…….. and the world is looking like a scary place, as we continue moving through uncharted territory. However, there are opportunities to be taken whilst remembering the basics of financial planning – including protecting your assets, minimising tax and aiming for growth – do not change a lot. Read more

That got your attention! This 4.6 million factor represents the chances of any of us getting cancer vs a Lottery Jackpot win – and we are all free to bet on this.

I am really talking here about Critical Illness protection and, more generally, Income and Disability protection.

So why bother buying such protection?

Well, one reason is there is a better chance of a payout against winning the Lottery Jackpot. A second reason is that with such protection, you are guaranteed some cash when you most need it.

Seriously, the main reason for protecting yourself in this way is simply that you wish to look after yourself and your family and maybe your business. Cover is relatively cheap and an important part of the jigsaw of financial planning. Read more

Given that the events of the last few weeks will be focusing some minds, a quick note to help those of you who have Investment & Annuity decisions to make.

Pension Annuities

This article written by Billy Burrows from the insurance company MGM shares some sensible thoughts for those deciding whether to buy an annuity. My suggestion is to go through all your options with an experienced adviser. If having done this you conclude to buy any form of guaranteed annuity, then go ahead and BUY IT NOW. Read more

The 2011 Investment Report by Scottish Widows confirms that consumers do not want risk whilst investing. Read the full report here. It is a good read, if you like statistics, and raises some interesting points.

It confirms 59% of investors will not invest unless their capital is guaranteed. And that only 20% wish to take a risk.

What is the answer for these risk-averse investors? Read more

According to a report by Scottish Widows, 44% of us will be angry if we have to work beyond age 65. And most of us are not saving enough – so that makes for a lot of angry people.

Read the full report here. It is a good read, which points out that only 51% of us are saving enough for retirement at age 65.

Now for the scary bit. Scottish Widows define enough as 30% of your salary or earnings, given that it is topped up with the state basic pension. Do your own figures and ask yourself if this will be enough?

Even more scary, the figures assume you save each and every year between age 30 and 65 for men and 30 to 60 for women. The chances of this happening these days are pretty thin.

I suggest – but I would! – DON’T GET ANGRY, GET GOING. Read more

Well, I am talking about a pension annuity here. As readers will know, in these times such a rate is virtually impossible, but I thought I would share this story with you. It was a classic situation where we were referred to a married chap, a few months of age 65 with four pension pots accumulated from different employers and looking for a fixed pension annuity. Read more

This article is from “Money Deals” in The Telegraph Money section. As far as I can see, this area is where the paper is making money through the introduction of products and services (if they are not they are missing a trick big time!). Don’t get too get upset, this is the way of the world and if they introduce you to a good idea from which you benefit, then why not?

Read more

An article in the FT at the weekend touched briefly on how ISA investors looking for “cheap” deals often make the wrong investment decisions. Read more