GreenSky Wealth

The headline here is a little misleading, as this rise is only a "near certainty" at present. But it is a little bit of good news that The Treasury expects the new full state pension to be boosted above inflation in April 2025.

However, as we always like to remind you, relying on the state pension to fund your retirement is not a great strategy. If you're keen to put a more robust plan in place, give us a call 📱

State pension to rise by over £400 next year This will take the full state pension for men who have retired since 1951 and women since 1953 to around £12,000 in 2025/26.

Another month almost over, which is as good a reason as any to share some more positive feedback...

Did you know…the rules have changed and you can now open more than one cash ISA each year.

The deposit limit remains £20k in total, but this new flexibility might be helpful if you want to save into different pots for different life goals, for example.

That's the simplified version of events. If you want to make the most of your ISA allowances, be sure to speak to a member of the team.

The office will be closed on Monday for the Bank Holiday. See you Tuesday! ☀️

Scams: we don't want to set off any unnecessary alarm bells but there's a lot of noise out there at the moment around scams.

If you are ever unsure whether any communication you receive from us is genuine, simply get in touch with your advisor or call the office number. One of the many advantages of being a small team is that you can reach us directly for that extra reassurance should you need it 👍

When the idea of launching GreenSky Wealth first evolved, one of the things we all agreed on was that we would never set ourselves sales targets. That way, we are always free to focus on what's best for you rather than what's best for us. We've stuck by that and always will 🙌🏼

According to recent research, nearly a third of young adults with mortgages in the UK don't have life insurance? 😱

That's 1.7 million homeowners who could leave their loved ones with a financial burden if the unexpected happens.

Life insurance may not be the most exciting expense, but it's a crucial part of protecting your family's financial future. In your 30s and 40s, your financial responsibilities are likely to be at their highest, with a mortgage, children, and potentially caring for elderly parents, so it can be tempting to let life insurance slip down the list. But it really should be prioritised.

Here at GreenSky Wealth, we can help you review your protection to make sure you're covered.

Don't wait until it's too late. Contact us today for a free consultation!

Want to know more about what it means to be Chartered Financial Planners?

Here's a handy summary video:

What being Chartered means (FP) This is "What being Chartered means (FP)" by CII group on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

What might Taylor Swift have to do with interest rates? 🧐 Read on...

There's been a lot going on in the news lately, so you'd be forgiven for missing the interest rate cut at the end of last week.

Want to know what it means for you? We can always rely on our friends at Unbiased to put together a handy summary (which also solves the Taylor Swift question).

👉 https://www.unbiased.co.uk/news/family-finances/interest-rates-cut-to-5-the-potential-impact-on-mortgage-and-savings-rates

Our investment ethos is: Your Money. Your Goals. Your Portfolio.

Our independence is your peace of mind. 100% unbiased. No conflicts of interest, and no nasty hidden charges. Just honest, transparent and fully independent advice. The way it should be. 🙌🏼

Did you know, you can ask us to help your investment stay in line with your moral compass?

Ethical investing has become a very popular investment choice in recent years. Broadly speaking, it's about supporting companies who make positive contributions to society and avoid investing in harmful activities.

Does that sound like a bit of you? Get in touch today and we can guide you through the dos and don’ts of ethical investing.

[email protected] | 01603 340 800

Launching your child's future? Let's fuel the rocket!

If you've got kids, you'll want to give them the best start in life. But the financial launchpad can be tricky. Uni? First home? They're expensive!

We can help you craft a personalised investment plan to build a significant nest egg for their future.

Here's where we come in:

👉 Goal setting: Whether it's education, a deposit for their first home, or a head start on retirement, we'll define the target together.
👉 Investment options: We'll explore investment options that fit your goals and risk tolerance.
👉 Access control: Decide when your child has access, ensuring responsible use.
👉 Tax-smart strategies: We'll minimise the tax impact to maximise the benefit.

Ready to chart your child's financial course? Contact us today!

When was the last time you reviewed your pension?

Love them or loathe them, pensions are likely to be the supporting your ideal retired lifestyle for 20 or 30 years so you want to make sure they are in ship shape!

If you don’t fancy doing it yourself, we can look after your pension and give it the love and attention it deserves.

Drop us a line if it’s time you dusted off that old pension pot: [email protected] or 01603 340 800

This is your regular reminder that we have an awesome app/portal that makes life nice and easy for our clients to stay up-to-date with their finances. My GreenSky - if you've not got it, you're missing out!

👉 Find out more: https://greenskywealth.co.uk/my-greensky/

You insure your home, your car, your watch collection, but are you insuring your most important asset? Your finances.

It’s all very well and good building up your wealth but if you’re not protecting it, you could end up seeing your fortune dwindling away covering life’s unexpected events.

Or leave your loved one with considerably less than they deserve when you shuffle off your mortal coil. 😬

An IFA may not be your first thought when it comes to arranging financial protection, but we would argue that they should be! Get in touch if you'd like to talk.

What does a new Labour government mean for your finances?

Well, that remains to be seen! With a big black hole in the country's finances, there's a huge amount of pressure to take action. Their manifesto promised to not raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT, but there could be tax rises elsewhere. Many are speculating that Capital Gains Tax could become a target for the new government, for example.

We'll be listening closely over the coming months to learn more about the plans. The Autumn Budget is likely to be enlightening!

⚽️ 🎾 The Euros, Wimbledon and soon the Olympics. There's a lot of sport going on at the moment. Which got us to thinking about the challenges young professional sportspeople may face when it comes to their finances (what can we say, it's in our blood!) ⚽️ 🎾

With the possibility of a shorter career, fluctuations in earnings and the risk of career ending injury, there are lots of things to consider. That potentially makes it even more important to start financial planning at an early stage.

If you know a young pro sportsperson who could do with some advice to help them understand how the rewards of their current situation can provide financial security in the future - send them our way!

Forget generational labels - your finances are unique!

A recent study by Unbiased found that financial media often portrays different generations in negative ways when it comes to their finances. This can be harmful because it can damage people's relationship with money.

For example:

👉 In 57% of personal finance articles, millennials typically receive positive coverage and are traditionally seen as victims and ‘trapped have-nots.’

Compared to...

👉 Only a quarter of articles directed at so-called baby boomers have a positive sentiment, with 53% of their stories coming across negatively and creating a narrative of ‘selfish haves.’

This emotive language of generational stereotyping is making people feel trapped.

The truth is, everyone's financial situation is different. A good financial advisor can help you plan for your future, regardless of your age.

Let's ditch the stereotypes and focus on what matters most - your financial goals 🙌

You can read the full report here: https://www.unbiased.co.uk/news/family-finances/why-generational-labels-are-harming-our-finances

According to the World Economic Forum, the average person has 12 jobs in their lifetime. That means there could be 12 different pension pots. That's a lot to keep track of!

If you want to make sure your pension is working hard for you, and that you've not misplaced any along the way, speaking with a financial adviser can be a very good place to start.

What you do now could have a bit impact on what your retirement looks like, so get in touch - we'd love to help!

Applying for a mortgage? 🏡

Did you know that having life insurance in place could make you a stronger candidate in the eyes of mortgage lenders? They know that should something happen to you, other members of your household will be protected.

A decreasing term life insurance policy is often used with a repayment mortgage, as the amount paid out decreases as the balance on your mortgage reduces.

Want to know more about the benefits of life insurance? Speak to a member of our team today.
Photo by Johnny Brewer on Unsplash

Did you know that 64 countries are due to hold elections this year (including us, of course). That represents over half the global population 😲

Election season can bring market ups and downs, but don't let the noise drown out your goals. A diversified portfolio acts like a compass, keeping your investments aligned with your long-term plans, regardless of the political climate.

Ready to chart a course for financial success? Let's chat!

(Photo by NASA on Unsplash)

Not all financial advisors are created equal!

As INDEPENDENT financial advisers, we're free to find the best financial products for YOU, not tied to any one provider. This means unbiased advice tailored to your goals, whether it's saving for retirement, planning for your family's future, or growing your wealth.

Make informed decisions about your finances. Contact us today for a free consultation 🙌🏼

"Fabulous one to one support in managing pensions, investments and overall wealth portfolio. Incredibly honest and trustworthy team to manage your money!"

More kind words from one of our lovely customers 😍

Take a moment to have a quick daydream and tell us...

What does retirement look like to you? 🤔

Are we talking cup of tea and slippers, cruises and cabaret or studying for that degree you always wanted? We'd love to know!



Photo by iStrfry , Marcus on Unsplash

Did you know...we've been Chartered for over 8 years!

And we think that's something to be proud of.

Being officially recognised as Chartered Financial Planners means we’ve satisfied rigorous criteria to prove that we’re committed to ethical behaviour, excellent customer service and delivering best practice in everything we do. It sets us amongst the very top firms in the UK 🙌🏼

In case you missed it, there's a general election looming. And with it comes potential changes to policies that could affect your finances 💷

Our friends at Unbiased have prepared this handy article that explores key areas to consider, including pensions and savings plans.

The article breaks down the policies of the Conservative and Labour parties, giving you a clearer picture of how your finances might be impacted depending on the election outcome.

Financial planning is key! Knowing what to expect can help you make informed decisions about your future.

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.unbiased.co.uk/news/family-finances/key-personal-finance-areas-and-policies-to-look-out-for-before-the-general-election

Worried about the impact of the election on your finances? We can help! Contact us today for a free consultation.

Just giving ourselves another little pat on the back - thanks Richard!

Has that extra long weekend got you dreaming about your retirement?

If retirement for you means relocating to a new spot, this article lists 20 of the most popular places to retire to in the UK.

It explores what to consider when choosing your perfect spot, from seaside towns 🏖️ to bustling cities 🏙️ They even give you the inside scoop on prices! 👀

Let us help you plan your dream retirement.

👉 https://www.unbiased.co.uk/discover/pensions-retirement/planning-for-retirement/the-top-20-places-to-retire-in-the-uk



Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend 😎

We'll be back on
Tuesday 28th May

ESG investing has become more mainstream in recent years. But did you know, it's something we've been banging the drum about for a really long time!

Not quite sure what we mean by ESG investing? This guide is a handy intro. We wrote it several years ago now, but the basics remain the same so why not have a quick read?!

👉 https://greenskywealth.co.uk/environmental-social-and-governance-101-what-is-esg-investing/