Eight solutions for your finances, investment and retirement planning

An older woman sat at a laptop with a younger woman hugging her from behind

published 13 July 2022

From using an online investment tool to attending a retirement training course, here are eight ways to make better financial choices and build a stronger fiscal future.

1. Start planning for a financially stable future

Thinking ahead and devising a strong financial plan for the future is always a wise idea, but life and work commitments often get in the way. Lack of time may result in goals getting delayed, which is why seeking help from a professional financial adviser is key. OneYou could help you get started; its team of experienced financial advisers aim to support you in navigating your way through the technical details – all you need to do is tell the team what you’re looking to achieve, and they can help you build a tailored plan comprising strategies and solutions to inform your financial decisions, responding to your lifestyle and long-term goals. Start planning for your and your loved ones’ futures at oneyou.org.

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Thinking of investing in art? Mintus offers an innovative way of doing so. The company uses fractionalisation to make it possible for investors to buy shares in high-value contemporary artworks at a fraction of their overall price. For investors seeking new opportunities to diversify their portfolios through alternative investments, and to learn how you can get access to an art market that’s performed three times better than the S&P 500 since 1986 (according to the LiveArt index), visit mintus.com.

Short- and mid-term rental management company GuestReady provides professional property management services to property investors, homeowners and Airbnb hosts in the UK, France, Portugal, Spain and the United Arab Emirates. Services include everything from listing creation to booking management, price optimisation, guest communications, check-in, housekeeping and maintenance. The company is trusted by over 2,500 property investors and owners, having reached the ninth spot in the 2019 UK Startups 100 index, and having won the Swiss Economic Award in 2021. GuestReady has a TrustPilot score of 4.8 out of five across more than 3,000 verified reviews from guests and hosts. Find out more on guestready.com. The first month of management is available for free. Offer valid until 31 August, 2022.

Doceo’s objective is to make high-quality, digestible investment information accessible to everyone. The platform allows you to hear directly from fund managers and gain insight for your portfolio. Bitesize elevator pitches and regular update videos aim to provide you with the essential tools to make better decisions for your investment goals. Use interactive statistics, key literature and the advanced filtering and comparison tools to compare funds and generate ideas. Articles, podcasts, interviews and webinars can help you explore trends and understand how top investment thinkers are approaching the current environment. Whether you’re an experienced investor, you dabble with your savings, or you’re simply thinking about opening your first ISA, this tool could be for you. Sign up to Doceo for free at doceo.tv.

Dreaming of spending your retirement sipping tea on your patio? Ecodek hopes to offer you the garden of your dreams. The company’s products are carefully designed to give you the benefits of real wood without all the hassle. Wood polymer composite boards are solid and more moisture resistant than hollow decking. This eco-friendly decking is manufactured from 95% recycled and responsibly sourced raw materials and is 100% recyclable. All of Ecodek’s residential decking options come with extensive warranty periods, from 25 to 40 years. With several different ranges to choose from, you can find the style and type of board that is right for you. For further information, contact the team at ecodek.co.uk; they will assist you with everything from decking design to installation.

As well as trading in bullion, Baird & Co offers CGT-exempt coins and produces its own bars in various sizes. Both can be used for investment purposes. Individual customers or businesses can purchase gold for an existing SIPP (self-invested personal pension) or SASS (small, self-administered scheme). Customers can take advantage of a loyalty scheme, as well as the Baird & Co buy-back scheme, and buy and sell their allocation at competitive prices. With industrial products, numismatic coins and manufacturing materials such as casting grains, sheet, fancy wires, stampings and bespoke products, Baird & Co is a one-stop shop for all your precious metal needs. The company sources its feedstock from the secondary market, meaning that its bullion doesn't require additional extractive or environmentally damaging processes. Visit bairdmint.com, call 020 7474 1000 or visit the store at 48 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8EX.

When planning ahead, comfort is an important factor to consider. Unsteadiness is often part of ageing, so consider investing in an efficient walking aid. Trionic’s outdoor one could be for you. As the primary innovator of outdoor walkers, the company has been helping customers return to a more active lifestyle for the past 15 years. Its terrain-taking model, the Veloped, can overtake curbs, rocks, roots and other obstacles without losing ground contact, making it one of the most reliable walking aids on the market. The sturdy design and air-filled tyres minimise vibrations and offer a smoother ride on gravel, grass, cobblestone and forest tracks. To find out more and request a free brochure, visit trionic.uk/outdoor.

Choosing when to retire can be a complex decision, and the recent rise in the cost of living has to be taken into account, especially when calculating how much income will be needed to fund your desired lifestyle. At the same time, seeking financial guidance or advice can be extremely expensive, making it unattainable for many. With all this in mind, the Pensions Management Institute, supported by financial wellbeing and retirement specialist WEALTH at work, is running its online training course ‘Approaching Retirement’ on 6 October 2022. This will cover topics such as changes to lifestyle and costs in retirement, inflation in retirement, state pension, defined contribution pensions, generating a retirement income and taxation. Learn more and book your ticket at pensions-pmi.org.uk.

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