There’s positive news this month for members of UK DB pension schemes… and the substantial surplus recorded has spurred discussions regarding how these funds can be used, and who could benefit. New analysis from XPS Group shows that UK DB pension schemes maintained strong funding positions throughout November 2025, relative to long-term targets. Schemes […]

  Renting your home in retirement is on the rise… currently 6% of over 65s live in private rented accommodation and this figure is expected to spiral to around 17% by 2040. If this on your agenda, what might this mean for your outgoings? While homeownership is the preferred route for most people in retirement, […]

While the “triple lock” annually uprating the State Pension might not currently figure large in your plans to fund your retirement, new figures show that millions of people could face disappointment, or even financial hardship, without it in the future… Of all the political “hot potatoes” currently being juggled by the political parties, few are […]

Those currently in receipt of a State Pension will be pleased at the news that the Triple Lock will see their pension payments rise by 4.8% as from April. But for how much longer will the Lock… and indeed, the State Pension in its current form, exist? The State Pension may well be the bedrock […]

The Government claims that millions of workers could see their pensions “increase by up to 60%” as new regulations for “Collective Defined Contribution” (CDC) schemes are set to be laid. But is this realistic? And what are CDCs… and what are the potential advantages and drawbacks? Towards the end of October, the Government issued an […]

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 […]

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 […]