Recent findings from The Royal College of Radiologists that cancer patients are facing worsening delays and compromised care – with half of all NHS cancer units now reporting frequent delays for radiotherapy and chemotherapy [1]– is worrying news for us all. So how can we be sure that the health insurance we have will give […]

As part of the major ongoing Pensions Review being undertaken by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, aimed at finding ways to improve the future of financial security in retirement, a new poll of 3,000 people of working age has revealed widespread confusion about how much they can expect to receive in retirement. As part of […]

Pensions experts are urging those heading towards retirement to look at a way to add several thousand pounds’ worth of additional savings into their pension pots tax free. Did you know that can contribute up to £2,880 per year into a pension for a non-earning spouse, partner or child and they will receive tax relief […]

New research shows that single people face an uphill climb heading into retirement, having to save significantly more proportionately than their couples counterparts in order to enjoy a similar lifestyle. New analysis by Standard Life has thrown into sharp focus the additional savings that single people need to build up for retirement, compared to pensioner couples who […]

Every year, thousands of elderly people and their families face the conundrum of how to pay for care home fees – which can typically be between £40,000 and £50,000 a year. Shaw Lifetime Care, part of the charitable Shaw Foundation offers a unique option which allows them and their families to retain their home, draw […]

With a large proportion of the country finding their budgets being squeezed, we look at the questions everyone needs to ask to ensure they retire comfortably. The cost of living is depleting many people’s ability to save each month, and the latest stats reveals that only 39% of UK households are currently on track for […]

New statistics have revealed the size of pension pot you need to secure each of the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA)’s Retirement Living Standards “minimum”, “moderate” or “comfortable” retirement. The analysis by Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, makes for sobering reading as the spiralling cost of living pushes up the targets for those […]

Rising rents and mortgage costs are putting many people’s retirement plans under pressure, as new data from the English Housing Survey reveals. Renters report spending a higher proportion of their disposable income on rent (21%) than mortgage holders on their mortgage (16%). And while older people are more likely to own their homes outright, the English Housing Survey shows over a […]

A bundle of complex tax consultations published on 18th July contained what has been described as a “potential bombshell” for anyone expecting to inherit a pension pot free of income tax. Since 2015 it has been possible to inherit a pension pot free of both inheritance tax and income tax, where the person who died […]

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans” goes the famous quote: the years heading towards retirement are rarely a straight line… and finding oneself having to provide care or support a family member can make a serious dent on our future finances. New research from Pension Bee shows that two-in-three people are […]