Figures for the entire economy conceal a great deal of variation in terms of the impact COVID-19 has had on household finances. Whilst millions of people have undoubtedly suffered considerably, a significant minority have found their financial position strengthened, with income largely unchanged and spending reduced.

Becoming a parent for the first time is exciting, unpredictable, and of course, a little daunting. For some new parents it can also be overwhelming. Suddenly, you are not only responsible for your self, but another person who depends on you for everything. It also forces you to address financial issues you may not have had to focus on in the past.

You don’t automatically receive your state pension, you have to claim it. You have the option to either claim your state pension or delay it by deferring claiming your pension income that you are due.

Having a financial plan in place early on can make it easier to manage your money further down the line.

Change is the only constant in life. It inevitably involves twists and turns, with some that are expected while others may be entirely unplanned. When this happens, it’s important to feel secure with the knowledge that you have the right contingency plan in place.

As we have been witnessing in recent years and months, climate changes are occurring in every region and globally. A new landmark report from the United Nations on the state of climate science has highlighted modern society’s continued dependence on fossil fuels, which is warming the world at a pace that is unprecedented in the past 2,000 years. Its effects are already apparent as record droughts, wildfires and floods devastate communities worldwide.

The staggering impact of the gender pension gap has been revealed in research which shows that women have lower pension pot sizes in every age bracket, with the situation significantly deteriorating as they approach retirement[1].