With more of us living longer, the government is rethinking the state pension system to reduce the ever-growing burden on the treasury.

There are several major changes coming. The state pension will get a major overhaul in April, with the introduction of a new 'flat rate' payment to replace the unwieldy two-tier system.

Over the past few years, work has changed. The idea of working 9 to 5 in one place for decades has little appeal for modern workers. Rapidly changing technology and a competitive economy has already made the idea of a job for life obsolete. Now it is the very idea of a job itself that is under threat.

Auto enrolment pensions are here. For your employees, it means a first step to building a worthwhile pension plan- but for you as an employer, it means some serious headaches.

 

We’ve looked at some of the biggest, and at some of the solutions.

There are some big changes happening to personal finances in 2016, but the introduction of a Personal Savings Allowance may be the biggest of all. Under the new allowance, basic rate taxpayers will be able to earn £1,000 interest on their savings, tax free….

George Osborne delivered his eighth budget yesterday, featuring more spending cuts, a new type of ISA for young people, no change to petrol excise, the introduction of tax on sugary drinks and lots for small businesses.

We look at what you need to know and what it means for your money.

Whether you’re on the cusp of lifting your state pension, a fully paid up pensioner, or just planning your retirement, it’s something we all have to think about at some point in our lives.

For many of us, retirement represents a unique opportunity where we have time on our hands, freedom from the drudgery of work and child rearing to live out an adventure that we always dreamed of.

We all have our own priorities when it comes to finance and the goals we want to achieve. We may wish to do home improvements, buy a car or put a deposit on a new home. You may even want to consider investing in a new business or simply go traveling.
Achieving your goals
Whatever your dreams, you will need to think about your current finances will fund them, taking into account your attitude to risk and tax efficiency.

Britain is a nation of shop owners. This statement is a testament to the fact that the backbone of the British economy is small and medium sized businesses.

It is these businesses which have been the driver of the economic recovery. With the advent of the end of the tax year, now is the time to take stock and plan for a new tax year.

Regardless of our legal obligation to implement health and safety legislation, it’s in our interests as employers to look after the well-being of our staff. As responsible employers we do everything in our power to protect our employees.

But, have you ever thought about how would you protect your key staff were they never to turn up for work again?

As a key link in your value chain, have you thought about who would handle your client relationships or be that go to guy when something is not working? Would your business survive intact and at what cost? What if that person was you? Just how would you protect your business?

Well perhaps it’s time to stop leaving it all to chance and consider how important life insurance is to your business continuity.