How to choose a provider for your Stocks and Shares Isa February 14, 2019 Isas are a popular way for savers to squirrel away money. And given that these savings accounts are free from both capital gains and dividend tax, the Stocks and Shares Isa is particularly appealing to investors. With all that said, not all Isas are created equal, and charges can vary wildly across providers. Platforms can usually be divided into those [...]
Investing in an Isa? Avoid these common behavioural mistakes February 14, 2019 Just before the end of the tax year, there’s the usual Isa rush where banks offer their best rates to entice you to hand over your money. Given that the returns are tax-free, it might seem like a no-brainer, and often, taking out an Isa will make sense. But it’s not necessarily always the case. [...]
Saving into a Junior Isa is a great way for new parents to invest in their children’s future February 14, 2019 Think back to when you turned 18 years old. What would you have done if, on that birthday, you were handed £40,000? Would you have splurged it all on travelling the world during a gap year, or would you have been prudent and put it towards a housing deposit? You could have used it to [...]
Thinking of investing in your employer’s Workplace Isa scheme? Here’s your guide February 14, 2019 From a simple savings account to a product that helps you buy your first home, we are not short of Isas to choose from. And with 10.8m adults subscribed to at least one type of Isa in the last tax year, they’re also very popular. But, unless your employer offers it, there is one type [...]
How to make your pension last a lifetime February 11, 2019 | City Talk New pension freedoms bring flexibility, but not necessarily peace of mind. Moira O’Neill discusses some amendments to this outdated retirement rule. It’s terrifying to think of running out of money in your later years but it would be devastating to go through retirement scrimping and saving when you could have had a better life. And [...]
Former minister criticises Amber Rudd’s plan to jail bosses who mismanage pension schemes February 10, 2019 A former pensions minister has criticised Amber Rudd’s plan to toughen up laws governing those in charge of employee pensions in the wake of recent mismanagement scandals at BHS and Carillion. Company bosses could be locked up for as long as seven years if they don’t manage employee pension schemes properly, according to Work and [...]
How to reshape the financial system? First ditch the idea of the free market February 4, 2019 | City Talk Nick Silver, Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow, Cass Business School, writes for The Conversation. First published by Amy Ripley (Senior Communications Officer) Ten years ago the financial system collapsed and governments around the world intervened to save it. Much of the subsequent legislation, regulation and angst has attempted to make the system less risky so it [...]
Time to appreciate the perks of the job? February 4, 2019 For full-time office workers blinking out of the window onto the cold, grey, concrete City, the advantages that they enjoy over the self-employed might not seem obvious. You daydream about rocking up at one of those shared workspaces at 11am in your jeans, laptop on your back, ready for a self-managed day of freelancing, and [...]
FCA to force pension providers to unveil hidden ongoing charges under new proposals January 28, 2019 Companies offering popular pensions products will be forced to be transparent about ongoing charges, in a fresh batch of measures bidding to help increase savers’ pension pots by £25m a year. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced today it would force providers of so-called drawdown products – where retirees leave their pension funds invested rather [...]
Million-pound pension scheme scammer locked up for seven years after fraud investigation January 25, 2019 A man has been thrown behind bars for seven years after stealing more than £1m from a company pension fund, using it to fund the purchase of a house and several cars. Ian Woodall, 47, diverted the stolen money from Westminster City Council (WCC) through Swiss bank accounts and then back into the UK. Read [...]