Do I still need life insurance and critical illness cover?
Protection is one of those areas of financial planning that often gets set up and then forgotten about. Many people arrange life insurance or critical illness cover when they buy a home, get married, have children, or take on other financial commitments. The policy goes into place, the direct debit leaves the account each month, […]
What if markets fall just after I retire?
For decades, the goal is often relatively simple: earn, save, invest and build wealth over time. Stopping work changes that dynamic. Instead of contributing to pensions and investments, you begin relying on them to help fund your lifestyle. That’s one of the reasons market falls can feel particularly unsettling for people approaching retirement. Why this […]
What do the pensions and inheritance tax changes coming in 2027 mean for me?
For decades, UK savers have relied on pensions not only for retirement income but also as a highly tax-efficient way to pass on wealth. Under current rules, pension pots generally fall outside your estate for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes. However, a significant shift is on the horizon. From 6 April 2027, the government will remove […]
What if one of us wants to stop work or reduce our hours?
Sometimes this conversation starts with wanting a slower pace of life or even burnout. Sometimes it’s simply the reality of having children, caring responsibilities, health changes, or shifting family priorities. For others, it’s about creating more time at home, improving flexibility, or stepping away from work that no longer fits the life they want moving […]
I am thinking about buying a second property – does it make financial sense?
Buying a second property used to feel like a relatively straightforward financial decision for many people. Whether it was a holiday home, buy-to-let, or somewhere to use later in retirement, property was often seen as a reliable long-term investment alongside the lifestyle appeal of owning somewhere additional. But the financial landscape around second properties has […]
How do I know if I have enough money to start making gifts to family?
For many people, there comes a point where conversations about money start to shift. Instead of focusing purely on building and protecting assets, people begin thinking more about what that money is actually there for and who they may want it to help. People are increasingly questioning whether they’d rather start passing some money on […]
Is it better to spend my ISA money or pension first?
It’s a question that tends to come up later in the financial planning journey, usually once people have moved beyond simply building wealth and started thinking more carefully about how they actually use it. For a long time, most financial conversations focus on accumulation growing pensions, using ISA allowances, building investments over time. But eventually […]
What if I want more flexibility, not just more money?
It’s a question we’re being asked far more often. For a long time, a lot of financial advice has been built around a clear objective: earn more, accumulate more, and grow wealth over time. But in our experience, that’s starting to change. We’re seeing more people question whether continuing to push for ‘more’ is actually […]
How do I keep calm when markets feel scary?
It’s a question that tends to come up when the wider world feels unsettled. Headlines are more negative, markets are moving around more than usual, and it can feel as though something bigger might be about to happen. Even if nothing has changed in your own situation, the overall backdrop can make decisions feel heavier. […]
What should I actually focus on if I want the option to retire earlier?
In our experience, this question usually comes up once someone has moved past the very early stages of financial planning. They’re already doing ‘sensible’ things. They’re contributing to pensions, investing, trying to be tax-efficient, and paying more attention to where their money is going. But the more seriously they take it, the easier it becomes […]