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

If you’re like me, lockdown may have given you a bit of time to tackle some of those boring admin jobs you’ve been putting off for ages. Let’s face it: getting financially organised can be quite a mundane task and sorting out old paperwork is not the most exciting way to spend an afternoon! However, I was reading the results of a recent survey by the Co-Op which revealed that, across the UK, people have to deal with an average of 12 organisations when a loved one passes away. The survey revealed that a quarter of bereaved people found administering their loved one’s estate stressful, a sixth (15%) found it upsetting, and almost a tenth (8%) had to take time... Read More

One of the most common questions that clients ask me is: “Should I invest my money, or use it to pay off my mortgage?” There are typically two reasons clients are considering this: They have a lump sum sitting in a low interest account and wonder if they could be doing something better with it They have spare cash at the end of every month and are looking for a meaningful way to make the most of this disposable income. Of course, the answer to this question will vary from client to client. And, it’s not just financial factors that you have to consider, but psychological concerns as well. What to think about if you’re considering paying off your mortgage... Read More

Just a few months after delivering his first Budget as Chancellor, Rishi Sunak delivered a Summer Statement, dubbed a ‘mini-Budget’ on Wednesday 8th July 2020. Back in March, some of the measures announced in the Budget focused on supporting people and businesses as the Covid-19 pandemic was taking hold. Five months later, the focus has now shifted to recovery as lockdown and social distancing restrictions ease. Rishi began by saying the government had taken decisive action to protect the economy earlier this year but acknowledged people were now worried about unemployment rates rising and economic uncertainty. This is against a backdrop of a global economic downturn, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting the deepest recession since records began. With... Read More