Gaps in financial education are leaving many teenagers unprepared for managing their money and becoming independent. The good news is that most teenagers are eager to learn and understand the importance of mastering their money. As a parent or guardi…
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 The General Election Result Could Affect Your Finances
As the upcoming election approaches, the parties are setting out their plans for the economy. With just a few weeks to go, voters are keen to understand how proposed changes will affect their personal finances. From taxes and pensions to childcare an…
Fall in Love with Your Finances This Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is more than just chocolates and roses; it’s a time to celebrate love and unity. Amidst the romantic gestures and thoughtful gifts, it’s also an ideal moment to consider your financial journey with your partner. Establishing a robust…
Preparing for a Century: Financial Considerations for Living to 100
As human lifespans extend further, it’s crucial to address the financial implications this longevity brings. This article explores the challenges ahead and provides actionable steps to ensure a financially secure life as we consider the prospect of…
The New Year Financial Detox: Transforming Your Finances for a Prosperous 2024
As the New Year approaches, it’s the perfect moment to start thinking about a financial detox journey – revitalising your money habits to secure a brighter financial future in 2024. Much like detoxing your body, detoxing your finances involves a deli…
Seven Great Reasons to Take Financial Advice in 2023
The increasing cost of living has brought to the forefront the importance of seeking advice when making significant financial decisions. In 2023, the need for financial advice has never been more crucial. Here are seven compelling reasons why:
Cost of Living Crisis and Market Volatility Drive Increased Demand for Retirement Advice
New research from Aegon and NextWealth shows demand for retirement advice continuing to increase. The 2023 edition of the ‘Managing Lifetime Wealth: Retirement Planning in the UK’ report builds upon research conducted in previous years to show a numb…
What’s the Real Value of Financial Advice?
There is now mounting empirical evidence that financial advice can provide significant benefits for people of all ages and backgrounds. While many individuals may believe that they can manage their finances on their own, research now shows that those…
How to Plan for Retirement at Different Life Stages
As the retirement savings journey often spans several decades, it can be helpful to separate your plan into stages. This will help you achieve the right blend of enjoying today and funding tomorrow. Here we outline the key retirement planning consider…
How to Beat Inflation – Our Top Tips
With inflation in the UK currently at 9.9%, it’s little surprise that the impact of price rises is putting a significant financial strain on most households. Inflation is on the rise throughout the world but the UK is expected to experience faster pr…
We’re Proud to Support Financial Planning Week 2022
We’re pleased to announce our support for Financial Planning Week 2022. This will be the sixth 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…
How Much Money Do You Really Need for Your Retirement?
It’s tricky to know how much money you need stashed away to retire and live a lifestyle you’re happy with. While the amount will vary from person to person, we’ve put together some rough estimates, as well as the question you shoul…
Get Ready for Talk Money Week 2021
Talk Money Talk Pensions Week is taking place from 18th – 22nd November 2019 and is the annual event all about getting the public talking about money and pensions. The week is overseen by the Money and Pension Service – a new national body bringing t…
KnowlEDGE Digital Magazine – Autumn 2021
We’ve just published our exclusive quarterly digital magazine for autumn 2021. You can read and download your copy for free. As we move into autumn, we have some interesting and informative stories, expert analysis and topical news. Our main story lo…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Taking Financial Advice Could Make You £48K Better Off by the End of the Decade
Financial advice can leave non-affluent savers around £48,000 richer over 10 years, according to a report by the ILC. There is also new evidence that financial advice offers especially good value for the less well-off. Brits who took professional fi…
KnowlEDGE Digital Magazine – Spring 2020
We’ve just published our exclusive quarterly digital magazine for spring 2020. You can read and download your copy for free. This issue of KnowlEDGE, we take an in-depth look at how to give your finances a thorough spring clean. This is the perfect…
Budget 2020: What It Means for Your Money
The first Budget of Boris Johnston’s new government was certainly an eventful one. Rishi Sunak has only been Chancellor for a matter of weeks, but delivered one of the most wide-ranging set of announcements for many years. Along with Brexit, the new…
Old and Young Both Missing out on Advice Opportunities
More than half of Brits over 65 are yet to take advice on their finances, despite evidence that advice doubles financial confidence. At the same time, younger generations are failing to exploit advice opportunities. The UK’s baby boomers have largely…
KnowlEDGE Digital Magazine – Winter 2019
We’ve just published our exclusive quarterly digital magazine for winter 2019. You can read and download your copy for free. In this issue we focus on investment. Our cover story looks at the key factors to consider when selecting investment funds. T…
We’re Proud to Be Supporting Talk Money Talk Pensions Week 2019
Talk Money Talk Pensions Week is taking place from 18th – 22nd November 2019 and is the annual event all about getting the public talking about money and pensions. The week is overseen by the Money and Pension Service – a new national body bringing t…
Awards, Accreditations & Trade Associations
NorthStar is proud to be a member of the leading financial planning trade associations. Through a continued commitment to work to the highest professional standards and deliver real value to all clients, our work has been rewarded with a number of awards and professional accreditations.