Almost half (44%) of estate agents report seeing a rise in enquiries from older homeowners looking to downsize over the past year, according to a report from equity release provider Key Partnerships. The dilemma, however, is a shortage of suitable homes to meet demand; added to which too many those looking to move are over […]

  New research shows massive regional differences in the cost of care, with residents in Oxfordshire paying an average of £955 a week, compared to Lancashire where the average cost of care is almost half of that amount ,at £531 a week. Others in the top five chargers are Surrey, Greater London, Bristol and Wiltshire. […]

 “Consumers paying too much tax, missing out on investment growth or losing out on other benefits,” warns report The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published the interim findings of the Retirement Outcomes Review – the first major comprehensive study into how the retirement income market is changing since the introduction of pension freedoms in 2015. […]

One of the most significant elements of many people’s estates – their pension – is at risk of going to the wrong person, according to mutual insurer Royal London. Their warning comes in the wake of figures published by the Office for National Statistics on the growing numbers of older people getting married and divorcing […]

A new report from Which has found that older people are bearing the brunt of rocketing car insurance premiums – losing out by as much as £500 a year because they are staying loyal to their existing providers. Average premiums have leapt in the last year – 8% in the last three months alone, according […]

While older people have long been the cohort of homeowners rather than home renters, an increasing percentage is now opting to rent privately. Recent figures from lettings network Countrywide show that – across Britain – retired people now account for 8% of private tenants, compared with 5.2% in 2007. The index is based on 90,000 […]

Pensions company Royal London estimates that over three million people are currently missing out on a free pension contribution from their employer, one which could add a handy additional £650 to their annual income in retirement According to Royal London, many employers offer a “matching deal” on the pensions they offer staff. Should you choose […]

The hung parliament outcome of the 2017 Election brings unwelcome uncertainty in many areas of financial planning – not least pensions planning. With such a thin majority in the House of Commons – assuming all Conservative & DUP vote alike – the Government will need to tread a careful path in pushing through its policy […]

Facebook means different things to different people. But one thing is sure – it’s not the animal it was in the beginning, and it is now shaping how we connect with each other and even how we vote. By Tony Watts OBE A long-standing friend emailed me the other day to tell me that, with […]

Thinking of staying in work for a few more years but concerned that employers will not be interested in a 60- or even 70-something? Think again. It looks like many of Britain’s top employers have got the message that having more older people in the workforce will be essential to their future. As part of […]