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.
We’re Supporting Financial Planning Week 2021
We’re pleased to announce our support for Financial Planning Week 2021. This will be the fifth year we have been involved with this nationwide campaign and we’re delighted to be among a select group of companies chosen to support this initiative. Run…
NorthStar’s Latest Investment Results Continue to Deliver
Global investment markets continued to push higher in recent months as many countries began to lift COVID restrictions. Vaccination rollouts have allowed most governments in Europe and North America to start to re-open their economies with consumer d…
Pensions Warning for Generation X
As Covid disrupts pension saving for millions of workers, one generation in particular may see its best-laid retirement plans going awry. But are these latest findings just another reminder than we should all be trying harder to save for old age? Ask…
Many Brits Still Missing Opportunities for Their Money
People in the UK still have good saving habits, with 8 out of 10 households managing to put away at least something every month. But low interest rates and an aversion to risk have left many losing money to inflation. Can a nation of savers learn to…
Your Chance to Enhance Your Annuity
If you have a health condition or certain lifestyle issues, you may be entitled to more money in retirement. Currently around 1 in 5 who buy an annuity manage to get this ‘enhancement’ – but there’s evidence that three times as many people may qualif…
Grow Old Gracefully with Phased Retirement
Retirement age? What’s that? These days it’s not about a date but a timescale: you might gradually retire over five, ten or even fifteen years. We are now firmly in the era of phased retirement – and it’s largely thanks to pension freedom. Not only c…
‘Ethical’ Investing Predicted to Double in 2021
New research shows that many investors are beginning to move their capital into ‘greener’ investments in response to the threat of climate change – and are increasingly avoiding assets with a big environmental impact. There’s nothing investors like t…
Gen-Z: Young Adults Get Pension-Savvy
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. New findings show that the pension saving message is at last filtering through to young people. But are the older generations now the ones who are being complacent? Generation Z (adults under 24) are al…
Five Things Students Can Teach You About Money
When you think of students and their money, it wouldn’t be a shocker if they were not very positive thoughts. Rather than saving, or managing their bills effectively, students are more likely to spend their loan on booze, takeaways and more booze. Ri…
Why Retiring Early May Be Harder Than You Think
Many Brits still have unrealistic expectations of when they’ll be able to retire – and it’s a worrying sign of how little they think seriously about their pensions. We compare the dreams with the realities and explains how to bring them closer together…
NorthStar Is Now a ‘Climate Positive’ Company
At NorthStar, we believe the long-term sustainability of our planet is crucial. Last week (22 April) we supported Earth Day 2021. In support of this movement, we are pleased to announce that NorthStar is now a ‘climate positive’ company. We have part…
NorthStar Again Named As ‘Top Rated’ by Independent Rating Site VouchedFor
We are delighted to be included in the VouchedFor Top Rated Financial Adviser Guide again this year. Distributed in The Times this weekend, the guide showcases the very best financial planners in the UK. The designation as a ‘Top Rated’ adviser demon…
Has COVID-19 Changed Your Retirement Plans?
One of the pandemic’s lesser effects is how it has upset many long-term plans. Many Brits have been forced to reassess their retirement choices and perhaps make snap decisions. But if your planned retirement looks suddenly in doubt, what should you d…
Having a Baby? Top Financial Tips for New Parents
When it comes to life-changing events, few are as big as having your first child. New parents will find their lives are never the same again. When you become a parent, you will face all manner of challenges. Adjusting to a new way of life can be tricky an…
Budget 2021 Special: 12 Key Takeaways
Rishi Sunak delivered his second Budget yesterday. Set against a backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, the Chancellor set out a ‘spend now, tax later’ set of proposals. With the economy suffering one of the biggest shocks in a century and sit…
Are You in a Pension Savings Risk Group?
The self-employed, home renters and those from ethnic minorities have been identified as most at risk from insufficient pension savings, according to a new report. We take a deeper look at who is more likely to be retirement-ready, and who may need t…
NorthStar’s Latest Investment Results Exceed Expectations
Despite challenging economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, stock markets have rallied in recent months, buoyed by the rollout of vaccines and an expectation that economic activity will soon pick up. This had driven positive investment r…
How Financial Advice Can Make You Lucky in Love
Does the secret of true love come down to your attitude to money? We look at the role of financial compatibility and whether a Financial Adviser could be your Cupid in disguise. Amazingly, arguments about money are as big a trigger of relationship br…
Start the New Year With a Holistic Financial Plan
What Exactly Is ‘Financial Planning’? At NorthStar, our work is broadly split into two distinct types. Project work and financial planning work. Most of our clients start with a project of some description. This may be a pension review, setting up a…
Are Your Loved Ones Keeping Money Secrets From You?
It looks like us Brits are a secretive bunch. This is especially the case when it comes to our money. We really don’t like sharing the state with our finances with anyone – not even those closest to us. There are lots of money secrets you might be ke…
Wisdom from Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come
As Ebenezer Scrooge once observed, the festive season can be expensive. Enjoy good cheer all year round with our wisdom from Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come. Scrooge is probably the most famous of all Charles Dickens’s creations. He’s also…
One in Three Brits Don’t Know How Big a Pension Pot They’ll Need to Fund Their Retirement
New research shows that over 1 in 3 Brits don’t know how big a pension pot they’ll need, and 1 in 5 don’t even know how much they have. It’s an age-old question (in more ways than one): how much pension do I need to save right now, in order to have e…
Women – A Great Opportunity to Get Your Pension in Shape
Financial independence is a cornerstone of gender equality. Yet a majority of women are letting it slip through their fingers, by not saving enough into their pensions. But why do so many women overlook retirement planning – and what should you be do…
Financial Decisions Are Tough, but Are Women Better at Them?
Research by UCL and Barclays has confirmed that people struggle most of all with financial decisions. But while some women are emerging as more confident investors with the rewards to show for it, others are being left behind. Believe it or not, peop…
Is Your Annual Allowance Endangered by the Taper?
You can normally pay up to £40,000 into a pension each year and receive tax relief on it – this is your annual allowance. But you need to beware of not one but two big risks to your allowance, which could cost you a lot in tax. When you first heard a…
One in Six Over-55s Have No Pension Savings
Research reveals that a fifth of Brits still have no pension savings at all, and people near retirement aren’t doing much better. But it’s never too late to benefit from pensions. One in six Britons who are within sight of their retirement still have…
Cashless UK May Come Too Soon, Experts Warn
The UK is at risk of ‘sleepwalking into a cashless society’ before it is ready, according to a recent report. Alternative payment methods may make cash obsolete by 2026 – but millions of people remain reliant on cash for everyday payments. Cash payme
Get Ready For Financial Planning Week 2020
We’re delighted to be among a select group of companies taking part in Financial Planning Week 2020. Running from 5th to 11th October 2020, Financial Planning Week is a nationwide campaign offering free financial planning sessions and advice to provi…
Why Retirees Must Take Extra Care with Pension Withdrawals
People taking income from their pension pots are being unusually cautious at the moment, according to new figures. Economic uncertainty has prompted pensioners without a guaranteed income to spend less and take a prudent approach. A significant drop…
Women Lag Behind Men in Pension Planning
Nearly half of women in the UK haven’t thought about how much income they want in retirement, or how much they need to save to get it. New research suggests that women may be less pension-conscious than men – but why? Around four in 10 women in the UK…
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.
