Month: July 2022

As you may be aware, we recently sent out a client survey to gain an insight into your thoughts and feelings about the service we provide and identify areas where we can improve. As promised, we’re sharing the survey results with you and what changes we’ll make where necessary. Of those who completed the survey,

One of the biggest social changes over the last 50 years has been the rise in the do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to jobs around the house. This has resulted in the rise of DIY superstores, along with any number of books and TV programmes encouraging you to sort things out for yourself rather than get someone

Rising inflation and concerns about recession risks continue to place pressure on households and affect economies around the world. The World Bank has slashed its 2022 global growth forecasts from 4.1% to 2.9%. The organisation also warned the global economy is at risk of experiencing stagflation, where economic growth is stagnant, but inflation is high.

In the last year, energy prices have soared. As a result, you may be thinking about how you can reduce your usage or improve how efficient your home is. The conflict in Ukraine has had a knock-on effect on energy prices around the world. While the energy price cap limits the amount your supplier can

This year marks 20 years since the start of National Allotment Week. The campaign began in 2002 to raise awareness of allotments and the role they play in helping people to live healthier lifestyles, grow their own food, and improve communities. This year the awareness week takes place between 8 and 14 August. This year

The cost of living is rising quicker than has been normal in the last few decades. Indeed, the last time inflation was this high was in the 1980s. So, what happened then compared to now? According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), inflation in the 12 months to June 2022 was 9.4%. As a

Money and financial decisions are often seen as a personal matter. However, making your family part of the financial planning process and discussing your goals with them can be valuable. A report from M&G Wealth found that 33% of advised families share the same adviser, with around 57% of those sharing the same adviser as

Sadly, vulnerable people are more likely to be a victim of financial abuse. However, if you think a family member may be at risk, keeping an eye out for signs of financial abuse could prevent it from happening. Financial abuse is when someone in a position of trust interferes in another’s ability to acquire, use

The State Pension is often an important part of your retirement income, so should you top up your National Insurance contributions (NICs) to increase it? Even if you have other pensions or income in retirement, your State Pension can be valuable. As it’ll be paid from when you reach State Pension Age for the rest

A trend among modern retirees to increase their spending as they get older could mean that some run out of money during their lifetime. The new research is an important reminder to consider how your spending needs will change during your retirement. Traditionally, spending has been higher during the initial few years of retirement as