While the end of the year is often the time to think back over the last 12 months, it’s also the time to “look to the future now” as Slade reliably inform us each Christmas! New Year resolutions are an obvious manifestation of this. But going beyond that, it’s well worth you considering setting yourself some longer-term goals – particularly from a financial perspective. Having these can help you manage your money, because they’ll prompt you to see that every decision you make affects your long-term financial health. It’s important to set yourself the right goals If you’re minded to set yourself some financial targets, there are some key pointers you need to consider. You should make your goals specific... Read More

Financial planning is all about looking forward rather than back. For example, one of the big financial risk warnings is based around past investment performance being no guide to the future. But at times like this, when the economic news is woeful, it can be salutary to stop and look back to see how far we’ve come. Living, as we do, in a time of 24-hour news and instant social media assessment, there’s always a danger of just seeing things in the here and now rather than in a wider context. So, as an antidote to the doom and gloom bombarding you right now, read on to see things in a more historical context, and discover why the present day... Read More

It’s likely that you’ve read articles outlining the steps you need to take to be able to retire early. On the face of it, it’s an appealing proposition. If you’ve always had a target date in mind when you intend to stop work totally, deciding to aim for a date prior to that, and to reduce the time you’re in work, can have its attractions. By way of balance, however, read on to discover why early retirement may not be right for you and why it’s possible for you to retire too early. Ask yourself why you want to retire early One often-cited reason for wanting to retire is not enjoying your current job. It’s an understandable reaction. Work can... Read More

It has been a tumultuous year in British politics, with three prime ministers and four chancellors holding office. After the calamitous “mini-Budget” ushered in the demise of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng, new chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his first autumn statement. Hunt’s speech came at a tricky time for the UK economy, with inflation at a 41-year high and the Bank of England (BoE) reporting that the economy is expected to be in a recession for a prolonged period. Hunt said his plan was designed to “strengthen our public finances, bring down inflation and protect jobs”. Here are the key points of the autumn statement, and what they might mean for you. A reduction in tax-free allowances and exemptions... Read More

In a recent article you read about how the drive to accumulate financial wealth can sometimes become all-consuming. This can create an outcome where you are overly focused on the next acquisition, rather than seeing the wider picture. I described this as constantly moving your own goalposts and never being entirely happy, regardless of your financial wealth. In this article, I want to drill down a bit further into the whole concept of “wealth” and explain to you why I believe there are different ways of measuring how wealthy you are. Wealth doesn’t always mean money If you’re asked what “wealth” means, it’s likely your definition will include reference to money. But to my mind it’s about more than that.... Read More