While investment decisions should be based on facts, many investors find their decisions are sometimes influenced by emotions. Whether you’re excited about an investment opportunity, or worried about market volatility, keeping emotions in check can help you make better investment decisions. According to research from Barclays, half of investors admit to making impulsive decisions based on their emotions. While these decisions can seem right at the time, 67% of investors said they go on to regret their choice. Worries during short-term market volatility are often associated with making knee-jerk decisions. If you see the value of your investments fall, it’s natural to want to make changes. However, the study found that other emotions play a role in impulsive investment decisions,... Read More

Have you thought about investing but are worried you don’t know enough to start? Research suggests that if you do, you’re not alone, but getting to grips with the basics doesn’t have to be challenging. According to a Royal Mint survey, more than half of UK adults want to get into investing. It’s a step that can help them grow their wealth and reach long-term goals. Yet, the majority (76%) said their lack of knowledge is holding them back. If you’re putting off investing because you don’t feel confident in your knowledge, here are the basics you need to know. What does “investing” mean? An investment simply means purchasing an asset with the goal of generating an income or the... Read More

A million-pound pension can provide you with financial freedom in retirement, but it may not deliver the millionaire lifestyle you think. Having access to a £1 million can conjure images of an extravagant lifestyle, from chartering yachts to hitting designer shops. While having a £1 million pension can mean you can indulge in things you love or tick off items on a bucket list, you still need to think long-term. Could you save £1 million in your pension? It can seem like a huge challenge to save £1 million in your pension, but it can be easier to achieve than you think. Often, you’ll be paying into a pension for decades. As a result, the amount you’re contributing to your... Read More

Flexi-access drawdown can provide retirees with more freedom to create an income that suits their lifestyle. However, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) figures suggest that many retirees are taking unsustainable amounts from their pensions. It could mean they run out of money during retirement. The government introduced Pension Freedoms in 2015, which provide retirees with more ways to access their pension savings. Flexi-access drawdown has proved a popular way to create a retirement income, with retirees using drawdown to access a flexible income as and when they want to, with the rest of their pension usually remaining invested. By opting for drawdown, retirees can increase and decrease their income to suit their needs. They could also benefit from investment returns over... Read More

When you think about writing or updating your will, who you want to benefit from your estate is often the first consideration. However, just as important is how you want to split up the assets you have. There are several options to think about. A will is the only way to make sure your assets are passed on to who you want. As well as naming beneficiaries in a will, you can also specify how you want your estate divided up. This means you have control over who receives which assets or how larger assets are divided. Gifts within a will are known as “bequests” and it’s worth spending some time thinking about who you’d like to receive certain items.... Read More