Welcome to the latest edition of our financial TIPS magazine. Inside this issue we look at a number of the topical financial planning stories making the news agenda.

Creating and maintaining the right investment strategy plays a vital role in securing your financial future. But we live in the era of the 24-hour news cycle, and ‘bad news sells’. The investment world can be unpredictable and investors currently have plenty of bad news to process, with a plethora of events making the daily and even hourly news headlines – from the US-China trade conflict and oil price volatility, to Britain’s exit from the European Union. On page 06, we consider why it’s important to stay positive and focus on your investment goals.

Once we enter January, the end of the 2019/20 tax year will be just over three months away on 5 April. As this date approaches, the window of opportunity reduces if you want to make the most of valuable allowances, reliefs and exemptions that could help reduce your tax bill and make sure your finances stay tax-efficient. Read the full article on page 04.

On 3 October, campaigners lost a significant legal battle against the Government’s handling of the rise in women’s State Pension age. The retirement age for women has increased from 60 to 65, in line with men, and will go up to 66 by 2020, and to 67 by 2028. Nearly four million women have been affected by these changes. On page 08, we consider the impact of the High Court’s decision.

Also inside this issue, we look at whether some people are ‘sleepwalking’ into retirement and how much you will need to save to afford a comfortable retirement. We assess, too, how the financial implications of divorce, added to the emotional upheaval, can be difficult to deal with. A full list of the articles featured in this issue appears opposite.

Read our Financial TIPS Magazine here.

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We believe anything is possible when you manage your money the right way. Whatever your goals in life are, careful planning, successful investing and protection of your wealth can help you get there. If you would like to discuss any areas of your financial plans, please contact one of our independent financial advisers here.

The content of the article featured is for your general information and use only and is not intended to address your particular requirements. Articles should not be relied upon in their entirety and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute, advice. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of any article. Thresholds, percentage rates and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts. Levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation are subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.