When Can You Afford to Retire?
A survey by Barings Asset Management has revealed that 44% of non-retired people aged 55 – 64 have no idea when they will be able to afford to retire. A staggering one third of adults will rely solely on the state pension, and what with the state pension age moving further and further out, there will be a long wait for many. Even worse some are relying on winning the National Lottery...
Read MoreStop This Fee Nonsense!
Can you imagine buying your shopping for a known price but leaving your credit card at the supermarket so that they can deduct more later? Well that’s pretty much what happens with an investment manager. They tell you an annual management fee (AMC) usually between 0.5% – 1.5%, and then if you read the small print you’re told about the total expense ratio (TER). The average TER on a UK...
Read MoreYou Can Get Want You Want……….
Almost every aspect of our lives has a financial implication. Whether we want to spend more time with our children or to spend half the year travelling, money is our means. Part of the financial planning process is to invite clients to answer a series of questions which help them to articulate what really matters to them and how they want to live their lives. Sometimes they discover their most...
Read More“Don’t Panic Mr Mainwaring”
Gosh it’s hard not to what with inflation surging to a record high, the growing Euro Zone economic crisis, World debt spiralling out of control, and the trade unions ready to embark on another winter of discontent. However let’s remind ourselves that on a personal level we can do absolutely nothing to affect the above events. We can worry all we like, but fear will not change anything....
Read MoreBritons are clueless about pensions
Britons are clueless about pensions HSBC’s report about British attitudes towards retirement makes for grim reading, says Allister Heath of City AM. 17% of respondents don’t know what their main source of income will be. 21% believe it will be state pension. 9% will be relying on personal pensions. 4% cite selling property. 39% have some form of strategy. By contrast, twice as many...
Read MoreHow did the Budget affect you?
Every year we all get bombarded with leaflets and e-mails providing the key points of the Chancellor’s Budget. This year I received no less than 43 e-mails detailing Osborne’s headline grabbing fiscal measures for the current tax year. For anyone who has successfully managed to avoid the key points, I apologise in advance as I have listed them at the bottom of this blog. Anyway, this year...
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With over 20 years financial services and banking experience Nigel Barker-Smith is hugely committed to the Lifestyle Financial Planning process and plays a leading role in establishing new ideals for the business and promoting it within the Financial community. 
