Turn pensions into money you can use

Under the pension freedoms rules introduced in April 2015, once you reach the age of 55, you can turn pensions into money you can use; you can take your entire pension pot as cash in one go if you wish. However, if you do this, you could end up with a large Income Tax bill…

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2020 Financial Resolutions

What are your 2020 financial resolutions? Whether it’s stopping smoking, losing weight, eating more healthy or getting fitter, most of us have probably made at least one New Year’s resolution, but how many of us will actually go on to achieve it? We all have different financial goals and aspirations in life, yet these goals…

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First TIPS Financial Magazine of 2020

Welcome to the first edition of our TIPS financial magazine of 2020. Inside this issue, we feature articles covering a number of different topics to help you successfully grow and protect your wealth. Whether it’s stopping smoking, losing weight, eating more healthy or getting fitter, most of us have probably made at least one New…

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Taking money from your pension

Did you know there are ways you can be taking money from your pension? You can use your existing pension pot to take cash as and when you need it and leave the rest untouched where it can continue to grow tax-free. For each cash withdrawal, normally the first 25% (quarter) is tax-free, and the…

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Flexible retirement income

With this flexible retirement income option known as ‘flexi-access drawdown’, you can normally take up to 25% (a quarter) of your pension pot or of the amount you allocate for drawdown as a tax-free lump sum, then re-invest the rest into funds designed to provide you with a regular taxable income. You set the income…

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Pension Scammers

Don’t let pension scammers enjoy your hard-earned savings. Anyone can be the victim of a pension scam, no matter how savvy they think they are. It’s important that everyone can spot the warning signs. Latest figures show that nearly one in ten over-55s fear they have been targeted by suspected scammers since the launch of…

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More baby boomers plan to stay in their own home

A growing number of ageing baby boomers are saying, ‘No thanks’ to downsizing, choosing instead to remain in the same house in which they raised their family and created lifelong memories. Generating income through equity release Of those who say they will stay, an increasing percentage will use their property to generate income through equity…

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Double delight in Professional Adviser Awards 2020

The finalists for the upcoming Professional Adviser Awards 2020 have been announced and we are delighted to have been selected in the two categories: ‘Best Support Service for Advisers’ and ‘Best Adviser Website’. The awards, now in their 15th year, seek to reward excellence within both the financial advice community and among the broader financial…

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Smart retirement plan

A long life needs a smart retirement plan and your 50s are a crunch time when saving for your retirement. If you’ve already set a retirement savings target, but have been neglecting it, the reality is that now you can’t afford to delay your planning any further – and it’s time for a careful review.…

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Is it time to update your planned retirement date?

We look at if it is time to update your planned retirement date? Millions of savers risk missing out on money from their final pension pot if their provider doesn’t have their correct planned retirement date. The analysis [1] revealed that workplace pension savers in the UK could miss out on thousands of pounds in…

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Self Invested Personal Pension

Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPPS) can provide greater flexibility with the investments you can choose. A SIPP is a pension ‘wrapper’ that holds investments until you retire and start to draw a retirement income. It is a type of personal pension and works in a similar way to a standard personal pension. The main difference…

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Looking at the bigger picture for your wealth and security

Every plan starts with a goal, just like every journey starts with a destination. Planning your financial future is not only important for your security, but it also provides peace of mind. Financial planning should be viewed as a long term approach to managing your finances. Creating your financial plan will help you see the…

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