More than a fifth of over 55s have a personal loan

Often, personal loans are associated with younger people in their twenties or thirties who may be borrowing the money to buy a new car, pay for their wedding or splash out on a luxury holiday. However, it seems that even older people are lumbered with personal loan debt these days with a recent study showing that more than one fifth of consumers aged fifty five and over were paying off a personal loan.

Whilst in years gone by people reaching their late fifties and sixties enjoyed the luxury of knowing that by the time they reached this age they had paid off their debts and often their mortgage as well, leaving them financially free to enjoy life during their retirement years with no financial burden to hold them down. However, these days things are quite different for many people in their fifties and sixties many of whom still have debts such as personal loans and mortgage debt.

Research was recently carried out by the insurance giant Aviva, which showed that more than one fifth of people aged fifty five and older have a personal loan. In total 21 percent of people over this age had a personal loan. The research was carried out as part of the Aviva Real Retirement Report and involved polling more than ten thousand people aged over fifty five.

An official from Aviva said: “The over-55s have seen their finances deteriorate over the last quarter as people struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living on a relatively fixed income. Taking out a private pension, building up a respectable savings pot and paying down debt are all simple steps that people can take to ensure they don’t face these problems in retirement.”

Tags: total 21 percent, polling, aviva, retirement, over, study

Downturn hits pensions savings

It has been suggested following recent research that the economic downturn and financial meltdown that has been seen over the past couple of years has had a serious negative impact on pensions savings amongst consumers in the UK. Many have found themselves struggling to make ends meet financially, and this means that they have had to make other financial sacrifices, which for some has meant their pensions provisions.

Scottish Widows, the pensions and life insurance provider, carried out the research and according to the results of the study there has been a fall of around 6 percent in pensions savings over the past year, with the total now falling to 48 percent. This is said to be the lowest it has been since 2006.

The study showed that 41 percent of people said that the reason that they had been saving less – or saving nothing in some cases – was due to the economic downturn. Women aged fifty and over were found to have been worst hit, and whilst 52 percent of women in this age group put enough money aside for retirement last year this feel to just 38 percent.

Officials from Scottish Widows said that the effects of the global financial crisis were only just starting to affect the pensions savings market even through the crisis began back in 2007. Many people were found to be failing to put any money aside at all for their retirement, including many of those that were nearing retirement age such as the over fifties age bracket.

An official from Scottish Widows said: “The whole nation is feeling worse off than a year ago and this is really starting to take its toll on pensions savings. While there are signs that the economy is recovering, the nation’s saving habits paint a very different story.”

Tags: investment, scottish widows, retirement, Pension, finance

Firms will have to stop forcing pensioners to retire

In his recent pre-election budget speech the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, indicated that the Labour party was looking at scrapping the default retirement age, which would mean that firms would have to stop forcing pensioners to retire at the legal retirement age of sixty five.

At present firms can use their discretion with regards to retirement of workers that reach this age, but whilst they can allow them to continue working they can also refuse to allow them to continue to work should they wish to do so.

Under new reforms, should they go ahead, firms would have to allow workers to continue working if they want to. Alistair Darling indicated in his budget speech that the Labour party would either scrap the default retirement age or would increase the retirement age. He also indicated that the party was looking at giving older workers more rights with regards to being able to get more flexible working hours and conditions from their employers.

A number of campaign groups and charities have said that having the current retirement age in place is discrimination, as it means that older workers that feel perfectly capable of continuing to work could be forced to retire by employers simply because of their age, regardless of their abilities, health, and other factors. However, some believe that the plans will cause concern for some businesses who do not want to be stuck with older workers that refuse to retire.

In his budget speech Alistair Darling stated: ‘To enable people who want to work longer, we are consulting on reform of employers’ right to make people retire at 65. We are looking at options which include scrapping the default retirement age, raising it or giving employees stronger rights.’

Tags: place, Social Issues, Ed Miliband, speech alistair darling, retirement, pensioners, chancellor of the exchequer, Alistair Darling

Grandparents struggle so they can help the grandkids

It has been reported that millions of grandparents in the UK are prepared to struggle financially so that they can use their money to provide for their grandchildren. Read more

Tags: cutbacks, retirement, spoilt, clothes, Grandparent, quarter, family, official

No luck over challenge for UK retirement age

It has recently been announced that a law that enables employers in the UK to make employees retire at the age of sixty five is to be upheld, at least for the near future. The decision was made by the High Court, and means that workers in the UK may be forced to retire at that age whether they want to or not, and without any sort of payout from the company. Read more

Tags: court, year, finance, future, uk, Superannuation in Australia

Possible further increase in pension age

According to recent reports there could be a possible further increase in the state pension retirement age in the UK, which means that people would have to wait even longer before being able to retire and get a state pension. Read more

Tags: Department for Work and Pensions, retirement age, uk pensions, pensions, finance, retirement, pension age, current climate

Half the Population of the UK Don’t Have Funds Set Aside for Retirement

The BBC recently revealed that about half of all the people living in the UK aged 20 to 60 have not been putting aside any funds for their retirement years. This does not mean that they do not have any savings for such purpose, but they haven’t been paying into a pension fund. Read more

Tags: wife's situation, retirement fund, Gfk, uk, plan, retirement, today, way

More Help Needed for Elderly UK Residents

Rising fuel prices is causing financial difficulty for many of the elderly residents of the UK. According to Age Concern and Help the Aged, it is time for the government to sit up and take notice of the problems that this sector of the population is encountering in trying to cope with the current recession. Read more

Tags: type of food, pensioners, personal finance, proper meals, retirement, Financial services, elderly, old age

Slump in equity release sector in 2008

A recently released report has shown that there was a slump in the equity release sector last year, and this slump stemmed from the Northern Rock crisis, which saw the building society becoming nationalised after falling victim to the global credit crunch. Read more

Tags: uk, Mortgages, Key Retirement Solutions, equity release market, bank, retirement, homeowners, equity release

How does your future retirement look?

Most of us look forward to a comfortable retirement when we eventually reach out golden years, and we all want to be able to spend time travelling and seeing the world, spend quality time with loved ones, and do the things that you simply cannot do when you have work related commitments. However, many of us tend not to bother thinking about how we will fund our retirement when we are in our twenties and thirties – after all, retirement seems such a long way off at that stage. But the years soon catch up with you, and many people may find that they are suddenly thundering towards retirement age with no real plan in place to fund a comfortable retirement. Read more

Tags: help, retirement, older people, savings, Generations and Age Groups, long way, ability, pensions

Taxation benefits for married couples

Married couples receive financial benefits when both partners have savings in place, claim financial experts.

MDM Associates has said there are possible higher tax allowances on pensions and potential inheritance tax advantages from joint savings.

Lisanne Mealing, director for MDM Associates, said: “With investing in pensions, you’re losing out on some pretty good tax allowances if you only fund on one [partner's] side and not the other.”

She added that in terms of income payments, “it’s easier to have the income split in retirement; because, again, you’re going to pay less tax… You’re taking full advantage”.

Ms Mealing also said that women’s income is usually spent on household items, incidentals and holidays whereas the husband’s earnings will be used for financial planning.

However, a recent report from the Fawcett Society warned that women are likely to struggle financially for a longer period following a divorce than a man, as women are less likely to have savings in place.

Tags: pensions, Taxation benefits, earnings, retirement, inheritance tax advantages, good tax allowances, financial planning, director

Consumers must get into saving discipline

Consumers need to “get into the discipline of saving”, according to an independent financial advisor.

Colin Jackson, director of Baronworth Investment Services, has said that once a consumer gets into saving, it becomes part of general financial overheads.

“If you decide that you really must save every month it’s no good saying that you’ll put £10 in a building society account every month, set up some sort of saving scheme where it’s paid by direct debit,” he recommended.

Another tip for effective saving would be to work out what money is being put away for.

Mr Jackson advised that consumers should use a building society account for a holiday. An Isa would provide greater tax-free benefits if the money was being saved for retirement purposes.

Recent statistics showed that total UK personal debt at the end of October 2007 stood at £1,391 billion. The growth rate has increased to 9.7 per cent for the previous 12 months.

This equates to an increase of £122 billion.

Tags: investment, consumer, personal debt, colin jackson, previous 12 months, rate

Are you looking for a suitable pension?

Over recent years having a decent pension plan in place has become increasingly important for the younger generation of today. Read more

Tags: work, pensions, retirement, fsa, save, stakeholder

Start saving if you are under forty

According to a recent report younger consumers in their twenties and thirties have become so reliant on credit that many are simply spending all of their money on frivolous spending or repaying debt rather than putting money away for their future.

Twenty and thirty-somethings are now being urged to put money aside into savings or investment for their future to reduce the risk of being left without an adequate retirement fund when they reach retirement age.

The government’s state pension has declined over the years, and with increased life expectancy and higher living costs to also consider younger consumers now need to start thinking about their future in terms of how they will manage financially.

Historically, most people in their twenties and thirties tend not to think much about mortgage provisions, but this has become an increasingly important consideration for the younger generation if they wish to enjoy a certain standard of living when they come to retirement age.

One official advised younger consumers to start putting money into savings or an investment fund as early on as possible to ensure that they had a tidy sum available for when they retire. Increased life expectancy means that consumers must put aside more money to cover the cost of living after retirement, and this has made it even more important for younger consumers to start putting money aside as early as possible.

Consumers in their twenties and thirties are advised to cut back on their frivolous spending, try and avoid getting into further debt, and start putting money aside on a regular basis. Many younger people are wasting a small chunk of their income each month on repayment of interest on their debts, all of which could be used towards saving for the future.

Tom Smith
5th November 2007

Tags: save, retirement, interest, salary, future

July move ‘popular’ among older Britons

July is regarded as the most popular month for people over the age of 50 to move house, according to Saga Home Insurance.

Figures released by the group indicate that more people in the over-50s bracket have moved house in July in the last five years than any other month.

Downsizing appears to be popular among over a third of respondents in the poll, with many wanting to move to a smaller home.

Some 34 per cent of respondents also cited the desire to be closer to family as a motivating factor to move.

Andrew Goodsell, chief executive of Saga, said: “We can see that family is a key influencer on where future retirees will migrate to, but we can also get a sense of just how people plan to spend their retirement – with shopping and social activity as key attractions when searching the area to retire to.”

Mr Goodsell said that people moving home might consider taking on Saga Home Insurance, which might help them minimise the stress of moving home.

Tags: home insurance, activity, minimise, month, retirement, Health care, bracket, stress

Bleak retirement picture

Most of us will be unable to retire at the age we want to, will rely on our parents for financial support and will endure a reduced standard of living once we do.

That is how the majority of independent financial advisers (IFAs) see the future as saving and banking properly become less common in the UK.

Insurance firm Aegon gauged the opinions of 100 IFAs on issues surrounding retirement and they painted a fairly bleak picture.

A total of 88 per cent predicted that the average retirement age will increase in the next ten years, with the same number believing that most people will not be able to retire at the age they want to.

Eight out of ten IFAs say that parents now have to support their children for longer than ever before and 74 per cent think that we all receive less inheritance.

Perhaps the most worrying finding for some people is that 71 per cent of IFAs believe that most people are resigned to seeing their standard of living reduce significantly once they retire.

“The third wave of the Aegon IFA Insights survey reveals that the IFA community expects those planning for retirement to face increasing pressures from all sides,” commented Graham Dumble, director of risk and regulation at the firm.

“So it’s not surprising they expect the British public will have to work longer into their retirement years or accept a lower standard of living in retirement.”

Tags: IFAs, future, director, inheritance, Aegon UK, House Targaryen, retirement age, retirement

Over 55s not ready for retirement

Millions of Britons aged 55 or over have not even begun to think about life after retirement.

That is according to new research by Abbey which found that around two million people in this age group have given it no thought at all.

In addition, 4.5 million people have not made plans for what they will do once they stop working.

This statistic is worrying many observers who say that many people are going to head into retirement and face a financial crisis due to their wayward banking.

The next generation is not looking much better either, with 1.8 million people between the ages of 45 and 54 not having considered retirement.

“This research shows the potential retirement time bomb that the 50 plus generation are facing,” warned Reza Attar-Zadeh, head of savings at Abbey.

According to Abbey’s study, one million people over the age of 55 feel that they will have to work through their retirement as they have little money put aside.

Added to this, 1.5 million in the same generation say that their home is their only form of financial insurance to see them through their twilight years.

Tags: Generations and Age Groups, head, Social Issues, crisis, group, one million, retirement, Financial services

Parents turn to kids for cash

It used to be the case that children went to the bank of mum and dad to help them out of sticky financial situations.

However, new research suggests that the trend is reversing, with mum and dad now beginning to turn to the bank of son and daughter in order to live comfortably during retirement.

Yorkshire Bank looked into the financial relationship between children and their parents and found that 27 per cent of people with children are hoping that their offspring will help them out when they retire if need be.

That would seem to be likely considering that 40 per cent of those asked said that they have no real savings for when they retire.

A total of 60 per cent of these people say that they know they should be saving but just cannot afford to as the cost of living continues to rise.

“By not saving for the future, parents appear to be aware they’re storing up hardship for themselves,” commented Gary Lumby, head of retail at Yorkshire Bank.

“Many are already presuming their children… might be the answer to all their financial problems. However, the easiest solution is to start saving now.”

Mr Lumby went on to say that people approaching their 30s should be thinking about putting ten per cent of their income into a pension so that they can live comfortably in retirement.

Tags: cash, finance, retirement, answer, percentage, business, financial situations, dad