Calderwood Financial

Sorry for radio silence - it's been a busy year so far.
Lucy has been working with ITV and charity WAY Widowed And Young to find lost assets for member Clare.
https://www.itv.com/watch/tonight/1a2803/1a9757a0145 [itv.com]

Tonight - Series 26 - Episode 15 - ITVX ITV Consumer Editor Chris Choi takes viewers on a journey of discovery that follows fortune hunters and reveals how we too can track down missing cash.

And that’s a wrap for 2023!

Wishing all our clients and colleagues a merry Christmas and prosperous New Year!

Lucy enjoyed herself at Calderwood Primary School Christmas Fair. It was great to see the children contemplating where to spend their pocket money & starting good spending habits early!

Last night we were delighted to host a gin tasting in Kyloe Restaurant’s stunning Private Dining Room. Not only did we taste some delicious gins, which are all sustainably produced locally by Secret Garden Distillery an Investment Manager Zoom’ed in to share his views on the global economy (thank you Peter for being such a trooper after Covid hit!).

Please note that no financial advice was given during the course of the evening!

If you're reviewing your pension investments, here are 3 things to consider...

🔹 Your risk appetite
You can choose how your pension is invested. Your investments may include high, low or mixed levels of risk. (The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select, and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.)

🔹The rate of inflation.
Over the lifetime of your pension, the rate of inflation will change. Your investments should help your pension grow beyond the rate of inflation.

🔹 Ethical investments
You can choose to make pension investments that are more ethical e.g., based around environmental, social and governmental (ESG) factors.

Did you know a woman's average pension fund is £85,500 less than a man's? (Familyman Data, September 2021)

Pensions can have a substantial value and should be considered in a divorce settlement.

If you'd like to know more about pension sharing options, we're here to help.
https://calderwoodfinancial.co.uk/

It's estimated that £37billion worth of pension savings are lost or dormant across 1.6million people in the UK.
(The Telegraph via. Gretel research, June 2023.)

Are you one of them? Can you easily access all the details for each pension you may have?

The government's pensions tracing service may be able to help
https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details [gov.uk]

Consider speaking to a financial adviser, who can also trace your pension(s) on your behalf then provide further advice and support.

Pensions are split between couples in less than 1 in 8 divorces (Familyman Data, September 2021), which means pension sharing is often overlooked during a divorce.

This can lead to a significant difference in the pension provision of a divorced couple, with women often missing out.

Pensions can have a substantial value and should be considered in a divorce settlement.

Have you thought about opening a pension for your child(ren)?

While retirement may seem a long way off for your child(ren), there are benefits to starting saving for their retirement sooner rather than later!

For example:

☑ It's a tax efficient way to save for their financial future
☑ Other family members or friends can contribute to their pension
☑ Saving small amounts can have an impact over the longer term, especially with the power of compound interest

Discover more in this St James' Place (SJP) article 👇
https://calderwoodfinancial.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/pensions-for-children-what-you-need-to-know.html

You may be considered a vulnerable client if you're going through a divorce.

This means we'll adapt our approach to your needs e.g., you may want a friend at your meeting or need longer to make financial decisions or you may want us to go over something several times.

Remember, we're here to help https://calderwoodfinancial.co.uk/

When was the last time you checked your pension provision? If it's been a while, here are 3 reasons why you may want to speak to a financial adviser:

1. Your personal and financial circumstances change over a lifetime. This may influence how much you contribute to your pension provision.

2. Pension regulation and legislation has changed. New government policies may have an impact on your pension.

3. Peace of mind. Checking in regularly on your retirement planning ensures nothing has been overlooked and there are no surprises when you retire.

3 ways we can help you before, during and after divorce proceedings.

Before - to give you the financial understanding and confidence to proceed.

During - to shape your settlement, prioritise best interests and support a fair outcome.

After - to recommend how to structure your finances for future financial resilience.

One of the first steps in reviewing your financial health is considering your protection needs.

Here's a testimonial from one of our clients who recently took that step.

Are you responsible for a team? Or in a leadership position?

Have you considered introducing staff initiatives around health and wellbeing?

One initiative could be our workshops that support staff financial wellbeing.

The workshops also enable access to a qualified financial adviser.

Our approach to financial advice is tailored to each client.

We want to reassure and support our clients throughout their financial planning journey.

And build strong, long-term relationships that support their future financial plans.

When did you last have a financial health check?

If it's been a while, consider speaking to a financial adviser.

A financial adviser can help you:
◼ review your current financial situation
◼ discuss your future financial plans and goals
◼ achieve your future financial goals

Financial wellbeing is about your relationship with money, not just how much you’ve got.

How many of these questions can you answer 'yes' to?

✅ Are you making the most of your money day-to-day?
✅ Do you feel in control of your financial future?
✅ Are you confident that your finances give you more freedom and choices?
✅ Do your finances support you living a more fulfilling life?

How healthy are your finances?

Similar to our mental or physical health, it's a combination of variables that can have an impact on how 'healthy' our finances are.

Here are 8 variables worth reviewing when looking at your financial health:

1. Income
2. Expenses
3. Debt
4. Credit scores
5. Emergency savings
6. Assets
7. Insurance
8. Retirement savings