Peer-to-peer Lending and Crowdfunding are, respectively, the new high(er) interest investment return and start-up funding phenomena that have attracted sufficient interest from city watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, for them to become a regulated investment as of April 1st this year. How attractive an investment are they though – and just how risky? Firstly, what […]
The phrase ‘the world looked a dangerous place’ has been used many times to describe the status of the markets. Never has that seemed more true than in August. In Northern Iran/Iraq the Islamic State continues to gather momentum and the world expressed outrage at the murder of US journalist, James Foley. Towards the end […]
Faced with a hefty 55 per cent pensions tax bill because of HM Revenue & Customs new lower lifetime pensions allowance, many middle-to-high earners with generous pension arrangements are seriously on the lookout for alternatives to pensions as savings vehicles for retirement. That is quite a few savers potentially hunting around, considering that approximately 360,000 […]
Many working age people in the UK could secure a financially comfortable retirement by making some small changes to their saving habits, according to new research published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). While government action to transform British pensions has brought about radical improvements to the retirement prospects of future pensioners, millions […]
In excess of one million pensioner households in the UK now have total wealth of more than £1m according to analysis by Prudential of the latest ONS data for 2010-2012. The analysis shows that the number of millionaire pensioner households has soared by 69% compared with 2006-2008 when the number stood at just over 636,000. […]
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently formally taken responsibility for regulating the £200 billion UK consumer credit market. 50,000 businesses who offer some form of credit to the UK consumer will now be subject to the FCA’s consumer protection rules and Principles for Business. According to the FCA, this means every person that uses […]
Britons are turning their backs on the big white wedding in favour of getting onto the property ladder, according to research by HSBC. Over a quarter (28%) of those aged between 18 and 34 would spend a £20,000 gift from their parents on a deposit for a house. Three out of five young Brits (60%) […]
It’s good to talk. But talking about money can be difficult, particularly as doing so has traditionally been taboo in this country. Despite many of us getting better at talking about other personal issues like relationships or our health, we still find money a tricky topic. In fact, research shows that only one in five […]