While every client I meet is unique, many share the same financial concerns. Will I have enough to live on when I retire? Will my family be financially secure if something happens to me? Will I be able to leave a legacy to my children and grandchildren? Many clients are fully aware of this last point, and of the benefits of intergenerational planning. Including children in family financial planning can be hugely beneficial, as it can help to ensure that the right people in the family have the right assets, at the right time. Providing your children with money now to go to university and buy a home may be much more useful than leaving them a lump sum on... Read More

Back in July, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a second range of measures designed to protect the economy through the Covid-19 pandemic. His next update was scheduled to be the Autumn Statement in the coming weeks. However, given the newly imposed Covid-19 restrictions and economic uncertainty, the Budget has been cancelled. In a statement sent to the BBC, a spokesperson for the Treasury said: “As we heard this week, now is not the right time to outline long-term plans – people want to see us focused on the here and now. “So, we are confirming today that there will be no Budget this autumn.” Instead, on Thursday 24th September, the Chancellor unveiled his winter economy plan, setting out the next phase... Read More

The UK is in its deepest recession on record. The US economy, as measured by real GDP, contracted at a record-breaking 32.9% pace in the last quarter. The Bank of England has warned that one million UK jobs could be lost before Christmas. And, the Brexit cliff-edge approaches with the UK inching closer to a ‘no-deal’ scenario by the week. These and dozens of economic measures suggest that, to put it euphemistically, the global economy could be better. And yet, earlier this month, President Donald Trump told reporters, “We have the strongest economy – performing economy – in the world.” His comments come after the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 have risen by more than 50% since bottoming... Read More

Budgeting is hardly the most exotic or exciting aspect of financial planning, but it is one of the most important. Whether you think it’s boring or not, budgeting is one of the key foundations on which we build a sound financial plan. So many new clients I meet have no clear idea of how much they spend now or plan to spend in the future. Until they see the numbers in black and white, they don’t have a clear perspective on where their money is going and where they could put it to better use. If you want to get a handle on what you’re spending, here are three interesting approaches that might work for you. 1. The 50/30/20 budget... Read More

Your retirement is one of life’s big events. Having spent a career working, waking up one morning with no responsibilities and the rest of your life in front of you can be a wonderful – if scary – prospect! In my experience, those clients who think carefully about their retirement and plan well get the most from it. So, here are five things you should do if you want to enjoy a successful retirement. 1. Build a retirement vision So much of your view of retirement may come down to the figures. Can I afford to live on my pension? Do I have enough? Instead, planning your retirement needs to start with building a vision for what your post-work years... Read More