Author Archives: ross@planrfp.co.uk

Despite ups and downs throughout the year, 2025 proved to be a great year for the FTSE 100 – an index of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.  According to the Guardian (31 December 2025), the FTSE 100 increased in value by a fifth in 2025, marking the strongest annual gain […]

Spending money with purpose can improve your wellbeing. With International Day of Happiness taking place on 20 March 2026, now is the perfect time to think about how you want to use your wealth in a meaningful way, taking inspiration from renowned actor Michael Sheen. Often, people think about financial planning as a way to […]

Compared to other countries in Europe and the US, Brits are among the least likely to take out life insurance, and it could leave their families in a vulnerable position if the worst happened.  Life insurance would pay out a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you passed away during the term. Your loved ones […]

On 5 April 2026, the current tax year will end, and the new one will start the following day. Making a note of the deadline in your calendar could help you make the most of tax breaks as part of your financial plan. Here’s why the start of a new tax year might matter to […]

If you’re saving for retirement, you will want to get the most out of what you’re putting into your workplace or private pension.  Fortunately, there are plenty of tax efficiencies when you save your wealth into a pension. Indeed, any investment returns generated within your fund are typically free from Income Tax and Capital Gains […]

When you’re building a business, you might have little time to think about other aspects of your long-term finances. However, overlooking your pension in favour of your business could leave you in a difficult situation when you want to retire. According to a survey carried out by think tank the Social Market Foundation (12 August […]

Language is powerful. The words you use to describe different scenarios can change how you perceive events, and the language used for retirement could lead to a pessimistic outlook. Writing in an article for Saga (21 October 2025), lexicographer Susie Dent explains that in English, “retire” has its roots in a Latin word meaning “to […]

A third of people don’t know how much they need to contribute to their pensions every year to create a comfortable retirement, according to a MoneyAge article (11 November 2025).  Striking the right balance with pension contributions is important. Contribute too little, and you could leave yourself short in retirement. If you contribute as much […]

This guest blog was written by Chris Budd, who wrote the original Financial Wellbeing Book as well as The Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellbeing. He founded the Institute for Financial Wellbeing and has written more than 100 episodes of the Financial Wellbeing Podcast.  Sometimes, when we make major financial decisions, the question of money must […]