Independent Chartered Financial Planners
12 June 2025 Five years ago, the term “artificial intelligence” would have sounded alien to most people. But today, AI is everywhere – providing anything from essay-writing support to cybersecurity features your bank or building society uses to protect your money. Whether you are already using AI tools at work or at home, or you […]
12 June 2025 Every year, provider Scottish Widows produces a Retirement Report that breaks down how attitudes to retirement are changing, and what retirees need to look out for in future. Its 2024 report found that: Drawing on that final point, if you are approaching or already in retirement, helping your children and grandchildren may […]
12 June 2025 Gold mining dates back as far as 4000 BCE, with evidence suggesting it spanned throughout Asia, Africa, and the Middle East during ancient times. Gold has long been a coveted resource that humans have held dear, having represented wealth, prosperity, and even divinity for thousands of years. And of course, the Californian […]
You may have seen the recent headlines about Marks & Spencer (M&S) and the significant cyberattacks the retailer has been a victim of, causing immense disruption to its online operations and costing an estimated £300 million in profits. In this case, scammers have stolen key customer information, which the BBC reported could include names, email […]
19 May 2025 Leonardo Da Vinci famously said: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” In all areas of your life, you might find that overcomplicating your strategy leads to poor results. For instance, if you want to improve your physical fitness, having a simple plan that is easy to follow may help you remain disciplined and […]
19 May 2025 Professional mountaineers often attest to the fact that while the ascent is challenging, coming down from the mountain is the part that will really test their resilience. In a way, your career and retirement follow a similar trajectory. You tirelessly climb the mountain (pay into a pension) while you are working, and […]
19 May 2025 Even if you are not the world’s biggest golf fan, you won’t have missed the recent news: Rory McIlroy, Northern Irish golfer, won the 2025 Masters, achieving a career grand slam. Only six golfers can lay claim to the grand slam, which means winning all four of the sport’s major tournaments within […]
16 April 2025 If you follow the financial news, you may already be aware that the first quarter of 2025 was a mixed bag for the stock market and world economy. Below is a table demonstrating the performance of six key world indices in Q1 2025 and in the previous year. Source: JP Morgan As […]
16 April 2025 What financial advice would you give your younger self if you could go back in time? In a survey conducted by Aviva, over-50s have shared what they would have done differently if they had their life all over again – especially when it comes to money. While you can’t turn back time […]
16 April 2025 No doubt, you will be aware by now that in 2025, US stock markets have experienced some turmoil. This volatility has largely coincided with Donald Trump’s inauguration into the White House in January. As far as elections and inaugurations go, market volatility is relatively normal – investors dislike uncertainty, and any new […]