Beware of the Scammers

Fraudsters employ increasingly advanced psychological tactics to persuade victims to invest. An estimated £1.2bn is lost to investment scams each year, with share sales, wine investments, land banking and carbon credits commonly used by fraudsters to target potential investors. A recent study by Citizen’s Advice found nine out of ten people would fail to spot common warning…

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Establishing Your Financial Goals

Gathering information and developing your strategy Evaluating your goals in greater depth is essential if you want to get a picture of your responsibilities and aspirations. With a full understanding of your circumstances and priorities, we’ll provide you with advice that is custom-tailored to suit your specific lifestyle goals, and together you can develop a strategy based on your personal circumstances. CASH…

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Understanding Investment Risk

Making informed decisions to improve your chances of achieving your financial goals If you want to plan for your financial future, it helps to understand risk. If you understand the risks associated with investing and you know how much risk you are comfortable taking, you can make informed decisions and improve your chances of achieving your goals. Risk is the…

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Wealth Preservation

Reducing Inheritance Tax means taking action now. Without professional advice and careful financial planning, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) can become the single largest beneficiary of your estate following your death. A survey about Inheritance Tax [1] shows that wealthy Britons over the age of 45 are either ignoring estate planning solutions or they have…

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Guide to Stock Market Turbulence

Don’t let global uncertainties affect your financial planning for the years ahead. The overall direction of developed stock markets is a relentless and continual rise in value over the very long term, punctuated by falls. It’s important not to let global uncertainties affect your financial planning for the years ahead. Individuals who stop their investment planning, particularly during market downturns,…

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Reviewing Your Investment Needs and Goals

Take the time to think about what you really want from your investments You need to consider what you really want from your investments. Knowing yourself, your needs and goals, and your appetite for risk is a good start. 1.CONSIDER YOUR REASONS FOR INVESTING It’s important to know why you’re investing. The first step is to consider your financial situation and…

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Market Matters

Don’t let current global uncertainties affect your financial planning It’s important not to let current global uncertainties affect your financial planning for the years ahead. People who stop their investment planning, particularly during market downturns, often miss out on opportunities to invest at lower prices. It’s important to stick to your strategy and keep moving ahead consistently…

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How to make the most of your retirement

Steps you could take to increase your eventual income Even if retirement isn’t far away, there are steps you could take to increase your eventual retirement income. This applies both to your state pension entitlement as well as to any personal or workplace pension pots. We’ve provided some areas to consider that you may wish to discuss…

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Protecting Your Finances and Well-being

Millions of Britons face financial fallout should serious illness strike. It’s easy to think that we will never be diagnosed with a critical illness, particularly when we feel healthy and energetic, but we can fall ill with very little warning. A critical illness can have a serious impact not only on your own life, but…

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Growing Care Costs

Ageing population faces significant funding crisis. As part of Budget 2017, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced an extra £2 billion of funding for social care and paved the way for major changes to how people pay for it. But people in the UK  are still underestimating the cost of elderly care by £7 billion every year[1], according to…

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Individual Savings Account

Taking control over where your money is invested tax-efficiently A new tax year is nearly upon us – and that means, for all diligent savers and investors, you should make sure that you take full advantage of your current Individual Savings Account (ISA) tax-efficient allowance. An ISA is a tax-efficient investment wrapper in which you can hold…

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Planning The Future You Want

Pension freedoms bring optimism and adventure to retirement. Will I ever slow down? Do I have the right plans in place? Retirement is a chance to do more of what you enjoy. Figures released as part of LV=’S tenth annual state of retirement report [1] indicate that, far from winding down, retirees are making the…

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