Investing
Avoid the pension pitfalls: Retirement experts' top 10 tips
Filed under: Saving, Investing, Retirement
The halcyon days of golden-plated final salary pension schemes for all are long gone, and with annuity rates at record lows and life expectancy increasing every year, planning for retirement has never been more important. Perhaps we are getting wiser as well as older, though. More than a third of all searches for an independent financial adviser on unbiased.co.uk relate to personal retirement planning. Here, we air the views of some of its most sought-after pensions boffins.
Pay less tax - join a share scheme
Filed under: Saving, Investing, Work & Careers
UK employees are going to miss out on a massive £141 million in tax breaks this year because they're not taking advantage of tax-efficient employee share schemes, says advice website unbiased.co.uk.There are currently 11,330 companies running tax-advantaged employee share schemes, which give their staff returns free of income tax and national insurance. If the 470,000 staff currently in another type of savings related share option scheme invested just £1,500 into a share incentive scheme (which is just half of the maximum investment) the total tax saved would amount to £141 million.
Investment conman jailed - how can you spot a scam?
Filed under: Fraud , Investing
William 'Bill' Godley a 62-year-old director, was jailed recently for three and a half years for conspiracy to defraud, after his involvement in one of Britain's largest and most intricate investment scams. The scam, through a company called Imperial Consolidated Group, ran to £150 million, and took in everyone from footballers to US star Wesley Snipes (pictured). So how can you tell if an investment scheme is legitimate or part of a scam?
Average pension savings fall short by more than £250,000
Filed under: Saving, Investing, Retirement
A comfortable retirement will cost the typical Briton £33,070 a year, according to Alico Wealth Management's Financial Pressure Points research.
But while respondents to its survey recognise that they will need between £20,000 and £40,000 a year to enjoy retirement, they fall well short of the mark when estimating how much they need to save to provide that level of income.
Nation confused by finance more than flatpack furniture
Filed under: Credit Cards, Mortgages, Investing, Retirement
Finance, rather than flatpack furniture, is one of the most baffling aspects of modern life, with many people utterly confused about pensions and mortgages - while they find credit cards relatively easy to understand.A new report from comparison website Confused.com into what Brits find most confusing reveals that 72% of people suffer from confusion over how to make money and use it wisely.
How to make your baby a millionaire
Filed under: Investing, Retirement, Families
You could turn your son or daughter into a millionaire by investing just £88 a month in a child Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) in his or her name, new research shows.
Although the child in question will have to wait until he or she reaches retirement age to claim the fortune, there is no doubt that this is a wonderful gift for any parent, or other relative, to bestow. The only bad news is that unless he or she takes over the contributions later in life, you will have to keep making them for the next 65 years!
78% of us don't bother with financial advice
Filed under: Saving, Investing
Are we all getting more confident about our finances again?We are increasingly taking our money into our own hands when it comes to investing, according to the latest research from Fair Investment Company. Many prefer to do their own research online or elsewhere rather than relying on financial advisers.
We're worse off than ever - especially if you have a degree and are over 55
Filed under: Investing, Retirement, Budgeting & Planning
New statistics have revealed that our household wealth has been dramatically eroded over the last two years, and those particularly badly hit at those with a university degree who are aged between 55 and 74, who have lost around £25,000.So how much are we losing, how is this happening, and what does it mean for our future?
Your money will be safer in the bank - but not totally safe
Filed under: Saving, Investing
We've always made certain assumptions about saving and investing. At the heart of any decision we have made is the thought of risk. If we were happy taking a risk, we'd invest in shares or something similar. If we wanted no risk at all, we'd stick the money in the bank.After the financial crisis we understand that our money isn't really safe anywhere. Today we hear the news that it should be safer in the bank. But just how safe will it be?
Britain sells yet more of its heritage. Will we have anything left?
Filed under: Investing
A Turner Masterpiece, which has been on display at the National Galleries of Scotland for the last 30 years has sold at auction for £29.7 million. Modern Rome - Campo Vaccino fetched a record for any work by a British Artist.Naturally it didn't sell to a Brit, but should we be worried about the way Britain's assets are being systematically sold off?
