Author Archives: ross@planrfp.co.uk

How to calculate the level of income protection that would provide you with financial security

A man using a calculator.

Income protection could provide you with an essential safety net if you’re unable to work due to an accident or illness. Yet, research suggests it’s a valuable step that some people might be overlooking. If you’re too ill to work, income protection could provide you with a regular replacement income. Usually, income protection would pay […]

Are you risking a pension shortfall by overlooking longevity?

Multi-generation family having dinner together.

A survey suggests that some retirees could risk running out of money during their lifetime because they haven’t considered how long their assets need to last. Failing to factor longevity into your retirement plan could mean your later years don’t live up to expectations or you may face financial insecurity. The report published in IFA […]

Retirement planning: The 3 main ways you could access your pension

A group of friends cheering with wine.

When you give up work, your pension is likely to play a key role in creating an income. So, an essential part of retirement planning is often deciding how you’ll access your retirement savings. Last month, you read about the importance of setting out your retirement lifestyle goals and how financial planning could help. Your […]

All the winners and losers from the 2024 Spring Budget

one girl looking envious at the delighted girl next to her on the sofa

With one eye on a forthcoming general election, the chancellor has announced a Budget aimed at generating long-term growth, with “more investment, more jobs, better public services and lower taxes”. While the headlines will inevitably focus on Jeremy Hunt’s cut in National Insurance contributions (NICs), many less headline-grabbing messages will affect millions of families and […]

Your Spring Budget update – the key news from the chancellor’s statement

An external image of the Palace of Westminster in the evening

The 2024/25 tax year is just a month away, and chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his 2024 Spring Budget, outlining the government’s plans for the next fiscal year and beyond. With a general election looming – prime minister Rishi Sunak has said he will call it before the end of the year – the chancellor […]

Working habits from around the world that could transform your work-life balance

A man pinching the bridge of his nose at work.

Does your job cause you stress? A recent survey found that 3 in 5 UK employees say their mental health declined in 2023 because of workplace stress. Long work hours, tight deadlines, and job insecurity all contributed to this burden, and nearly half of respondents said senior management was to blame. Instead of continuing to […]

Could 25-year fixed-rate mortgages soon provide borrowers with peace of mind?

Two people holding coffee cups.

With a general election likely this year, the Labour Party has promised to revolutionise the mortgage market by opening the door for long-term fixed-rate deals that could last a full mortgage term. The announcement follows many mortgage holders facing soaring bills due to rising interest rates throughout 2022 and 2023. To tackle high levels of […]

Investors are turning to government bonds. Here’s what you need to know

A woman reading some paperwork.

Rising interest rates have led to government bond yields climbing. It’s made them more attractive to some investors and could provide a way to grow your wealth too. According to figures in FTAdviser, investors pumped £18.6 billion into UK and US government bond funds between November 2022 and the end of 2023. Of this total, […]