Defined Benefits (DB) or Defined Contributions (DC) Pension Schemes In the popular press, ‘final salary’, also known as ‘defined benefit’, pensions are often referred to as ‘gold-plated’, the implication being that they are superior to ‘defined contribution’ (money Purchased) arrangements such as Personal Pensions. Many therefore can dismiss the notion of doing anything with a
Read MoreYou are no doubt starting to see a lot of press regarding the proposed pension legislation and enhancements to ISA investments as we head up to the 6th April 2015. Naturally there are concerns and questions being asked, especially in the media and there are those that feel that the government are looking for short
Read MoreGlobal Stock markets have dipped significantly in the past few weeks as fears over global economies and falling inflation hit shares and drove up bond prices. Reports of the slowdown in growth in the US, disappointment over the health of the economy in Europe, concerns about a slowdown in Asia, as well as the threat
Read MoreThe Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has announced this week that ‘Everyone who will be able to take advantage of the new reforms will be able to access free and impartial guidance’ with respect to their retirement options. This was previously announced by the Chancellor to the House of Commons in his budget statement
Read MoreToday, the Bank of England (BoE) released its latest quarterly Inflation Report, which updates its projections for inflation and the wider UK economy. Overall, the report did not make significant changes to either the Bank’s inflation forecasts or its expectations for UK economic growth. It did, however, reflect on market expectations that the UK interest
Read More2014 is likely to be a year of transition for both the developed and the emerging world. In the developed economies, there are somewhat tentative signs that economic recovery is gathering pace with monetary policy in the United States becoming less available. This is the so-called tapering process. In the emerging world, by contrast, economic
Read MoreFollowing the recent announcements in the media, the news that employers will have to pay into a pension scheme for their employees may come as a bit of a shock. The Government has introduced auto-enrolment and the National Employment Savings Trust or NEST for short. Preparedness and planning is the key to ensuring that this
Read MoreI tuned in last night to Channel 4’s ‘Do you trust your Bank?’ In case you didn’t see it, the programme focussed on the recent activities of some of our high street banks that have recently come to light. We were acquainted with the story of a recently retired couple who had downsized their main residence
Read MoreOnce again Loughtons Independent Financial Advisers and Lameys Accountancy and Business Recovery are delighted to announce that they will be holding their 8th annual Charity Golf day on Friday 6th July 2012 at Dainton Park Golf Club, commencing at 1pm with a shotgun start. Over the previous 7 years we are pleased to report that
Read MoreSummer has arrived, I think. There’s plenty to be concerned about. Will Greece stay or go? What is the future of the Euro? Who will win the singles at Wimbledon? Or what is chrometophobia? Well despite most of us worrying about not having enough money, there also being a few of us who have a lot
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