Research conducted by Saga has confirmed that one in seven UK retirees accessed their pension pots without advice, which represents more than £3.2 billion having been drawn as a lump sum from pensions. Retirees have accessed approximately £23.6 billion in total since the pension freedom rules were introduced in April 2015.

Have you ever thought about ISA Investing, or more specifically, Stocks & Shares ISA investing? This can be a great way to build wealth over the longer term.

Data from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) shows that savers have been over-taxed more than £400m since the start of pensions freedoms in April 2015. This comes in the form of income tax which is deducted when individuals make lump sum withdrawals from their pension fund after the age of 55.

One Social Media Platform in particular is being warned of investment scams being promoted on their sites with victims losing a total of £3 million since October 2018. Action Fraud issued the warning, after receiving 356 reports of fraud targeting Instagram Users, reporting the average loss to be £8,900.

Most people would like to retire in their early sixties (or before) whilst they are still fit and healthy to enjoy themselves, but not all have made adequate provisions to do so and many feel that they will need to continue working past their preferred retirement age.

As we gradually age, become more wiser and enjoy a well earned rest from working, our attention turns to later life and how to ensure we receive appropriate support and care should it be required. According to Alzheimer’s Research UK’s 2015 analysis report 1 in 3 people born in the UK from 2015 will develop dementia, which is a worrying statistic.

The tax year end is fast approaching and you only have until 5 April to make the most of your allowances in the current year before they are lost. If you have not yet considered investing in an ISA, maximising Pension contributions or made use of your Personal Allowance and Capital Gains Tax Allowance, now is the time to do so before it is too late.

The pension freedoms have increased the allure of early retirement for many savers who have now been given greater control over how to spend their pot. Many would like to retire early and do something adventurous whilst they are still in good health. Does this sound like you?

Our Weekly Column

Figures released by the Equity Release Council (which represents 95% of the equity release market) show that older homeowners unlocked £3.94 billion of property wealth in 2018 up 29% year on year. The market saw 46,000 new customers in 2018, an increase of 25% on 2017. The number of returning pension drawdown customers was also up 27% in 2018.

Our Weekly Column

Sadly, we still live in a world where there are people who do take advantage of the vulnerable for their own financial gain. Our financial regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who monitor ourselves and over 58,000 financial services firms and financial markets in the UK, confirm that they have seen a five-fold rise in the number of people seeking advice about pension scams, since the launch of their recent collaboration with the Pensions Regulator. Victims of pensions scams according to the Financial Reporter have lost an average of £91,000 each to fraudsters.