Topic: Uncategorized

New research outlines typical financial situations

A small number of pensioners are relying on loved ones to help them financially during retirement, and those approaching retirement seem to be in an even worse situation. Yet equally worrying is that people are also far more likely to take financial advice about retirement from friends than from a professional, with more than a million pensioners[1] financially reliant on friends and family, AND the next generation even more stretched, according to the latest research from LV=.

The annual State of Retirement report shows that one in ten pensioners are reliant to some degree on friends and family for financial assistance[2]. While this suggests the vast majority are able to remain financially independent in retirement, worryingly those due to retire within the next ten years are almost three times as likely to be in this situation (27%). (more…)

Britons not planning financially for long-term sickness

Only one in five UK people have income protection cover in the event of becoming too ill or disabled to work according to research published by insurer Zurich. This is despite the fact that as many as 42% have experienced income loss in their working lives due to serious illness. The findings indicate that people still have an ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude despite having suffered the consequences first-hand.

Raise awareness

Only 19% of respondents claim to have a good knowledge of income protection products, suggesting that more needs to be done to raise awareness of the product’s benefit, including swift access to rehabilitation as well as financial support. This lack of understanding also seems to extend to price, with many overestimating how much cover costs. Over a quarter of respondents said they would be willing to spend 5% of their income on it, though such cover can be bought for significantly less. (more…)

Whether seeking income, growth or both, there are some basic rules to follow

Volatile financial markets are an inevitable part of investing. On a day-to-day basis, the swings in stock market prices can be significant. However, over the longer term, things have tended to smooth out, with daily volatility having a lower impact on overall portfolios.

Market fluctuations

That said, while this has happened in the past, it may not necessarily happen in the future. In the short term, market fluctuations like we’ve seen recently can be unnerving and make you ‘feel’ as if you’re losing money. That’s why it’s crucial at times like this that you focus on staying calm and taking a long-term view, avoiding locking in short-term losses, and making sure you’re properly diversified. (more…)

Choosing a management style that’s right for you

Investors are faced with one of the most basic questions: do you want to put your money in ‘actively’ or ‘passively’ managed funds?

Deciding if you would prefer your investment ‘actively’ or ‘passively’ managed is an important consideration and a useful step towards narrowing your choice of funds to invest in. Your first consideration is deciding how you want your investments managed. Are you looking for a fund that will be impacted by an individual fund manager’s choice of investments? Or are you more interested in keeping charges lower and prefer one that simply reflects the performance of a major index, such as the FTSE 100? (more…)