News
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Archive for 2021
'Bumper year' for mortgage lending as 1.5 million homes sold
Posted by Fidelius on December 29th 2021
Mortgage lending has soared in 2021, driven by the cut in stamp duty and people moving away from cities as remote working became the norm.
How has Covid affected people's retirement plans?
Posted by Fidelius on December 20th 2021
The polarising impact of the pandemic means that the prospect of an early retirement appears more achievable for some, while others are adjusting for a delay before they can stop working.
Employers planning to invest more in employee health
Posted by Fidelius on December 13th 2021
A new global survey shows that organisations around the world are planning to increase their investment in employees' physical and mental health.
Over half of first time buyers need bigger deposit due to pandemic
Posted by Fidelius on December 6th 2021
People who have bought their first home since the start of the pandemic have seen the costs escalate, stretching them to raise thousands of pounds in additional funds.
Over-50s prefer humans over digital platforms for financial advice
Posted by Fidelius on November 29th 2021
New research shows that robo-advisers have a long way to go before they can really compete with traditional advisers.
HSE warns of 'health and safety crisis' unless firms act on mental health
Posted by Fidelius on November 22nd 2021
Last year more than 17 million working days were lost as a result of stress, anxiety or depression. And in a recent survey by the charity Mind, two in five employees said their mental health had worsened during the pandemic.
House buying rebounds after lockdown lull in 2020
Posted by Fidelius on November 15th 2021
New data from Halifax shows that over the past year there has been a big increase in the number of people moving home and those buying a property for the first time.
Half of older care home residents pay their own fees
Posted by Fidelius on November 8th 2021
As the cost of later life care is not covered by the state in the same way that health costs are, it's something that should be taken into account when planning your retirement.
Half of employees worried about discussing mental health at work
Posted by Fidelius on November 1st 2021
Despite the progress that has been made in talking about mental health, there is still a stigma around the issue in many workplaces.
Housing market buoyant as race for space continues
Posted by Fidelius on October 25th 2021
UK house purchases jumped by nearly 70% in September as buyers rushed to complete transactions before the end of the stamp duty holiday. Among the factors driving the market is the continued exodus from cities in the wake of the pandemic.
Fewer people are buying an annuity with their pension savings
Posted by Fidelius on October 18th 2021
There is now more choice in how and when pension savers can access their money. And with more options on the table, fewer people are purchasing annuities, research shows.
Starting pay soars as candidate supply falls
Posted by Fidelius on October 11th 2021
Employers are hiring -- and with a shortage of candidates for many roles, there has been a record rise in the pay offered to new employees.
Later-life mortgage borrowing on the increase
Posted by Fidelius on October 4th 2021
Over half of new mortgage lending is now going to borrowers who will still be paying back the loan after they turn 65.
Tax-free pension withdrawals 'putting retirements at risk'
Posted by Fidelius on September 27th 2021
Pension savers can access 25% of their pension pot tax-free, usually from the age of 55. But it's important to consider how withdrawing from your pension savings could end up having a detrimental impact on your retirement.
Many employees still in the dark about pension saving
Posted by Fidelius on September 20th 2021
One in five non-retirees are still not paying into any pension and many people remain in the dark about saving for retirement, suggesting that employers could support their employees with more financial education in this area.
Wider choice of mortgages for holiday let investors
Posted by Fidelius on September 13th 2021
If you're thinking of investing in a holiday property, the good news is that there's a growing number of mortgage options to choose from.
Women would need to work 14.5 more years to match men's pension savings
Posted by Fidelius on September 6th 2021
More than 50 years after the Equal Pay Act, women’s average earnings still fall short of men’s — and that leads to a significant difference in retirement income between the two sexes.
EAPs helping employees deal with return to work anxiety
Posted by Fidelius on August 31st 2021
With most pandemic restrictions in the UK now lifted, people are returning to the office. But after more than a year of working from home and social distancing, it's a change that is making many employees feel anxious.
Self-employed Gen Xers risk savings shortfall in retirement
Posted by Fidelius on August 23rd 2021
New research paints a stark picture of just how many self-employed people in the UK may find themselves with an inadequate level of income when they eventually stop work.
Buy-to-let: strong demand from tenants for rental homes
Posted by Fidelius on August 16th 2021
Higher property prices and tax changes may have dented the attractiveness of buy-to-let, but property is still considered a relatively low-risk investment. And with a shortage of homes available to rent, it could be a good time to enter the market.
One in five young employees opt out of pension saving
Posted by Fidelius on August 9th 2021
More than 10 million workers have been automatically enrolled in a workplace pension since the start of auto-enrolment in 2012. But many young people are opting out to focus on more immediate saving priorities, according to new research.
'Flip the context' and protect your pension savings
Posted by Fidelius on August 2nd 2021
If a stranger in a pub approached you with unsolicited financial advice, your first instinct would probably be to politely refuse. But what if the same thing happened online?
Self-employed face growing struggle to buy a home
Posted by Fidelius on July 26th 2021
People who work for themselves often have to jump through additional hoops to get a mortgage, and new research suggests that the situation is getting worse.
Fifth of staff don't know how their employer supports them during illness
Posted by Fidelius on July 19th 2021
Making sure everyone knows and understands their sick pay entitlements is a legal requirement when it comes to new hires, and it can help avoid presenteeism -- people showing up to work while sick, rather than taking the time they need to get better.
More people thinking about life insurance since Covid, study finds
Posted by Fidelius on July 12th 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic has led more people to think about their own mortality and how their loved ones would cope financially if the worst happened.
Pandemic makes homeownership harder for many first-time buyers
Posted by Fidelius on July 5th 2021
Taking your first step on the property ladder is one of life's major milestones, but for many people it's a goal that has become harder to reach over the past year.
Most companies plan to offer hybrid working post-pandemic
Posted by Fidelius on June 28th 2021
New research suggests that a so-called hybrid working environment will become the norm for many employees, as just 11% of business leaders expect their employees to return to the office full-time.
Spend or save? Lockdown has changed people's priorities
Posted by Fidelius on June 21st 2021
An increase in savings was the silver lining of lockdown for many people in the UK. Now that the country is opening back up again, will there be a sudden release of pent-up consumer demand or will these "accidental savers" keep hold of their savings?
UK job quality 'continues to fall short', says CIPD
Posted by Fidelius on June 14th 2021
If an individual feels as though their work is unsatisfying or detrimental to their physical or mental health, or if they have a poor relationship with their manager or lack job security, they are unlikely to be 100% happy and motivated in their role.
Why it makes sense to increase pension saving as you get older
Posted by Fidelius on June 7th 2021
Messages about pension saving are often targeted at young people, but there are good reasons why the proportion of earnings set aside for retirement should increase substantially through working life for many people.
Employers looking to expand financial wellbeing support
Posted by Fidelius on June 1st 2021
Employers in the UK are planning to expand their financial wellbeing provision in the wake of Covid-19, new research has found.
Will inheritance tax rise after the pandemic?
Posted by Fidelius on May 24th 2021
A new report has called for higher inheritance tax (IHT) after the Covid-19 pandemic to help tackle rising wealth inequality.
Work-life balance now seen as more important than salary
Posted by Fidelius on May 17th 2021
For many years, a good salary and benefits package has been top of the list for a majority of employees when looking for a new job. But changes in the way we work -- and also, perhaps, changes in consumer spending habits -- during the pandemic have shaken up people's priorities, new research shows.
18 million savers would switch to a green pension
Posted by Fidelius on May 10th 2021
An astonishing £3 trillion is invested in UK pensions to build savings for the future. But have you ever thought about where your pension savings are invested?
Using 'Day One Statements' to help boost employee wellbeing and productivity
Posted on May 4th 2021
Health and wellbeing benefits like gym membership, counselling services and free healthy food are good for employees – but are they good for the business, too? Understandably, organisations of all sizes need to be able to justify the expense.
Advisers helping families through the pandemic's financial ups and downs
Posted on April 26th 2021
The financial volatility and insecurity of the Covid-19 pandemic have prompted many people to seek financial advice, new research reveals.
Employee privacy fears hit group protection usage
Posted on April 19th 2021
If takeup of employee benefits is low within your organisation, it could be that your employees don't know about or don't understand the benefits available. Or it could be that they have concerns about the privacy ramifications of claiming.
£373m lost to repeat frauds in 2019/20
Posted on April 12th 2021
As well as making the right investments to help your money grow, taking care of your financial future is about protecting what you already have – and one of the most important ways you can do that is by staying vigilant about the risk of investment fraud.
Need for mental wellbeing support 'skyrockets' during pandemic
Posted on April 6th 2021
At least one in six workers experience common mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, according to the mental health charity Mind.
Pandemic risks widening retirement opportunity gap
Posted on March 29th 2021
Changes in household income over the past year may end up increasing 'retirement inequality' in the UK, new research suggests. Legal & General Retail Retirement found that, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, some people are planning to retire earlier while others have been forced to delay their retirement.
Should employers take more responsibility for their employees' financial wellbeing?
Posted on March 22nd 2021
The past year has left many people worrying about their finances. While some have seen their jobs disappear, even those still in work may be struggling. For example, their hours may have been reduced, their partners may have lost their job, or they may have more caring responsibilities.
Keeping it in the family: two thirds of adults use same adviser as their parents
Posted on March 15th 2021
Financial advisers can help with a wide range of decisions, from savings and investments to financial protection, retirement planning and wealth transfer.
Quarter of employees say their mental health has deteriorated during pandemic
Posted on March 8th 2021
Most office staff in the UK are still working remotely, but out of sight shouldn't mean out of mind when it comes to looking after your employees' health.
Social care is 'worryingly low priority' in retirement planning
Posted on March 1st 2021
Meals out, home improvements, holidays... there are plenty of fun ways to spend your pension pot. But it's essential to make sure you'll have enough to cover everything else you might need, and that includes later life care.
Financial education can help your employees plan for retirement
Posted on February 22nd 2021
Are your employees financially savvy? They probably don't need to understand the ins and outs of the stock market - but it makes sense for people to have a good understanding of financial matters that affect their daily lives, and how they can improve their retirement prospects.
Financial planning gender gap: men more likely to plan and invest for retirement
Posted on February 15th 2021
Are you financially prepared for retirement? Worryingly, it seems the answer is more likely to be 'yes' if you're a man.
Fidelius Group awarded Gold Status by Investor In Customers
Posted on February 9th 2021
Fidelius Group, an independent financial services company with headquarters based in Bath, offering wealth management and employee benefits, has achieved an exceptional ‘Gold’ award from leading customer experience experts, Investor in Customers (IIC).
SMEs expand their employee benefits offering
Posted on February 8th 2021
With the coronavirus outbreak changing the way many employees do their jobs, firms of of all sizes have been looking at their employee benefits offering to see if it still matches what their workers want and need.
Do you know how to spot a scam?
Posted on February 1st 2021
You might think you've got enough experience to be able to spot an investment scam. But with new figures showing the scale of sophisticated 'clone firm' scams over the past year, it's worth arming yourself against the fraudsters.
Pandemic leads to greater stress and anxiety among employees
Posted on January 25th 2021
It's almost a year since Covid-19 turned all our lives upside down, changing working patterns and forcing millions of people to work from home for the first time.
Don't 'sleepwalk' into retirement
Posted on January 18th 2021
Will your retirement savings last as long as you need them to? It's a crucial question, and one that a financial adviser will assess when looking at your pension savings and investments and your spending habits.
How employee benefits can help attract new talent
Posted on January 11th 2021
When do you tell new employees about the benefits available to them? Do you put the information in the job advert or offer letter, or do you leave it until they have joined the company?
Financial advice vs 'going it alone'
Posted on January 4th 2021
A growing number of people in the UK rely on expert help with financial decision making, ranging from from one-off decisions about buying a particular product, to navigating more complex issues such as investments, trusts and estate planning.
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