If you’ve ever worried about the financial hit that you, or a partner, stand to sustain if a handbag gets lost or stolen… then be prepared to be amazed at their average value First: a little bit of social history. The first recorded users of “handbags”, going back almost two centuries, were actually gentlemen – […]

For some, receiving an inheritance has gone from a “nice to have” to something more like a necessity – with many people now saying they think they would need an inheritance to have enough income to live on in their retirement years. New research from Hargreaves Lansdown has shown that almost one third of people […]

The figures show that pension pots could last anything from a lifetime to just 13 years, depending on the withdrawal and investment returns. Standard Life has been crunching the numbers to help savers see what will happen to their finances in retirement, based on different withdrawal and investment scenarios. The new analysis highlights the challenges […]

A new report has revealed the real spending patterns of UK retirees for the first time… and why that can put sometimes pressure on their savings. The median UK retiree household income is £35,000 and retirees are currently spending an average of around £22,000 a year. The “Bank of Granddad and Grandma” also includes gifting […]

New research shows that just 34% of people are aware of a tax benefit that could save them thousands… and that figure drops to just 25% among those aged 55 and over New research from Hargreaves Lansdowne, using data taken from a survey of 2,000 people, has shown that only 34% of adults in the […]

New research from Aegon shows that many new retirees experience negative emotions spending the money they have been saving up… but there are ways to reframe the experience. The surprising new research reveals that many savers experience anxiety, fear and guilt when they spend their retirement savings, rather than positive emotions such as excitement, security […]

Analysis of data released by the Government has highlighted the alarming difference in savings between men and women heading towards retirement – and just how long, on average, these savings will last. The warning comes from interactive investor who say that, according to their analysis of DWP figures, women could run out of money after […]

Being on a high income might make you feel financially impregnable to life’s ups and downs. But here’s a timely warning that being “better heeled” can come with some vulnerabilities. The findings come from the HL Savings and Resilience Barometer, which show that: The top fifth of earners don’t just have more debt than any […]

New research from the University of Bath has shown the impact being felt because of the ongoing rise in the State Pension Age – with older workers delaying retirement while younger workers are “holding onto unrealistic early retirement hopes”. Researchers say that some workers could find themselves inadequately prepared for retirement because they are failing […]

Many of us are looking to remain economically active into our 60s and 70s, and the UK urgently needs this labour and skill pool. But are employers doing enough to enable that to happen? By Tony Watts OBE For some time now, a casual observer might conclude that, when it comes to people remaining in […]