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As we're sure you're aware, there's currently a cost-of-living crisis taking place across Carlisle, Cumbria, and in fact, the entire United Kingdom.As a result, people from Carlisle to Dover are trying to make the most of the money they have now, rather than thinking about savings, investments, and pensions of the future.And while this is understan...

When it comes to the self employed and pensions, there are three main things to consider.  1: The first one is if you don't do it, nobody else will. You don't have an employer that's going to set a pension up for you or make contributions into it. So the onus falls on you, as the individual, to think ahead and get a pension. It's you...

What are tax allowances and reliefs? Could you be missing out on hundreds of pounds, maybe even thousands? Money that could be in your bank account rather than the tax man's. There are many different types of tax allowances and reliefs available to people who live in the UK. It's not just the first £12570 of income that's tax free, as some people m...

Not all Jobs are for life like they used to be! More and more of us are changing jobs on a more regular basis and this results in many of us have more than one pension. As we move home as well as jobs, it's very easy to lose track of them. Here I explore what you need to do if you're thinking about consolidating your pensions. Track down your old p...

What I know now, I wish I knew then! Here I am, 40 years old and starting my first personal pension. One that I am going to manage and invest, and watch as it grows, with the ultimate goal of a pension pot that will provide me with the ability to retire on my terms with the income I want. As a teenager and well into my twenties I was good with mone...

"We've all got a terminal disease, it's called life" Benedict Groeschel Death, as morbid as it may seem is guaranteed for all of us. The reality of it is, we don't know when our time is up, and before I had children, I didn't really think about it too much. But, more recently I have. Like many at home during lockdown I started sorting out drawers a...

Stuart Lost it All! Don't be like Stuart! This is a true case but we have changed the name of the client to avoid any embarrassment. Stuart was in his 50's, he had built up savings for his retirement and was still working full-time but had started getting a bit jaded with his work. A work colleague of Stuart's suggested he take a look at a fantasti...

Are you a saver? Saving your hard earned surplus cash for a rainy day? Or a big occasion? Or maybe for your retirement? Perhaps you're squirrelling away pennies in a "safe" savings account ready for when you want to spend it. But…what is safe? The capital amount may be guaranteed and will grow with interest added but what about its value? Would you...

There are 4.8 million self-employed people in the UK and only a third have any kind of pension arrangement. A shocking statistic when you consider that State support is shrinking and we're all living longer. Saving for a pension when you're self-employed is not as straightforward as it is for an employed person, who might automatically benefit from...

The Coronavirus outbreak is having a widespread impact across all aspects of our financial life, with many people finding their income reduced. At times like this it can be challenging to stay focused. No matter what age you are, now is not the time to neglect your pension. Try your very best to keep your pension planning and contributions on track...

The world is changing rapidly in a way that nobody could ever have expected, meaning your personal and financial circumstances are likely to have changed. It is important to regularly review all aspects of your finances and that includes reviewing your protection insurance, to make sure your policy provides adequate cover for your changing needs. U...

During the past few months, millions of businesses have been forced to shut temporarily, with employees furloughed or working from home under very difficult circumstances. With various business sectors reopening in July, many have suffered significant financial damage due to lockdown. For some businesses, productivity has been lost due to illness a...

With the first wave of Child Trust Funds maturing this year, there's a great opportunity to talk to your children about the benefits of saving and investing. If one of your children has recently celebrated their 18th birthday then there's a good chance they'll have some money in a Child Trust Fund (CTF), which they can now access for the first time...