Pensions grab headlines

Taking centre stage in the Queen’s Speech

This year is best described as the year of the pension. After grabbing the headlines following the Chancellor’s Budget 2014 speech, pensions were once again top of the agenda. In an 11-bill programme, pensions took centre stage, with major changes to annuities and workplace schemes also announced.

Financial support when your family needs it most

Why reviewing your level of life insurance is time well spent to ensure you look after their future

May 2014 marked the 253rd anniversary of the first life insurance policy being issued in the USA.  Life insurance protects your family and anyone else who may depend on you for financial support. If you die prematurely, the people who are dependent upon your income could lose that financial support, which may leave them having to fend for themselves.

Baby boomers’ top five biggest financial regrets

New survey reveals how some approaching retirement wished they had made different choices

Not saving enough for retirement is the biggest financial regret among those aged 55 or over (today’s baby boomers), according to the findings of an annual online survey from Standard Life by YouGov Plc. Nearly one in five (18%) baby boomers said they wish they’d started saving for their retirement when they were younger.

Enterprise Investment Schemes

A tax-efficient investment offering capital gains tax deferral

Enterprise Investment Schemes (EISs) are tax-efficient vehicles set up to encourage investment into small, unquoted trading companies. The EIS is the only tax-efficient investment offering a capital gains tax (CGT) deferral. CGT on the disposal of other assets can be deferred by reinvesting the proceeds in EIS shares.

Venture Capital Trusts

Wealthier investors taking a long-term view

A Venture Capital Trust (VCT) is a company whose shares trade on the London stock market. A VCT aims to make money by investing in other companies. These are typically very small companies which are looking for further investment to help develop their business.

Socially responsible investing

Not sacrificing your life principles in exchange for chasing the best financial returns

For investors concerned about global warming and other environmental issues, there are a plethora of ethical investments that cover a multitude of different strategies. The terms ‘ethical investment’ and ‘socially responsible investment’ (SRI) are often used interchangeably to mean an approach to selecting investments whereby the usual investment criteria are overlaid with an additional set of ethical or socially responsible criteria.