The Charters Annual Summary – 2019: A year of change
It’s frequently said that the two certainties in life are death and taxes. This may be true, but there is at least a third certainty—that things change. Indeed, 2019 has seen plenty of that and it has been a privilege to work with our clients to deal with those very…
5 steps to bring your dream of early retirement closer
Do you find yourself counting down to Friday each week, even when it’s only Monday morning? Do you wish you could ditch the daily commute and long hours at the office? Have you got a secret desire to drive across America or buy a second home in the south of…
Can I afford to retire?
Retirement has repeatedly been labeled as “the longest holiday of your life.” But appealing as that sounds, do you have enough money to pay for the holiday? Research by one leading insurance company shows that 69% of people aged 50 plus are worried about their income in retirement. Many people…
What does Brexit mean for house buyers and sellers?
While you may be totally fed up of the word, Brexit has had a major impact on the UK housing market. What has it meant for buyers and sellers? What might the best course of action be now? The Rightmove House Price index in October showed that the traditional ‘autumn…
The 62 per cent income tax trap
Paying tax is a necessary part of earning income and being part of a society. That is accepted. But while you may have thought that the top rate of tax is 45 per cent, there are hundreds of thousands of people paying 62 per cent due to an odd quirk…
How long would your savings last?
A recent survey has found that the normal working person in the UK has around a month’s worth of savings to be able to sustain their current lifestyle should their income cease without notice. The data gathered from 2,000 people found that the average person’s savings would support them for…
Is Inheritance Tax for the chop?
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is deeply unpopular, there’s no denying it. According to a 2015 YouGov poll, 59 per cent of the population think it’s unfair. So whichever party is in power after the Election, it’s likely they will include it as one of the taxes to be reviewed. Indeed, at…
Making sure you’re on track to retain your lifestyle in retirement
Do you feel like you just go to work day in, day out, with the weeks quickly turning to months and the months to years? If that’s the case, you may be going through life with a vague notion that your pension contributions will be sufficient to give you a…
Can you still trust your fund manager?
October wasn’t a great month for fund managers (the people who make the investment decisions that dictate how well your savings and investments perform). There have been two very high profile resignations—one as a result of a Sunday Times investigation, the other from a Panorama exposé. Unsurprisingly, clients have been…
Marshmallows and financial planning
The Stanford marshmallow experiment is one of the most well-known pieces of social science research out there. It has arguably affected the way that many people live their lives, as well as providing lots of fun and interest for those with young children who are in the ‘I’ll try this…