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Insights and opinions

Expert opinions on markets, trends and financial planning.

The objective of this page is to present users with objective news, information, data and guidance on personal finance topics drawn from a diverse collection of sources including affiliated and non-affiliated financial services publications. Content is not intended to provide tax, legal, insurance or investment advice and should not be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security or investment by any Fidelity entity or any third-party. Please note that the views expressed may no longer be current.

Paul Squirrell

Retiring by instalments

These days retirement is a nebulous concept. It’s not always obvious where work ends and retirement begins.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 10 Dec 2024

Ed Monk

Post-Budget and US election – is it time to invest again?

Where do investors stand following two significant events?

Ed Monk

Ed Monk Fidelity International - 14 Nov 2024

Paul Squirrell

The fallacy of a ‘smile’ retirement

There is a view that expenditure in retirement resembles the shape of a smile. For some people this may be true, but for most people ‘smile’ isn’t the path they’ll follow.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 08 Nov 2024

Paul Richards

Adviser optimism abounds as firms position themselves for growth

Each year, we examine the opportunities and challenges facing advice businesses through our IFA DNA research programme, a survey1 of 200 financial advisers from firms large and small.

Paul Richards

Paul Richards Head of Adviser Distribution, Fidelity International - 07 Nov 2024

Tom Stevenson

Autumn Budget 2024 – what it means for your clients and their money

No surprises from Rachel Reeves’s tax-spend-and-borrow Budget

Tom Stevenson

Tom Stevenson Fidelity International - 30 Oct 2024

Paul Squirrell

Why the 4% rule shouldn’t be ‘the tail that wags the dog’

The recent FCA thematic review of retirement advice questioned whether a single rate, that doesn’t reflect individual circumstances, is appropriate.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 18 Oct 2024

Katie Beecroft

AI and Cybersecurity – a new era

With AI becoming increasingly prevalent in both the professional and personal spheres, it is essential to understand the potential security risks, alongside the very real advantages associated with this innovative technology.

Katie Beecroft

Katie Beecroft Risk and Security, Fidelity International - 02 Oct 2024

Katie Beecroft

Cybersecurity: addressing behavioural risks

Why individuals – both advisers and their clients – may be unable to work in the most secure way possible.

Katie Beecroft

Katie Beecroft Risk and Security, Fidelity International - 18 Sep 2024

Ed Monk

What the end of NS&I 6.2% bond tells us about cash savings

The past year has been a golden period for anyone looking for interest on their cash, with savings rates beating inflation by the highest amount in years.

Ed Monk

Ed Monk Fidelity International - 17 Sep 2024

Katie Beecroft

Attack of the TOADs

A TOAD attack, which stands for Telephone-Oriented Attack Delivery, is a relatively new type of cyber attack combining voice and phishing techniques.

Katie Beecroft

Katie Beecroft Risk and Security, Fidelity International - 11 Sep 2024

Andrew Oxlade

Will Labour change the State Pension age?

Why official pension ages may change again

Andrew Oxlade

Andrew Oxlade Fidelity International - 30 Aug 2024

Claire Altman

Retirement income: why smoothed funds and why now?

Has the recent market volatility along with significant regulatory change prompted some difficult conversations about retirement income with your clients?

Claire Altman

Claire Altman Managing Director, Individual Retirement, Standard Life - 29 Jul 2024

Ed Monk

Labour's possible pension changes - what chance they happen?

There was little known about Labour’s plans for our retirement savings prior to last week’s general election - the party’s manifesto contained only a handful of mentions of pensions.

Ed Monk

Ed Monk Fidelity International - 17 Jul 2024

Tom Stevenson
Tom Stevenson

Tom Stevenson Fidelity International - 08 Jul 2024

Tom Stevenson

Election manifestos compared: your at-a-glance guide

Tom Stevenson compares the politicians’ pitches

Tom Stevenson

Tom Stevenson Fidelity International - 20 Jun 2024

Claire Altman

Are smoothed funds the answer to major FCA concerns?

While the dust may have settled on the FCA’s Retirement Income Review, the regulator has stressed that retirement income advice would remain a key focus for its activities moving forward.

Claire Altman

Claire Altman Managing Director, Individual Retirement, Standard Life - 18 Jun 2024

Tom Stevenson

How higher interest rates could transform our retirement

Tom Stevenson looks at the inflation story across both sides of the Atlantic and the impact this may have on our investment returns.

Tom Stevenson

Tom Stevenson Fidelity International - 07 Jun 2024

Ed Monk

The ‘£287,560’ cost of matching the State Pension

We explain Triple Lock Plus - and the real value of your pension.

Ed Monk

Ed Monk Fidelity International - 06 Jun 2024

Paul Squirrell

Capital gains and Investment Accounts

At face value, calculating the gains or losses on unit trusts and OEICs may seem a straightforward process. However, in reality it can be quite complicated.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 23 Apr 2024

Paul Squirrell

Maximising tax benefits within an ISA

Three brief observations about Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and their tax benefits.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 17 Apr 2024

Paul Squirrell

Investing beyond pensions and ISAs

What should clients do when they have money to invest but have already made their pension contributions and used up their ISA allowance?

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 17 Apr 2024

Paul Squirrell

Pensions are now even more attractive to those saving for retirement

The attraction of saving into a pension became a whole lot more in March 2023 when a number of pension allowances were boosted in the Spring Budget.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 17 Apr 2024

Paul Squirrell

Pensions – still the first port of call for retirement savings

In this article, I want to illustrate why pensions are still the starting point for clients saving for their retirement.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 17 Apr 2024

Paul Squirrell

The LTA replacement regime explained

When the new tax year begins on 6 April 2024, the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) replacement will come into force.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 17 Apr 2024

Paul Squirrell

Beneficiary flexi-access drawdown (BFAD) conundrum

Pitfalls and issues to be considered with the payment of beneficiaries flexi-access drawdown death benefits.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 06 Apr 2024

Paul Squirrell

Transitional tax-free amount certificates

Applications need to made before the first RBCE in the new tax year.

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 25 Mar 2024

Katie Beecroft

Spotlight on Generative Artificial Intelligence

Given the rapid emergence of new technologies, continued awareness of cybersecurity is crucial in today's world.

Katie Beecroft

Katie Beecroft Risk and Security, Fidelity International - 20 Mar 2024

Tom Stevenson

Spring Budget 2024 - what it means for your clients' money

British ISA, NI cuts and changes to child benefit.

Tom Stevenson

Tom Stevenson Fidelity International - 06 Mar 2024

Paul Squirrell

Planning opportunities at tax year end

A high-level look at some of the main considerations for financial planners

Paul Squirrell

Paul Squirrell Head of Retirement and Savings Development - 18 Jan 2024

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