Putting financial plans in place for retirement can often feel overwhelming and navigating the complexities of the pension system can be daunting for many. With further changes to an extremely complicated system recently announced, it’s never been mo…
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 to Become a Pension Millionaire
Becoming a ‘pension millionaire’ might seem like a pipe dream, particularly in view of the cost-of-living pressures many people are facing. But it may be more attainable than some people think when you combine regular and cost-efficient investing with…
New Report Finds One in Three Brits Facing Hardship in Retirement
Retirement should be a period of relaxation and enjoyment after years of hard work. However, a recent report has revealed a concerning trend in the retirement landscape for Britons. The study conducted by Scottish Widows, a renowned pension provider…
Women’s Pensions Worth a Third Less Than Men’s – How Can We Close the Gender Pensions Gap?
In today’s society, achieving financial security in retirement is a crucial concern for individuals. However, a disheartening disparity persists between women and men when it comes to pension savings. Recent statistics reveal that women’s pensions ar…
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…
How to Boost Your Pension Pot When Money Is Tight
The cost of living crisis is forcing many of us to cut back on important things. In most cases, non-essential expenses such as holidays, takeaways, and nights out are being sacrificed. But for some of those really feeling the pinch, retirement goals a…
Four Questions to Ask Before Buying an Annuity
With rates at 14-year highs, the annuity revival is in full swing. But there’s lots to consider before trading your retirement savings for a lifelong income. We’ve all been there at some point. We buy something which, at the time, we’re more…
Scrooge’s Christmas Pension Plan
Herein lies a tale in which a youthful gentleman of casual bearing has an unsettling encounter with an irascible festive spirit, which in its wisdom enlightens the young fellow with useful and practical pension advice. Sitting comfortably? Then let us beg…
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…
75% of Brits Fear Cost of Living Crisis Will Impact Their Retirement
Brits are putting retirement plans on hold and many are worried that they will be financially stretched due to the rising cost of living, according to a recent survey. According to the Unbiased survey, three quarters of those aged 50 and over are wor…
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…
Pension Triple Lock: What Is It and Why Is It Changing?
The government has confirmed its plan to suspend the ‘triple lock’ for annual state pension increases for a year. A key part of previous budget commitments since its introduction in 2010, the triple lock ensures the UK state pension continues to rise…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Will You Ever Retire? You Need to Start Planning If You Want to Stop Working
The later you leave it to think about your retirement, the less likely you’ll be able to fund the lifestyle you want when you’re older – and it seems lots of people now think they’ll have to keep on working beyond the age when they thought they’d be…
Surge in Demand for Pension Advice Amid COVID-19 Confusion
Nearly twice as many people are seeking pension drawdown advice as pension withdrawals hit a new high in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. But those acting without independent advice risk making some big mistakes. The UK has seen a rapid rise in the…
Cost of Divorce Following Couples into Retirement
People who divorce may face an ongoing financial hit from it throughout their retirement, according to new research by Prudential. Younger divorcees and women especially are making potentially very costly mistakes by under-valuing their pensions. The…
Are You a 40-Year-Old Pension Virgin?
You may be well on the way to middle age, but some of life’s most important mysteries still remain unexplored. It’s natural to be shy about discussing it in public – but in this new era of pension freedom, practically everyone’s doing it. Shouldn’t y…
Self-Employed? Don’t Forget Your Pension
They say ‘Don’t ignore the workplace pension’ – but that’s exactly what many self-employed people are doing. If you are your own boss, saving into a pension is easy to forget about – but if anything, it’s even more important to remember. Thanks to a…
Over £19 Billion ‘Lost’ in Forgotten UK Pensions
UK workers have lost track of up to 1.6 million workplace pension pots, according to the latest estimates. A lack of understanding of how to manage pension savings could result in many people being substantially worse off in retirement. Failure to ke…
How Your Child Can Retire a Millionaire
For the truly patient parent, there’s a little-known trick for setting your child up for life – later life, that is. A Junior SIPP may offer the most affordable long-term route to a millionaire’s retirement for your daughter or son. Starting a pensio…
Pension Contribution Hikes Spell Good News Long-Term
The mandatory minimum contribution into workplace pensions is set to increase in April, as part of the government’s bid to prevent a future pensions crisis. Consequently, millions of workers who are paying the current minimum will see their take-home…
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.