Making sound financial decisions this decade is crucial to securing a comfortable future.
For those in their 50s and beyond, investing can seem particularly intimidating. As retirement approaches, the timeframe for growing your money narrows, and priorities shift towards protecting capital. However, this does not mean investment opportunities are limited. Making sound financial decisions this decade is crucial to ensuring a comfortable future.
Navigating this requires careful planning to ensure you maximise your earnings
Recent figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) reveal a startling trend: an increasing number of pensioners are caught in a punitive 60% tax trap[1]. In the 2024/25 tax year, 77,000 individuals aged 66 and over had earnings between £100,000 and £125,140, subject to this alarmingly high effective tax rate. This figure has more than doubled in just three years, demonstrating the significant impact of frozen tax thresholds on older, higher-earning workers.
Impacts on living costs, mortgage, holiday funds, savings and investments
To understand the current economic climate, it is essential to assess the strength of the pound. You might have seen headlines about sterling falling against other currencies, particularly the US dollar. But what does this mean in real terms and how does it affect your personal finances?
A new year often provides a perfect chance to review personal goals and update old habits. This year, consider expanding that review to include your personal finances. For many, managing their finances can seem daunting. However, as with many challenges, the worry is often worse than the task itself, and the most challenging part is simply taking that first step.
The inevitable shift in the approach to intergenerational wealth transfer
Pension savers intending to pass on their retirement funds to loved ones received unwelcome news following announcements in the 2024 Budget. The Chancellor revealed that pensions will soon be subject to Inheritance Tax (IHT), marking a significant change from previous rules that usually protected pension funds from tax upon death.
