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.
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…
Are Your Loved Ones Keeping Money Secrets From You?
It looks like us Brits are a secretive bunch. This is especially the case when it comes to our money. We really don’t like sharing the state with our finances with anyone – not even those closest to us. There are lots of money secrets you might be ke…
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…
Women – A Great Opportunity to Get Your Pension in Shape
Financial independence is a cornerstone of gender equality. Yet a majority of women are letting it slip through their fingers, by not saving enough into their pensions. But why do so many women overlook retirement planning – and what should you be do…
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…
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…
Cashless UK May Come Too Soon, Experts Warn
The UK is at risk of ‘sleepwalking into a cashless society’ before it is ready, according to a recent report. Alternative payment methods may make cash obsolete by 2026 – but millions of people remain reliant on cash for everyday payments. Cash payme
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…
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…
Life Insurance Holders Risk Leaving Money to the Wrong People
When was the last time you reviewed the recipients of your insurance policies? Insurance provider Phoenix Life has found that the majority of people have forgotten to update their policies after setting them up. This could result in money going to the…
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…
Has Lockdown Lifted Your Savings?
Though many have suffered financially from the COVID-19 lockdown, some Brits are enjoying a mini-windfall due to lower spending. If your savings have received a boost, how can you make the most of it? They say it’s an ill wind that blows no-one any g…
Managing Your Money in Brexit Britain
The UK is out of the European Union. What, if anything, does this mean for you and your finances? We look ahead to post-Brexit Britain and the implications for both your money and your lifestyle. Well, we’re out. Except, not quite. Though the UK’s of…
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…
COVID-19 Raises Pension Fraud Threat Level
There’s more than one nasty disease out there. The social and economic effects of COVID-19 have created openings for pension fraudsters to exploit – so retirees need to be on their guard. Just as the coronavirus crisis has brought out the best in hum…
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…
The Lemonade Principle: Making Good Use of Your Lockdown Time
‘Grandma, what did you do in the coronavirus lockdown?’ ‘That’s when I started the family business.’ Yes, we have to stay at home – but that’s no reason to be bitter. Sweeten your lockdown experience by taking some decisive financial action at last…
Investing in Tough Times – 10 Tips to Help You Weather the Storm
When the economy slows down it is inevitable that share prices will take a hit. Such times are never comfortable, but there shouldn’t be any need for investors to panic. Here are 10 practical tips to help you weather the investment storms in difficult…
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…
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…
We’re Celebrating 5 Years of Fantastic Investment Returns
We’re celebrating the 5 year anniversary of our range of investment portfolios and we’re really pleased with the results. Investment management is one of the most important services we provide to our clients. As well as helping our clients protect th…
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…
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…
Your 3D New Year Detox
Most detoxes only cover one aspect of your wellbeing – such as your physical or mental health. Here’s a special detox for 2020 that covers body, mind… and bank account! Detoxing is about much more than Dry January or juicing everything that’s not nai…
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…
Learn to Speak Pension
Do you know your defined contribution pension from your money purchase pension? Wait – aren’t they the same thing? Here’s a pension primer with a difference, as we tell you what all those confusing terms really mean. Reading about pensions is enough …
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