Here’s an uncomfortable truth: your brain is actively sabotaging your retirement. Not through laziness or lack of discipline, but through a quirk of neuroscience that makes planning for your future feel like planning for someone else entirely. When you try to imagine yourself in 20 or 30 years, your brain doesn’t recognise that person as you. According to groundbreaking…
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.Twenty Simple Ways to Give Your Finances a Thorough Spring Clean
Spring has arrived, bringing longer days, warmer weather, and that unmistakable urge to declutter. But while you’re busy sorting through your wardrobe and cleaning behind the sofa, there might well be another area that deserves attention: your finances…
Don’t Be a Financial Dinosaur: Ten Outdated Money Habits to Ditch Today
Think dinosaurs died out millions of years ago? Think again. Some of them are still clinging on… in our financial behaviour. Old habits might feel comfortable, but they often belong in the past. In a world where money moves faster than ever, many…
Caught in the Middle: Essential Financial Strategies for the Sandwich Generation
Are you constantly juggling multiple demanding roles? Perhaps you’re helping your elderly parents manage their finances or healthcare, while simultaneously supporting your own children through education costs or even a first home. If this sounds like…
The True Cost of Christmas: What Brits Really Spend (and How to Cut Down Without Being Scrooge)
For many families, Christmas is the most wonderful (and most expensive) time of the year. Between presents, food, decorations, travel, and entertainment, the costs pile up faster than snow on Christmas morning. But just how much does the average Brit…
Mid-Year Money Makeover: How to Keep Your Finances on Track This Summer
Summer is here, and with it comes a chance to kick back, enjoy the sun, and maybe finally take that holiday you’ve been dreaming about. But just because we’re in the middle of the year doesn’t mean we should put financial planning on hold. In fact, s…
Building a Winning Financial Team: What Football Managers Can Teach Us About Financial Planning
Football is more than just a game; it’s a symphony of strategy, teamwork, and individual brilliance. Likewise, financial planning is an intricate dance that combines various elements – savings, investments, insurance, and retirement planning – to ach…
Eurovision Hits: Financial Planning Lessons from Winning Songs
With the Eurovision Song Contest set to take place in Basel in the coming days, it’s worth remembering some of the unforgettable tunes, incredible performances and powerful lyrics the contest has delivered over the years. But have you ever considered…
Financial New Year’s Resolutions That Stick: Turning Goals into Habits
As the new year begins, many of us find ourselves reflecting on our recent achievements and setting ambitious resolutions for the year ahead. However, when it comes to financial goals, we often fall short of our aspirations. The enthusiasm we feel in…
Ten Timeless Financial Lessons from Classic Christmas Stories
The festive season is brimming with beloved Christmas stories, carols, and folklore that warm our hearts and spark nostalgia. But beyond the festive cheer, these tales offer surprisingly valuable lessons about financial planning. Whether it’s learnin…
Preparing for Parenthood: Ten Essential Steps to Get Your Finances Ready for Having a Baby
Starting a family is exciting, life-changing, and yes, financially challenging. Kids are bundles of joy, but they’re also bundles of expenses, from nappy changes to nursery fees. The average cost of raising a child to age 18 is a whopping £166,000 fo…
Become a Financial Grandmaster: What Chess Can Teach Us About Money Management
Chess, a game with a rich history spanning over 1,500 years, has long captivated enthusiasts with its intricate strategies, intellectual challenges, and limitless possibilities. From the legendary grandmasters of the past to the millions of players e…
A Dozen Essential Finance Lessons to Teach Your Teenager
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…
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…
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.







































