinking about using equity release and have questions, please contact us. We’ll help you understand if it’s an option that could be right for you.
Please note: This guide is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
Think carefully before securing other debts against your home.
A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your home. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Guide: 7 useful questions if you plan to take a flexible income from your pension
When you start to access your pension, how will you take an income? One of your options may be to withdraw a flexible income that suits your needs through flexi-access drawdown.
A flexible income puts you in control and means you can adjust how much you withdraw from your pension if you need to. However, you also need to consider what income is the “right” amount to balance your short- and long-term needs.
As a result, there are some factors you may want to think about when managing pension withdrawals if you’re using flexi-access drawdown. This guide covers seven important considerations, including:
- How long does your pension need to provide an income?
- How could inflation affect your income needs?
- What tax could your pension withdrawals be liable for?
Download your copy of “7 useful questions if you plan to take a flexible income from your pension” to understand some of the areas you might want to consider if you plan to use flexi-access drawdown.
If you have any questions about your pension or how to create an income in retirement, please contact us to arrange a meeting.
Please note: This guide is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
10 magical life and money lessons you can learn from Disney
The Walt Disney Company is celebrating a huge milestone – its 100th anniversary.
On 16 October 1923, brothers Walt and Roy Disney set up Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio to produce films. From humble beginnings, the company has gone on to become one of the most recognisable brands in the world.
To mark 100 years of Disney, this guide lists 10 life and money lessons you can learn from the company and its films, including:
- Follow Walt’s lead and set long-term goals: Did you know Walt purchased more land than he needed for his initial plans to build a theme park in Florida? It means Disney World has far more freedom when it pursues new developments.
- Don’t fall for a scammer’s promise of treasure: Understanding what you’re signing up for and being aware of the red flags when approached by someone with an opportunity is a lesson Aladdin learnt. While fraudsters won’t use a cave filled with treasure to entice you, they may use similar tactics.
- Diversify your assets like the Disney Company: When you think of Disney, it’s probably the films that come to mind. But the company has become far more than its latest movie and the company’s profits come from more places than you may expect. Diversifying helped Disney to make a profit even when Covid-19 restrictions affected some business areas.
- Learn from Cinderella and review your estate plan regularly: Cinderella is a classic rags-to-riches story. But the whole tale could have been avoided if her father had updated his estate plan.
Download your copy of “10 magical life and money lessons you can learn from Disney” to discover more lessons.
If you have any questions about your financial plan or the topics covered in the guide, please contact us.
Please note: This guide is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
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:
- Gifting assets during your lifetime
- Using a trust to pass on wealth
- 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. From facilitating money conversations to helping you identify tax allowances you could use, it may help your wealth go further.
Download your copy of ‘Intergenerational wealth planning: Your options when passing on wealth to the next generation’ now to read more about creating a plan that suits your family.
It’s never too soon to start thinking about how you want to pass on wealth or who you want to benefit from your assets.
If you have any questions about intergenerational wealth planning, please contact us.
Guide: 10 really fab things the Beatles can teach you about successful financial planning
60 years ago, the Beatles celebrated their first UK number one single – ‘From Me to You’. The Fab Four went on to spend an incredible seven years in the UK top 40.
The band has influenced musicians for decades, but what you might have overlooked are some of the financial planning lessons in their lyrics.
From a young man thinking about and planning his later years in ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ to ‘Taxman’, which protests the high rates of progressive tax the band paid in the mid-60s, there are essential money lessons hidden in the Beatles’ albums.
Download your copy of ‘10 really fab things the Beatles can teach you about successful financial planning’ now to discover what you could learn from the Fab Four’s lyrics.
Financial wellbeing: 4 steps to creating a financial wellbeing plan
While growing wealth is often an important part of a financial plan, understanding how you can use your money to reach goals and improve your wellbeing is crucial. It could help you get the most out of your wealth and lead to a more fulfilling life.
This guide offers practical steps that could help you improve your relationship with money by understanding how it’s related to happiness. It covers four essential steps to creating a financial wellbeing plan that’s tailored to you:
- Understanding the sources of happiness that are true for everyone
- Understanding what makes you happy
- Creating a clear path to your objectives
- Travelling along that path in the most effective and efficient way possible.
Download your copy of ‘Financial wellbeing: 4 steps to creating a financial wellbeing plan’ now to find out what you could do to boost your long-term wellbeing.
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:
- You have a defined benefit 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.
If you have any questions about your pension or retirement, please get in touch.
The essential guide to ISAs
ISAs have been around for more than two decades, but they’ve changed significantly since they were first introduced. This guide can help you understand why using an ISA to save or invest could be a valuable part of your financial plan.
Read the guide to find out:
- Why ISAs are a tax-efficient way to save and invest
- Discover the different types of ISA you can choose from
- What you should consider when deciding if you should save or invest through an ISA
- How Junior ISAs could help you build a nest egg for children or grandchildren
- How you could leave your ISA to loved ones when you pass away.
Download your copy of “The essential guide to ISAs” to understand why around 12 million adults contribute to their ISAs each year.
If you have any questions about the topics covered in the guide, please contact us. We can help you manage your savings and investments in a way that reflects your goals, including ISAs if they’re appropriate 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:
- Marriage Allowance
- ISA allowance
- Dividend Allowance
- Capital Gains Tax annual exempt amount
- Pension Annual Allowance
- Inheritance Tax annual exemption
- 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.
If you have any questions about how to improve your financial wellbeing, please contact us.
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:
- Understanding why you are bad with money
- Understand the sources of wellbeing
- Identify your objectives
- Don’t be a financial wellbeing junkie
- Connect with your future self
- How to give.
Download your copy of “Financial wellbeing: 6 ways to help you make better financial decisions” to learn more.
If you have any questions about your financial plan and how to improve your wellbeing, please contact us.
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.
If you’d like to talk about how you can make education part of your financial plan and support your child while they study, please contact us.
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.
If you have any questions about the contents of the guide or would like to discuss your buy-to-let plans, please contact us.
Your complete guide to
financial protection
Financial protection is an important part of creating long-term security. Yet, it’s something that many people overlook.
Appropriate financial protection can provide you or your family with an income or lump sum when you need it most. It can create a valuable safety net and help ensure you’re still able to meet financial commitments if something unexpected happens.
If financial protection isn’t something you’ve thought about, this guide can help you answer questions like:
- What is financial protection?
- How does financial protection add value to your financial plan?
- What are the different types of financial protection, and which ones are right for you?
- What things do you need to consider when selecting financial protection?
Download “Your complete guide to financial protection” to learn more and understand if financial protection is right for you.
If you’d like to discuss how financial protection could help your family or whether existing policies are providing the protection you need, please contact us. We’ll help you select the appropriate financial protection that gives you peace of mind.
The useful guide to
reaching your retirement goals
Getting the most out of retirement and reaching your goals requires planning.
Not thinking about your post-work years until you reach that milestone can mean that a retirement that promised much, falls short. While you might daydream about giving up work, pinning down the details, from your lifestyle to your income, means you’re more likely to turn your dream into a reality.
This guide can help you start to think about the retirement you want and the steps you need to take to secure it. Among the questions it can help you answer are:
- When do you want to retire?
- Is blending work and retirement an option you should consider?
- What does your ideal retirement look like?
- What are your priorities for retirement?
- How much income will you need in retirement?
Download your copy of “The useful guide to reaching your retirement goals” to start planning your future.
If you have any questions about the guide or your financial plan, please contact us.
The useful guide to
decluttering your home and life
Over time, you can pick up things that clutter your life and mean you aren’t living the lifestyle you want.
It might be material items taking up space in your house, or even habits that mean you’re distracted from focusing on your important goals.
Spring is often associated with giving your home a big clean, getting rid of the old, and starting afresh for the summer months. So, now could be the perfect time to declutter your life to help you build the lifestyle you want.
Read our latest guide for some great tips, including:
- Advice from Netflix star Marie Kondo
- How to create a plan to declutter your home
- Why you should also declutter your digital life
- The benefits of getting your finances in order
- 5 books to read that could help you to become more organised.
Download your copy of the useful guide to decluttering your home and life to learn more.
If you have any questions about investments or your financial plan, please contact us.
The complete guide for
5 important lessons that Napoleon can teach you about growing your wealth
In 1793, a vast army of the French First Republic locked horns with a combined force of Royalists and their foreign allies at the port city of Toulon. It was in this battle that a young artillery officer caught the attention of his superiors, demonstrating not only a high level of organisational skill, but also tactical brilliance and the charisma needed to inspire his men.
This officer was, of course, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Siege of Toulon would be the first major stepping stone in his long and glorious career.
When you’re looking for tips for growing your wealth, Napoleon isn’t the first person you might think of. Yet, his innovative and dynamic style of leadership can teach you many valuable lessons.
Read our latest guide to learn more about Napoleon and why he can teach you the importance of:
- Having reserves to protect against unexpected shocks
- Keeping an eye on inflation
- Understanding your attitude to risk
- Diversifying your assets
- Making an informed decision.
Download your copy of 5 lessons that Napoleon can teach you about your growing your wealth to learn more.
If you have any questions about investments or your financial plan, please contact us.
The complete guide for
First-time buyers
Buying your first home can seem complicated. There’s a lot to think about and it’s a huge milestone. If you’re perplexed by the jargon or aren’t sure where to start, this guide will take you through the process and offer tips to help you become a homeowner.
The guide covers:
- How much deposit you need and the best ways to save
- How the Help-to-Buy Equity Loan Scheme works
- Understanding how much you can borrow through a mortgage and what a “mortgage in principle” is
- The different types of mortgages and the impact of interest rates
- Tips for improving your chances of securing a mortgage
- The homebuying process.
Download The complete guide for first-time buyers to learn more.
If you have any questions about buying your first home and securing a mortgage, please contact us.
Leaving an inheritance vs
Gifting during your lifetime
Have you thought about how you’ll pass wealth on to those who are important to you? Traditionally, this has been done through inheritance, but it’s becoming more common to gift during your lifetime.
Our latest guide explains why more families are choosing to gift during their lifetime and the pros and cons of each option. Whichever option you decide is right for you, our guide will enable you to fully understand your situation and make sure your wishes are carried out, and will explain everything from writing a will to calculating the long-term impact of gifting.
It can be difficult to think about how you’ll pass on wealth to loved ones, but it’s important to set out a plan.
Download Leaving an inheritance vs gifting during your lifetime to discover the steps you should take.
If you have any questions about passing on wealth, contact us.
The guide to later-life
Planning and care
When you think about your future, how far ahead do you plan? Perhaps you’ve thought about what your life will look like in 10 years, but have you considered your later years?
While retirement planning is common, it’s often the early years of retirement that people focus on. However, your needs and lifestyle wishes can change drastically over a retirement that could last decades. It’s just as important to think about how you’ll spend your later years as those first years when you are still celebrating retirement.
You can download The guide to later-life planning and care to start thinking about your long-term plan. It’s here to help you understand why it’s important and what steps you can take. It covers:
- Reasons to make later-life planning part of your financial plan
- How to create long-term financial security
- Why care is something you should think about.
If you have any questions about your long-term plan or care, please contact us.
10 simple but effective ways
To create a better you
Search the internet and you’ll find a myriad of self-help sites aimed at helping you to improve your life and get the most out of it. Our latest guide explores some practical steps you can take to improve your overall wellbeing now and in the future.
Among the steps that can help create a better you are:
- Setting out your goals
- Making your mental wellbeing a priority
- Spending time on the things you enjoy
- Getting outdoors
- Creating a financial plan.
Download 10 simple but effective ways to create a better you to discover some of the things you can do to improve your life in the short and long term.
Your guide
to scams
Technology has made it easier than ever for scammers to target victims, and the tactics they use are becoming more sophisticated. So, what can you do to protect yourself?
Our latest guide has been released to coincide with Scams Awareness Fortnight and provides the information, tips, and red flags you need to know to protect your assets. You might think you’d never fall for a scam, but it can be more difficult than you think to spot them. According to Action Fraud, more than £11 million has been lost to Covid-19-related scams alone. It’s important to remain vigilant and protect yourself and others.
In our guide you can find out about:
- The cost and impact of scams on victims
- How to spot a scam, including the red flags to keep in mind
- The most common types of scams
- The psychology behind scams and why many go unreported
- What you can do to protect your pension
- The organisations that can help you if you’re worried about scams.
Download Your guide to scams to learn more. If you have any questions or concerns about scams, please contact us, we’re here to help you.
The history of investing and
What you can learn from the past
Investing has been around for centuries and the basics haven’t changed as much as you might think. Technology has changed how we invest, but some of the investment lessons from the past are just as relevant today as they were in the 1600s.
Our latest guide looks at the foundations of modern investing, and what you can learn from the past, including:
- How the first stock markets came to be
- Why you should focus on the long term
- Why it’s important to diversify
- Why it’s impossible to consistently predict market movements
- How following the crowd can mean you don’t choose investments that are right for you.
Download The history of investing and what you can learn from the past to learn more about how investing began and why some of the lessons still apply today.
