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.
How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost?
In later life, many of us will probably need long-term care in one form or another. It is a good idea to think ahead about your likely care requirements, so you know in advance what kinds of care are available, what these might cost, and whether you…
NorthStar’s Latest Investment Results Are In (February 2018)
One of the key services we provide our clients is investment management. As well as helping our clients protect the wealth they have already accumulated, it’s also crucial to help them grow their wealth over time. We have developed a unique investme…
Don’t Suffer a Pension Hangover
You can now draw out your whole pension pot in one go – at least in theory. But, like drinking a whole bottle of champagne, what might sound fun can end up being a headache. If you don’t want a tax-induced hangover, it pays to know your limits. A pensio…
Become Financially ‘Lucky’
Is luck something you can catch or is it something you can cultivate? And what about when it comes to your finances? Can you make yourself financially ‘lucky’? Luck. It seems a silly idea to take seriously. When it comes to our finances, can we reall…
Will My Workplace Pension Be Protected?
The collapse of Carillion has once again drawn attention to the pension schemes of companies that go into administration. Following similar cases at BHS and Tata Steel, members of the Carillion scheme will need to be moved into the Pension Protection…
Check Out These Free Online Financial Courses from True Potential and the Open University Business School
We believe that a major cause of the UK ‘Savings Gap’ is a lack of financial education. In fact, research by the Open University found that 70% of UK adults answered GCSE level personal finance questions incorrectly. Understanding your finances is th…
Quick Ways to Detox Your Finances This January
By now, we’re betting you’re sick of the sight of tinsel, the smell of turkey and you’re regretting those eight mince pies you scoffed during the Queen’s Speech. The health industry knows you’re feeling over-indulged right now so push lots of regimes…
More Ways Star Wars Can Teach Us About Money
Last year we shared four money lessons we can take from the original Star Wars movies. With the latest addition to the franchise, The Last Jedi in cinemas, we thought it was time to see what lessons can be found from the likes of Poe, Finn, Rey and K…
We’re Taking on the 2018 Isle of Wight Challenge to Raise Money for MyBnk
Our founders, James Thompson and Derek Pegg have just signed up to take on the 2018 Isle of Wight Challenge - hoping to walk the full 66 mile (106 km) course in one...
KnowlEDGE Digital Magazine – Winter 2017
We’ve just published our exclusive quarterly digital magazine for Winter 2017. You can read and download your copy for free. Another year is almost complete, Christmas is round the corner and the days are dark and cold…
See Annuities in a New Light
Annuities have made a comeback. Having gone from being compulsory to being as fashionable as chintz, they’ve seen a surge in popularity since last year. But why? Some are suggesting it boils down to one word: certainty.Think about the past 30 years…
Budget 2017 – What You Really Need to Know
We take a look at the key themes from the budget last week and assess how they may impact you. Who were the winners and who were the losers and what does it all mean for your finances? The economy – plenty more pain on the way. From a forecast point…
Your Home as Your Retirement Fund – the Pros and Cons
New research suggests that homeowners are saving less into pensions than people who rent their properties. Some are clearly banking on their house as a source of money in later life – but when it comes to retirement, is property or a pension your bes…
Better off Dead – Six Money Habits That Should Be Extinct
In this article, we take a look at some scary money habits that really should be extinct. None of us are perfect, but being a dinosaur with your dough can cost you...
We’re Offering Free ‘Money Talk’ Sessions as Part of Financial Capability Week 2017
NorthStar Wealth Management is proud to announce their involvement in this year’s Financial Capability Week. Launching Monday 13 November, ‘FinCap Week’ will celebrate, showcase and amplify the work underway to improve financial capability in the UK…
13 Financial Horrors to Avoid This Halloween
They can suck you dry and haunt you for years. No, it’s not the supernatural, but 13 very real financial horrors that could end up costing you cash. You don’t need a clove of garlic or silver bullet to avoid them though. Just following some simple ti..
6 Ways That Advisers Beat Robots
So you’ve heard about ‘robo-advice’ – you’re just not sure what it means. Could online apps really deliver a service comparable to financial advice? Here are some reasons to be sceptical. Isn’t modern technology fab? You can chat to far-flung friends…
Imagine Your Entire Financial Life Compressed Into a Single Day
You’ve heard of the biological clock – but did you know about your financial clock? Raising the money for life’s milestones takes time, and that time is more limited than you think. See what your life might look like if you lived it in just one day…
Use the Force: What Star Wars Can Teach Us About Money
With the first Star Wars movie released 40 years ago, we wanted to share four lessons about money we can all learn from Luke, Leia, Han and co. 1. A drink can cost you an arm (though not a leg). In Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi (a Jedi) takes Luke to a ba…
Sitting Pretty – Why Your Baby Needs a Pension
Welcome to the world of extreme financial planning. If you can’t imagine starting a pension pot for a baby, you’re not alone. But thanks to their ultra-forward thinking parents, some toddlers might be growing up on a gold mine. Picture the scene at p…
Are We More Loyal to Our Banks Than Our Spouses?
Is it true that we’re more likely to dump our partners than we are to change our bank accounts? Although most of us would nod at the adage “a change is as good as a rest”, it’s unlikely that we truly believe it, at least when it comes to our bank accou…
KnowlEDGE Digital Magazine – Autumn 2017
We’ve just published our exclusive quarterly digital magazine for Autumn 2017. You can read and download your copy for free. As summer slowly fades into Autumn it’s time for another edition of KnowlEDGE magazine. In this issue we look at ways to prot…
Six Ways Your Gender Shapes Your Attitude to Money
Is there a gulf between men and women in how they manage their finances? Research suggests there might be. See if you can escape your gender stereotype. Is a pound in a purse the same as one in a wallet? We’ve been looking at research into the at resear…
How to Avoid Your Pension Becoming Shipwrecked
Ready to set sail for pension freedom? Then watch out for those rocks. There are more ways than ever to get the kind of retirement you dream of – but for a whole generation these are uncharted waters. Here are seven reasons why you may need an expert…
NorthStar’s Latest Investment Results Are In
One of the key services we provide our clients is investment management. As well as helping our clients protect the wealth they have already accumulated, it’s also crucial to help them grow their wealth over time. nWe have developed a unique investme…
Six Ways to Light up Your Investments This Summer
Whether it’s a barbecue summer or not, here are some tips for fanning the flames of your portfolio – without getting your fingers burned. Over to Sally, our al fresco investor: Hi! Lovely to see you, come on in. Ooh, you made couscous salad! Just pop…
What’s the Value of Financial Advice? About £40,000 According to New Research
New research has added further weight to the growing evidence that taking professional financial advice leaves people significantly better off over the long-term. The research by the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC-UK), supported by Royal Lo…
Cash vs Shares – Which Would You Put Money On?
The run-up to the EU referendum saw investment fund managers shovelling assets from equities (stocks & shares) into cash, over fears that a Brexit would cause another financial meltdown and send stock markets into freefall. Investment portfolios had…
A Glowing Tan Without Financial Burn
Fees and hidden costs for using credit and debit cards abroad are increasing. Make sure you don’t return home to some blistering bills. Having survived the winter and made it through the spring, the sun has finally got its hat on! Summer is here and…
Savings Looking Deflated? Seven Ways to Spend Smarter and Save More
With interest rates so low right now, your savings may be starting to look distinctly flat. But you can still beat inflation with some money-inflating tricks of your own. If you find that whenever you check your savings you get a sinking feeling, the…
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.
