NorthStar Blog
Welcome to the NorthStar Blog. The place for the latest news, information and opinion from the NorthStar team helping you stay on top of what's going on in the world of finance.
What Happens to the Money in Your Pension When You Die?
Many people have saved long and hard for their retirement using a pension to invest their money. It’s not only important to think about how your pension can best fund your own retirement, but also to think about how you could pass on your pension to your s…
Top Tips for Using Your Pension Freedom
We’re now more than a year into so-called ‘pension freedom’, and the UK is starting to get a feel for the new way in which pensions work. If you plan to take your pension within the next five to ten years, make your choices easier with these tips and rules…
7 Ways to Trim Your Inheritance Tax Bill
Is inheritance tax (IHT) still a thing? Yes, very much so. You may have heard the recent rumours of its death, in light of the government announcing a new ‘family home’ additional allowance from April 2017. This is a bit fiddly (from 2017 it will add £100,…
Lifetime ISA vs Pension – The Showdown
An intriguing new savings product has appeared on the horizon: the Lifetime ISA. Allowing tax-free saving with bonuses, both for a home and for retirement, it sounds similar in some ways to a pension. But what are the key differences?…
Can You Afford to Live to 100?
As people live ever longer lives, we look at the financial challenges this might present in future. We also consider what action we can take today to ensure we can all afford to live a long, happy and fulfilling life. People are living longer – much lon…
Pack Your Retirement Parachute
What is it about pensioners and parachutes? We turn 55 and feel suddenly compelled to fling ourselves from high places strapped to an outsized duvet cover. But by a neat coincidence, skydiving can teach us a crucial lesson about retirement. Picture the sc…
Annuities Under the Microscope
Pension annuity rates have been falling for some time – and the Brexit vote sent them tumbling still further. Can an annuity still provide could value for you in retirement, or should you explore other options? We take you through some ‘what if?’ scenarios…
Beat Brexit Pension Woes in 5 Moves
Annuity rates are at record lows and long-term uncertainty looms in the wake of the Brexit vote. We look at how can you plan your retirement income under these conditions. Since the country voted for Brexit on 23 June there has been both good and bad news…
Have You Tried Our Personal Portfolio Builder?
We have devised the Personal Portfolio Builder in conjunction with Morningstar to help you find out the best way to invest your money. This unique tool is completely free and you won’t have to enter any personal information to use it. Most investments car…
How Well Do You Know Your Workplace Pension?
Many more of us are saving into a workplace pension which is great news, but very few of us take any further interest in those pensions. By not looking more carefully at how your pension is invested, you could be missing out on tens or even hundreds of tho…
The Secrets to Choosing the Best Investment Funds
Most people have some form of investments. Whether it’s in a stocks and shares ISA, in a pension or a general investment account, we all hope our investments will provide us with a decent return and increase our wealth so we can afford the things we need i…
Can You Downsize to Fund Your Retirement?
For most people lucky enough to own one, their biggest financial asset is their house. And it may have been your long-term plan to sell up in retirement and live off the proceeds. But when it comes to the crunch, could you do it? Our ‘Look before you leap’…
How to Avoid Pension Rip Offs
With new freedoms come new risks Last week’s BBC Panorama show entitled ‘Pension Rip Offs Exposed’ highlighted a conundrum for people saving for their retirement. The reality is there are a lot of excellent pensions doing a great job for investors that w…
Is Financial Planning Really Worth the Cost?
Today, more than ever, most people demand good value from the products and services they buy. As a society, we’re now used to comparing prices and seeking out reviews before we buy anything to ensure we get the very best product at the very best price.…
Do You Know ‘Your Number’?
You may not have ever thought about it or never realised it, but we all have ‘a number’. Not just any number, but a number that just happens to be the most important number you will ever need to know. So what exactly is ‘your number’, what does it mean and…
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
In 1624, John Donne wrote “No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent”. Almost 400 years later, however, a narrow majority of the UK electorate did not appear to share his sentiments. In a very close vote with turnout of 7…
Have You Claimed Your Marriage Allowance Tax Break?
If we could have up to £432 for filling out a simple form, we’d all do it wouldn’t we? Well, apparently not. The marriage allowance is a tax break for married couples who meet the criteria but this has had a very poor take up. Some reports suggest that …
Can You Afford to Die? Costs Rising by Over 10% a Year
Thousands of people across the UK still fail to plan adequately for the future. Nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to funeral planning. While the majority of people plan ahead for weddings, holidays and Christmas, far fewer plan for the inevit…
What Would Brexit Mean for Your Investments?
With the referendum on EU membership a matter of weeks away, we consider what a vote to leave could mean for your investments. Should you be worried and what can you do if you are?…
8 Reasons Your Pension May Not Be Fit for Purpose
For most people, their pensions are likely to be their primary source of income in retirement. With average life expectancy in the UK rising all the time, pensions will have to fund our lifestyles for an even longer period. With this in mind, it is crucial…
How to Give Your Finances a Proper Spring Clean
Many people find it hard to make time to manage their money. As well as the complexities around financial products, we find that the biggest barrier to people staying in control of their money is often down to a lack of time and effort devoted to their fin…
Nearly Half of All People Face an Uncertain Retirement
A recent survey has found that 45% of people are unsure if they have made adequate provision to fund their own retirement. We have analysed recent data† on retirement planning and it leads us to some worrying conclusions. We strongly believe that people n…
Is Your Business Ready for the New Laws on Pensions Auto-Enrolment?
What is pensions auto-enrolment? The law on workplace pensions has changed. Every employer with at least one member of staff now has new duties, including enrolling those who are eligible into a workplace pension scheme and contributing towards it. This …
How to Choose a Great Financial Adviser
We’ve heard from many people that finding a good financial adviser or financial planner can be a daunting task. There are many pitfalls to watch out for and a myriad of options so how do you know who is right for you? We’ve tried to summarise the main thin…
Financial Fantasy Football
We know that few people find money and finances the most interesting of subjects but what if you thought about it like your fantasy football team? For the uninitiated, fantasy football is game where players choose footballers to form a ‘fantasy’ team. Wit…
NorthStar Has Arrived
We’re really excited to be able to formally open NorthStar today. It’s taken almost 2 years of research, planning, preparation and testing to get here, but here we are. We’re really delighted to be able to offer a fresh take on financial planning and thi…
Awards, Accreditations & Trade Associations
NorthStar is proud to be a member of the leading financial planning trade associations. Through a continued commitment to adhere to the highest professional standards and deliver exceptional service, NorthStar has received a number of awards and professional accreditations.
