According to a September 2025 Financial Planning Today  article, 39% of people say a guaranteed income is their main priority in retirement. Knowing how much income you’ll receive from certain sources can provide the certainty you need to enjoy retirement with greater confidence. There are several ways you might create a guaranteed income in retirement – here are three common options.  1. State Pension While the State Pension often isn’t enough to cover all of your retirement

For some investors, particularly higher-rate taxpayers, Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) could offer an attractive and tax-efficient investment prospect. Read on to discover the basics you need to know if you’re thinking about making VCTs part of your financial plan.  VCTs are listed companies that invest in UK businesses. These are typically smaller and younger firms than those you might access through other funds. They could include a range of businesses from technology start-

An estate plan sets out how you’d like your assets to be managed and distributed during your life and when you pass away. It often involves thinking about difficult topics, such as your funeral preferences or who you’d like to receive heirloom possessions.  Once you’ve created an estate plan, it can be tempting to put it to the back of your mind.  However, both you and your loved ones could benefit from discussing the contents of your estate plan. While these topics can be ch

When you start searching for the best ways to build a retirement fund, private pensions might be the first option that comes to mind.  However, they’re not the only way you can prepare for your life after work. An alternative is the Lifetime ISA (LISA) – a government-backed savings account. While you might assume you can only use a LISA to purchase your first home, this isn’t its only purpose.  In fact, according to Financial Planning Today  in September 2025, 45% of LISA sav

October 2025 proved to be a positive month for many investors, with markets reaching record highs. Read on to find out more about what factors may have affected your portfolio’s performance. Remember to take a long-term view when assessing your investments and consider your risk profile when making decisions.  Markets experienced record highs, but investor uncertainty continued to have an effect The month started strongly with the FTSE 100 closing at a record high on 1 Octobe

The State Pension often provides a reliable income in retirement that’s an important part of your overall financial plan. Yet, many people don’t understand how the State Pension works or what they’re entitled to. This useful guide covers the essentials you need to know, from when you can claim the State Pension to how the income it provides will increase each year.

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