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Financial Wellbeing

1024 341 Aspen Financial Services - Independent & Experienced Financial advisers

A small leak will sink a great ship

 

We have all seen versions of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (I added essentials for the new Millenium)

How to juggle the important stuff like the impending MOT, bikini body/panic saving for the holiday, while also organising the things other adults seem to manage, like Wills, Mortgages and Savings

 

 

Taking a ‘snow day’ in Bushy Park, reminded me  of the reasons that work and play need to balance out.  It also reminded me just how cold open spaces can get!

The kids and dog were covering themselves in snow and making snow angels (albeit in the style of Picasso)

I couldn’t help but see it all as a cunning plan to destroy the bathroom on our return

 

 

Hot coffee on the way home, warmed the brain enough to remind me of the following Monday strategy meeting, which has a tendency to test my listening and paying attention skill levels

I mean, I have been known to nod, make eye contact, even throw in the occassional “yes, ahah” – while mentally planning that evenings dinner menu and my entire ‘why it is important to eat brocolli’ negotiations

That table can be found in a mountain side Spa in Paphos – a one time work trip.  Probably favourite Board meeting of my career

 

 Getting your foundations in place

 

 

Protect your family and lifestyle

You might have the mortgage covered, maybe even some other debts

Having a mortgage free home, does not provide for income needs.  If you or your partner dies, or suffers a dibilitating illness, how do you pay the bills, keep the car running, school uniforms, food and so on

  • Who gets the kids from school if you have to work
  • How do you pay for changes to your home on medical issues

We know you cannot necessarily cover every eventuality, but you can protect the roof over your head AND the lifestyle you have built within it

Keep your home

Getting the mortgage is just the beginning

The long-term questions you need to answer will determine how long you can keep it…

  • Keep mortgage interest as low as possible
  • Can you keep making payments if you lose your job
  • Have you got a plan in place to repay your mortgage – or are you only paying the interest
  • What options do you have in later life to pay for your care needs and stay in your home

The mortgage market is changing and one of the biggest movements is the availability of lending for Over 55’s.

Later life mortgages can help you or your parents stay athome, even if care is required.  Many retirees are reaching retirement in debt than we have previously seen.  Re-organising debts is one of key skills and the relief this brings to our clients who have been trying to service expensive debts on a retirement income is palpable

Putting money away for the future

A fundamental part of Financial Wellbeing is building security through savings

Not only is regular saving a good discipline to create, savings get you through the ‘rainy days’, help you to stop the worry of MOT’s, Boiler breakdowns, school trips to name a few

Knowing that you can pay your bills for a few months following redundancy relieves the pressure and worry that often stops people moving forward

There are no rules to saving – you just need to start

Our skill sets will guide you, make it easy and help your understanding as you build your finances going forward, whether it is Pensions, ISA’s or Trust Funds for children and grandchildren

Give up Full-time work

When I first started my career in financial services (Spice Girls had just released Wannabe for a reference point), it was called retirement

However, working with clients now, the philosophy of work / life has entered a new realm

The systems and conversations we employ guide our clients through cash flow plans, income needs and interogation of their assets (employment, pensions, savings, state benefits, house, etc) and plot what income each one can provide and for how long

The strategy might often include continuing to work, but at levels required to sustain the lifestyle they are planning for.  We regularly review, revisit and re-run the cash flow plans to take into account longer holidays, the purchase of a boat in Spain (that is a real example) and any wonderful plans that can be dreamt up so that working becomes choice and income becomes part of your life, not all of it

Inheritance and Legacies

In simple terms…… Writing a Will

Nearly 80% of adults in the UK do not do this

In the simplest of terms…. Who do you want to inherit your estate?

  • Your brothers and sisters
  • Your adult children’s ex-spouse
  • Your ex’s
  • The State
  • Bankruptcy courts
  • Ex-spouses new family
  • None of the above

You can either dictate who gets it, or you can let the State decide

 

             Easy as …..