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This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “embrace equity”. While huge strides have been made in improving financial independence for women, there’s still a significant gap. It could harm your overall wellbeing and your options in the future.  If you want to take steps to improve your long-term financial security, there are things you

A survey from Nationwide suggests that many people aren’t being as diligent at guarding their personal information as they should be, despite the number of identity theft cases doubling between 2021 and 2022.  The poll found that 11% of women and 23% of men have had their identities stolen. Falling victim to identity fraud could

Are you worried about Inheritance Tax (IHT) or how you’ll pass on your wealth to loved ones? For some people, pensions can provide a way to tax-efficiently leave wealth to family. Here’s what you need to know.  While IHT currently affects around 1 in 20 estates, it’s a concern for many families. As key IHT

Soaring costs could mean that retirees face a shortfall if they haven’t considered the impact of inflation when planning for retirement. One of the areas you may have overlooked is how the cost of care has changed.  While needing care or support later in life can be difficult to think about, doing so can mean

When you think about retirement planning, what challenges come to mind? While ensuring you have enough saved and that you don’t run out of money are common concerns, there is one you may have overlooked: changing from a saving to a spending mindset. To secure your retirement, putting money away has likely become a habit

When you’re deciding how to pass on assets and who you want them to go to, understanding their value, and how this might change, is crucial.  Last month, you read about why estate planning should be part of your overall financial and life plan. Now, read on to discover why getting to grips with what

The 2022/23 tax year ends on Wednesday 5 April. After this date, many allowances reset, and it could be your last chance to use some of them. Allowances can help your money go further by reducing your tax liability. Reviewing your finances before the deadline could help you identify some allowances that could be right

2022 ended with uncertainty and volatility that’s persisted for much of the year. Read on to find out what happened in December and how it affected investment markets.  Looking ahead, uncertainty is likely to be something investors will need to negotiate in 2023 too. As economies continue to struggle with high levels of inflation, Goldman

Dark and chilly evenings are the perfect opportunity to curl up with a book and escape into a story. If you’re searching for your next read, these novels all have fantastic winter settings and are perfect reading for this time of the year.  Beartown by Fredrik Backman A small, struggling Swedish town has a big

What do you want to achieve in 2023? From improving your fitness to learning a new skill to support your career goals, setting out what you want to achieve this year can help you lead the life you want. While many people set a new year resolution, many are forgotten about and overlooked within a