What makes an Olympian? Natural talent or the hours put into training might be the first things that come to mind. However, their approach and mindset play an important role in their achievements too. An athlete’s mentality will have a huge effect on how they pursue goals and their ability to perform well when it matters most. Getting in the right frame of mind for success could mean the difference between making the Olympic team and missing out. With Paris hosting the Olympics in 2024, now is the perfect time to look at what you could learn from Olympians when it comes to managing your finances effectively, such as: Being goal-oriented Breaking down your performance Keeping your emotions in check... Read More

Earlier this month, global chess champions took part in London’s annual ChessFest at Trafalgar Square. Among them was Bodhana Sivanandan, a nine-year-old chess prodigy who has recently been selected to join the England women’s chess team, making her the youngest person to join a full England team in any sport. There’s no doubt that Sivanandan and her team members possess extraordinary levels of skill; in fact, their approach to the game of chess could also hold valuable lessons when it comes to financial planning. Read on to discover what the world champions of chess could teach you about achieving your long-term financial goals. 1. Each piece of your financial plan has an important role in enabling you to achieve your... Read More

Saving towards your retirement can be confusing, especially since pension rules and regulations are frequently updated or changed altogether. As a result, myths and misconceptions related to pensions could easily throw you off course and hinder your progress towards your long-term financial goals. Yet since your pension is likely to be one of your main sources of income in retirement, it’s important to understand how it works. Below, I’ve summarised some of the most common pension myths and explained the truth behind them so that you can confidently save towards your dream retirement. 1. “A pension locks money away for many years, so an easy access savings account would be more useful” While it’s true that you can’t typically access... Read More

In a decisive and historic victory, the Labour Party won the 2024 UK general election with a significant majority and Keir Starmer has become the UK prime minister after 14 years of Conservative government. The new chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has already pledged to “fix the foundations” of the British economy in a bid to drive growth. Read on to find out what a Labour government could mean for your finances. National Insurance, Value Added Tax (VAT), and Income Tax set to remain the same In their 2024 manifesto, Labour said they would not “increase taxes on working people, which is why we will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of Income Tax, or VAT”. Despite this,... Read More

Divorce can be an emotionally challenging experience, especially if you and your ex-spouse have children to consider. As well as the logistical elements that you need to take care of, the financial aspects of the separation can be complex. In the worst-case scenario, you could be left far worse-off financially after your divorce, especially if you don’t consider all the necessary assets. Sadly, research from Legal & General has found that women are significantly more likely to be worse-off financially following a divorce than men. This has been termed the “divorce gap”. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to address this. Read on to learn more about the divorce gap and how a financial planner can help you to... Read More