Étiquette : financialplanning

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Protection

Don’t Give Up Your Protection Policy

Don’t Give Up Your Protection Policy

“At the end of the day, the goals are simple: safety and security” – Jodi Rell

1 min read

With households facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes in many years, it’s understandable that families are looking for ways to cut costs.

When looking to cut back, reviewing subscriptions and direct debits (for example, for streaming services, food subscription boxes or gym memberships) is often a good place to start, but there is one cost that you shouldn’t be so quick to give up.

Protection is Vital

As tempting as it is to cancel protection insurance policies, times of financial difficulty are exactly when we need protection the most. Many policyholders aren’t aware that life insurance cover can be flexible, and there are ways to reduce your cover rather than cancelling it outright.

Get Help

Get in touch today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting. You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain! Send us an e-mail to charles@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32.

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Retraites

Come Retirement, You Reap What You Sow

Hand planting beans seed in the vegetable garden. Growing vegetables

Come Retirement, You Reap What You Sow

“Some of the wealthiest people in the world became wealthy by saving money” – Doug McMillon

2 min read

Hindsight, they say, is a wonderful thing and that is certainly true for many retirees struggling financially. Diligent planning at the earliest opportunity, however, can make all the difference between enjoying a comfortable retirement and enduring a regretful one.

Retirement Regrets

Research constantly shows that people typically leave retirement planning too late and regret not saving more across their working lives. For instance, a survey1 recently revealed one in five people expect to leave planning for their retirement until they are aged at least 60. Another study2 found almost half of over-50s regret not saving into a pension sooner, while nearly two thirds wished they had made larger contributions at an earlier stage. These findings vividly highlight the need for more people to take control and prioritise retirement planning earlier in their working lives.

Pension Blind Spots

Other research3 has revealed the cost of being kept in the dark on key pension details, with over three-quarters of people not knowing how much they pay in pension fees. Additionally, a third of pension holders are unaware of their pension’s risk profile, with a similar proportion invested in low-risk funds. This lack of awareness in relation to fees and investment choices is estimated to cost an average pension holder around CHF 140’000 over their working life.

Engagement Gap

The lack of engagement has led to an industry campaign to boost people’s understanding of pensions. The campaign, which is due to run this autumn and winter, will aim to raise awareness of various pension-related issues so that more people can ultimately enjoy a better standard of living in retirement. Patterson-Mills completely supports this initiative and believes that one of the keys to a successful retirement is not just saving but financial education, too.

Help at Hand

While current everyday financial pressures can make saving a difficult task, it is clearly imperative not to neglect your pension if you do want to avoid retirement regrets. We can help you take control to ensure you are able to enjoy the happy and fulfilling retirement you deserve.

Get in touch today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting. You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain! Send us an e-mail to charles@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32.

1Hargreaves Lansdown, 2022

2Aviva, 2022

3interactive investor, 2022

Catégories
Planification Financière

Be Vigilant and Scam Aware

red light warning lamp known as wigwag wig-wag or red-eye

Be Vigilant and Scam Aware

2 min read

There have been warnings from several Regulatory bodies urging people to be vigilant. The warnings are aimed, in particular, at those who may have lost their jobs or are under financial pressure and may be tempted by scammers.

Remember, just because it may have happened to you once, does not mean you are now immune. Similarly, just because it has never happened to you at all, does not mean it never will.

Millions Affected

Over five million people in the UK, and many more globally, have fallen victim to, or know someone who has been duped by, a financial scam since the beginning of the virus outbreak.

The most common financial scams relate to banking, accounting for 60% of victims, followed by 35% being targeted by an insurance scam. One in five reported having been targeted by a pension scam amid an increase in fraudsters offering free pension reviews.

Be a Scam Aware Investor

Recognizing these common signs of a scam could help you avoid falling for one.

  • Scammers can pretend to be from a company that you may know
  • Scammers might say you are in trouble or there is a problem ou prize
  • Scammers may pressure you to act immediately, giving you no time to think
  • Scammers often tell you to pay in a very specific way

Government Advice

Government advice to protect yourself from fraud includes checking the company’s credentials via a reliable source, being wary of deals that sound too good to be true, not clicking on links from unknown senders, not giving out personal details or financial information in response to a request that you did not make, and seeking professional financial advice from a regulated company before making any decisions.

Guidance in Uncertain Times

Anxiety and financial pressure can make us more vulnerable to fraud, so if you are unsure about any financial opportunities, please contact us.

We are here to keep you and your finances safe now and into the future.

Get in touch today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting. You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain! Send us an e-mail to edward@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32.

Catégories
Retraites

The 10 Worst Retirement Planning Mistakes

The 10 Worst Retirement Planning Mistakes

3 min read

Retirement planning should always be a top priority. More and more people are beginning to consider their own retirement, but the truth is that our retirement is often decided long before we even think about it.

See below my 10 worst retirement planning mistakes. With the appropriate advice, you will be able to avoid all of the below.

1. Underestimating Your Lifespan

It may be something that goes unconsidered, but nowadays it could well be that retirement lasts for 30 or more years. This then leads to the growing potential that people out-live their retirement savings. It is hugely important to take notice of your family history and other factors and make sure you take into account your own longevity to determine what steps to take before reaching retirement.

2. Underestimating Retirement Costs

Despite retirement being a wonderful, work-free, time of our lives (at least, that’s our aim!), it is possible that the lifestyle you currently have becomes out of your reach as prices rise, and your income does not, or you may find that you end up spending more in retirement than you thought. It could be simply that you want more than you initially planned for, so within your retirement plan it is important to take many factors into account to gain a rough idea of any potential increase in your spending.

3. Financial Scams

A common thought around scams is that it will never be you. However, no matter how careful you are, it is never a guarantee that you will not get caught out. No matter how rare, it is not impossible that you experience a misuse of your funds by an untrustworthy financial advisor, or even deceptive family members trying to take advantage of you. Make sure that you are also aware of healthcare scams, investment scheme scams, lottery scams and more. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

4. Ignoring Inflation

Inflation is a silent taxation on our wealth. Slowly eroding it as time goes on. Even a small increase in inflation, hardly noticeable in the short term, can be of great detriment to your spending power in the future. Over a long period of 15 or 20 years, there could be the potential of your purchasing power being halved. It is certainly something you should allow for in your future retirement plan.

5. Paying Over the Odds

Excessive fees are something we strive to avoid. Throughout your lifetime, fees really can add up and make a dent in your pocket. Often, what looks on the surface a small difference, e.g. between 1% and 2%, can end up making all the difference in the long-run. It is of paramount importance to have regular reviews to ensure your costs are as low as possible.

6. Age-Based Risk Profiling

“Lifestyling” or “Lifestyle Funds” refers to reducing the risk of your portfolio as you get closer to retirement, along with other assumed factors. It aims to lock-in the investment gains you have already made throughout your life so you can comfortably retire. This sounds good in theory, and may well be suitable for some, though, as with everything, it is not without risk. As much as we wish it, there is no ‘one size fits all’ formula. It might even be your spouse or children that you were planning to have benefit from your investments, so the best decision is certainly to seek trusted financial advice to find the solution that works best for you.

7. Not Rebalancing Regularly

Rebalancing is essential to the future of your wealth. It ensures that your assets remain within your agreed risk level without ever straying too far from the path and can optimise gains already made. Of course, over-rebalancing exists, so it is important to not avoid over-rebalancing. Approximately 2-4 times per year is a good amount for most portfolios.

8. Attempting to Predict the Market

Trying to find the perfect time to withdraw from, or enter into, the market will often come up short of your expectations. Nobody knows for certain exactly what is going to happen in the next few years, or even the next few weeks, so the best route is making informed decisions from high-quality analysis using trusted advice. Cumulative returns can be seriously harmed if your prediction turns out to be wrong.

9. Not Talking to a Financial Professional

The complexities of today’s financial systems are simple when it is your day job, but the reality is that the majority of people do not have the time to spend their few hours of relaxation a day researching the latest changes in the system. Of course, it is not impossible to do, but as with most things there are often rules that you might miss. It is essential to contact a financial professional to ensure your retirement plan and financial future is as secure as possible, and if not, to make it so. After all, that is what we are here for.

10. Not Getting Around to it

This may seem obvious, though unfortunately it is more common than you may think. Retirement is often overlooked as it is ‘so far’ into the future that you do not consider it, or you believe that your respective State pension will suffice. It is important to note that State pension benefits often leave a gap in your income. Therefore, it is essential that you begin sooner rather than later as every day you wait is one more day that you will be playing catch-up in retirement. You might miss out on investment returns, end up not having enough money in retirement, or simply miss out on compound interest. Either way, one thing remains certain, begin sooner rather than later.

Here to Help

We are here to take the stress out of retirement planning. Get in touch today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting. You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain! Send us an e-mail to charles@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32.

Catégories
Planification Financière Investments

Positive Steps to Achieve Financial Freedom

Plan for your future

Positive Steps to Achieve Financial Freedom

3 min read

When are you thinking of retiring? With many pre-retirees reassessing their lives and priorities in the wake of the pandemic, there really is a seismic shift for many people towards achieving life balance. People need a plan to flex with their changing aspirations – it has become more about living life rather than going through the motions of the daily grind.

With earlier retirement a serious consideration for many seeking balance, a quarter of those sampled who aspire to retire early feel that age 60 is the optimum time to do so1.

Embracing a New Lifestyle

What really makes you happy? If you are planning to celebrate your 60th birthday by saying ‘goodbye’ to working life, it’s good to know that 68% of people report an increase in overall happiness as a result of retiring early, with 44% of early retirees reporting their family relationships improved and 34% citing improvements in their friendships. From a health perspective, 57% of early retiree respondents report a boost to their mental wellbeing, with 50% believing their physical wellbeing has improved.

Driving Force

Nearly a third (32%) of people who retired early or plan to do so are driven by the desire ‘to enjoy more freedom while still being physically fit and well enough to enjoy it.’ Other factors driving people to pursue early retirement include financial security (26%), reassessing priorities and what’s important to them in life (23%), wishing to spend more time with family (20%) and finding they are either ‘tired or bored’ of working (19%). Stress is also a contributing factor that 19% of respondents are keen to eradicate.

Pause for Thought

With a sizable 24% of people returning to work after retiring because they experience financial issues, careful planning is essential. Interestingly, 47% of retirees found that their finances worsened and only 22% felt they benefited financially from their decision to retire early.

Positive Steps to Financial Freedom

People cited steps toward making early retirement achievable like paying off a mortgage (30%), saving little and often (29%), saving extra when they receive a pay rise or bonus (19%) and receiving an inheritance (14%).

We are here to reassure you that happiness does not need to come at a cost when retiring early. Although it is very important to be realistic, with meticulous planning and careful consideration, we can assess and develop a robust plan to align and flex with your changing requirements and priorities.

Financial freedom is what many strive to achieve, though not all of us know how to get there. This is where we come in.

Contactez-nous today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting so we can show you the way. You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain! Send us an e-mail to charles@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32, or fill in our contact form

1Aviva, Dec 2021

Catégories
Investments

Springing Into Action

Springing Into Action

Most people don't plan to fail, they fail to plan

John L. Beckley Tweet

2 min read

Spring is very much a season of hope; a time to look forward and plan. While that’s not always easy amid a flurry of headlines concerning the cost-of-living and immense global political tensions, it’s important to look beyond short-term bouts of market volatility and ensure your financial objectives remain firmly aligned to your life goals – which may well have shifted or flexed over the last couple of years.

Investing is for everyone

At times like these, the fear of losing money can be a powerful deterrent to investing. However, in reality, most of us have been investors throughout our lives – if you own your home, for instance, you’ve invested in the property market; if you own jewellery you’re effectively investing in precious metals. With inflation factors at play, some may consider holding too much cash as a risky move at present.

Diversification is key

While it’s easy to understand potential unease in the current climate, it’s also important to appreciate markets have always experienced short-term bouts of volatility. The key to managing this risk is by diversifying your assets. By holding a balanced portfolio with a mix of equities, bonds, property and cash, this aims to effectively mitigate risk by ensuring ‘all your eggs are not in one basket.’ By building safety nets as well as opportunities for returns into your plans you will end up with an optimum mix of investment, protection and saving instruments, allocated according to your circumstances, objectives and risk tolerance.

Plan, plan, plan

Recent research1 also vividly highlights the importance of investing in relation to retirement planning. The study found that less than 40% respondents are currently on track to receive a moderate level of income in retirement. In other words, if most people don’t take action now, they face living on only the most basic standard in later years.

Regular reviews paramount

One way to ensure your financial plans stay on track is by arranging regular reviews. This will help to identify any areas of concern and ensure you avoid any untoward financial surprises at a later stage in life. With meticulous planning and careful consideration, we can assess and develop a robust plan to align and flex with your changing requirements and priorities. We’ll help you spring into action and ensure you can look forward to a sound financial future.

Get in touch today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting.

You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain!

Send us an e-mail to charles@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32, or fill in our contact form below.

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1HL, 2022

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Retraites Protection

Protect Your Retirement From the Risk of Mental Decline

Happy elderly couple resting on beach waving hands

Protect Your Retirement From the Risk of Mental Decline

"Retirement: That's when you return from work one day and say, 'Hi, Honey, I'm home—forever'"

Gene Perret Tweet

3 min read

Retirement – that magical time when we can finally live our lifelong dreams. Increased life expectancy means that many of us can now expect a longer retirement, but this comes at a cost: the increasing prevalence of age-related cognitive decline, which could leave us vulnerable to costly financial errors.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society1, estimates suggest that between 5% and 20% of over-65s suffer from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition in which someone has minor problems with cognition, such as memory or thought process.

Protecting your finances

Planning for the possibility of cognitive decline is an essential part of preparing for retirement. Although many people still have the capacity to live independently and make decisions for themselves, MCI has been linked in scientific studies to poorer financial capacity and an increased susceptibility to scams.

Getting the timing right

Over 80% of investors surveyed2 thought the ideal time to transfer financial control would be ‘sometime after they had begun to experience some cognitive decline but before they became completely incapable.’ Respondents thought there was a higher than one-in-three chance of a mistimed transfer, partly attributable to a reluctance to relinquish control, which exemplifies the need to start planning sooner rather than later, so that any future transfer takes place on your terms.

Opening up conversations

Although it may feel awkward, preparing for the possibility of cognitive decline requires careful planning, not only having legal documents in place but also starting conversations with your family and those you trust about money and your goals for the future, in advance of its possible onset. This means that everything is out in the open and close connections are more likely to notice if you begin making decisions about your money that appear to contradict your objectives.

We can assist you with planning and in starting these conversations with your family well in advance and help you better plan for the future, giving you a greater sense of ownership and control over your plans.

Get in touch today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting.

You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain!

Send us an e-mail to edward@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32, or fill in our contact form below.

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1Alzheimers Society, 2019

2Vanguard. 2021

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Investments

Investment Terms Trigger Emotional Response

Investment Terms Trigger Emotional Response

You must learn to talk clearly. The jargon of scientific terminology which rolls off your tongues is mental garbage.

Martin H. Fischer Tweet

2 min read

Investment terms (aka Jargon) are common in the world of investments and pensions, which can make them seem impenetrable and intimidating. If the thought of ‘Equities’ and ‘Investment ISAs’ makes your heart race, you’re not alone, new research1 has shown that financial terms really do make people anxious.

Jar-gone

Researchers used a variation of the Emotional Stroop Test, which measures information processing speed when naming the ink colour of different words, to compare response times for neutral words like ‘pencil’ with investment-specific terms like ‘FTSE.’

Nearly two-thirds of participants had slower response times and higher error rates for financial trigger words, suggesting they may be susceptible to a stress response. Additionally, 44.3% experienced an increased heart rate and 11.5% reported breathlessness.

The terms ‘Stockbroker’, ‘Asset Management’ and ‘Investment Risk’ produced three of the slowest reaction times. Other investment-related words like ‘Bond Fund’ and ‘Equities’ also took longer than average.

Don’t fear ‘FTSE’

Stripping back jargon can help people think more clearly about investments and pensions. In supporting research, Barclays found that 71% of respondents don’t feel confident enough to invest money in the stock market, with a quarter feeling ‘frightened’ by the idea.

Despite these fears, people do want to improve their financial knowledge, with three in five participants keen to learn more about financial terminology. We can relieve the stress of investments and pensions – and take the fear out of financial planning!

Get in touch today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting.

You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain!

Send us an e-mail to charles@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32, or fill in our contact form below.

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1Barclays, 2021

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Planification Financière

Saving for Your Child’s Future

Two little children are playing superhero. Kids on the background of sunset sky. Girl power concept

Saving for Your Child’s Future

We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future

Franklin D. Roosevelt Tweet

1 min read

Many parents give their children a flying financial start by saving or investing throughout their childhood. A new survey1 shows mothers typically take the lead in this area, while cash remains disproportionately popular.

Mum's the word

The research shows responsibility for children’s savings is particularly borne by mums: 60% of those actively contributing to a child’s savings and investments were found to be women. Researchers noted that this fits a broader theme whereby women tend to connect investing to outcomes for their family more than to their own needs.

The survey also highlighted a drop-off in contributions as children get older. While 67% of new parents start saving or investing for their new-borns, this figure falls to 54% by the time children reach secondary-school age.

Cash is king?

The efforts of parents to save for their children is clearly admirable, but it is important to make that money work hard.

In a high-inflation environment, sticking to cash can limit the impact of parents’ saving, as the real value of cash savings is likely to be eroded over time. While not guaranteed, investment products have historically delivered better returns over the long term. It’s advisable to consider the options.

Find out what you can do to save for your child’s future. Get in touch today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting.

You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain!

Send us an e-mail to edward@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32, or fill in our contact form below.

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1Boring Money, 2021

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Planification Financière Hypothèques

Avoiding Collapse: Managing Your Property Chain in 2022

Avoiding Collapse: Managing Your Property Chain in 2022

1 min read

You’ve found your ideal property, you’re just about ready to exchange contracts, and then you get the call: your buyer has pulled out, leaving your own transaction in jeopardy.

Unfortunately, many property transactions are interlinked in this way, with the decision of one buyer having a knock-on effect on the whole chain, with the worst possible scenario seeing every single buyer losing out on their new home. However, there are actions you can take to speed up the process and reduce the risk of things going wrong.

Go Chain-Free

You can avoid a chain altogether by finding a seller whose own transaction isn’t dependent on the sale of their property. However, this does limit your options, so what steps can you take if you do find yourself in a chain?

Organisation, Organisation, Organisation

Getting your transaction over and done with as quickly as possible limits the chances of your chain collapsing. Be proactive in instructing your solicitor and other professionals, ensure you’re completing forms and sending them back as quickly as possible, and chase up any delays.

Rent for a Short Period

Depending on your circumstances, it may be possible to sell your home and rent for a little while so that you’re not dependent on a buyer. Likewise, if your seller’s transaction falls through, you may be able to ask them to rent on a short-term basis so that you can still complete your purchase.

Let Us Help

Another way you can speed up your transaction and protect your chain is by securing an agreement in principle with a mortgage provider before beginning your search. We can help you there!

Get in touch today and book your initial, free, no-obligation meeting. You have nothing to lose and potentially lots to gain! Send us an e-mail to charles@pattersonmills.ch, call us direct at +41 78 214 84 32.