Insights

Welcome to the latest edition of Caves Quarterly, where we review key market and financial news from the last few months, and look ahead to the future. In this edition, we explore the main takeaways from the Spring Budget, as well as the probable lowering of interest rates in 2024 and potential effects on your…

The intestacy rules for England and Wales have been changed…belatedly and with real consequences for some estates.  If you do not have a valid will then the decisions about what happens to your estate on your death are governed by the laws of intestacy. These may not work as you might hope or expect them…

Rising interest rates are changing retirement income perspectives.   Three years ago was another era when it comes to interest rates. The Bank of England’s Bank Rate was just 0.1% in December 2020 when a government bond maturing in 2035 delivered a gilt-edged annual return of less than 0.4%. Today’s 15-year gilt offers around 5%.…

At what age should you start actively planning for your retirement?  The answer is now 36 years old, according to research undertaken by a major pension provider. By contrast, the starting age for today’s retirees averaged 49 years. Over half of that group now wishes that they had begun planning earlier.   There are some…

  This new year, make time to review your regular payments such as subscription services – you may be spending more than you think.        Many content providers for example – from Netflix and Disney+ to Spotify – have increased monthly fees over the past year. However, it’s not just entertainment platforms looking…

Welcome to the latest edition of Caves Quarterly, where we review the key market and financial news from the last few months, and look ahead to the future. The last quarter has been calmer than at this point last year but has still created interesting headlines.     In this edition, we cover:   Quarterly…

Pensions are often a fantastic way to save towards retirement, or just for the future, given retirement can be somewhat flexible under pension access rules.  Pensions can offer tax relief on contributions, grow free of tax, and are only taxable when you withdraw in retirement, with up to 25% of the pension held available to…

Whilst the thought of retiring may seem daunting, particularly as many believe they cannot afford to do so, an effective planning strategy will allow you to enjoy your retirement, with the flexibility to cater for all manner of scenarios that you may encounter in your later years.   In this Guide to Retirement, we answer…

Income protection is an often-overlooked member of the personal insurance family. While most people have life cover, and most have at least heard of critical illness, many are unaware of the benefits an income protection policy can offer.   Long term illness can be devastating for a family’s finances, but income protection can provide a…

In a time of rising inflation and costs, it’s important to consider ways to not only save money, but also how to get your savings to work harder for you. Whether you have short- or long-term goals such as that dream holiday, a new car, or saving for a house deposit or retirement, regular savings…