Enter Norfolk pensioner Joy Tomkin. Legend has it that the 81 year old has chosen a most unusual way of communicating her desire to avoid life sustaining medical treatment. Apparently the words "DO NOT RESUSCITATE" are tattooed onto her chest. As if this was not clear enough she has made doubly sure that her wishes will be carried out by having the letters "PTO" tattooed onto her back!

You don't have to go this far though. One of the jobs we do at Retirement and Investment Solutions is to maintain important connections with legal professionals who can advise on wills and the type of arrangement that Joy required. Before you head for the tattoist's needle give us a call - we would gladly point you in the right direction of someone qualified to help more painlessly.          

The newly revised numbers, from the Office for National Statistics, show that life expectancy is rising for the general population by one year every four. Experts are worried that this new information could cause the government to scrap their already accelerated plan to raise the state pension age to 68 by 2046.

The concerns are heightened as David Cameron and other prominent policymakers have recently made statements about austerity leading the way to prosperity. Experts warn that as state benefits come under pressure, it is important for the public to be prepared for the worst by saving privately.

Prizes often go unclaimed as the bond-holder has moved house, had them gifted to them as a child or maybe they are the executors of a will.

Thankfully there is no time limit on making a claim as the oldest unclamed prize dates back to 1957. Fortunately you can visit the National Savings and Investment website (nsandi.com) and simply enter your Premium Bond Holders' number to check if you have any unclaimed winnings. Alternatively you can write to them at: Premium Bonds, National Savings and Investment, Glasgow, G58 1WA.

If you have moved house, have some old Premium Bonds and have 5 minutes to spare it might just be worth checking - you never know...

The office will be closing at 5pm on Thursday 22nd December 2011. It will re-open on Tuesday 3rd January at 9am. If you need to get hold of us urgently during this time please contact the office on 01489 878300 and leave a message. This will be checked throught the Christmas period and somone will respond to you.

In addition the office will be closed from Midday on Wednesday 14th December for the staff Christmas lunch. Again if you need to get hold of us urgently please leave a message on the anwserphone and someone will respond as soon as possible.

As many of you will be finding it is increasingly difficult to get decent savings and deposit interest rates. A combination of a historically low Bank of England base rates and high levels of inflation mean it is important to make sure you make the most of your savings. Otherwise you are faced with the very real prospect of the value of your money eroding over the years.    

One of the things we regularly look at for our clients is who is offering the best interest rates - be it a cash ISA subscription or a fixed term bond or something else.

If you are happy to tuck the funds away then for as little as £500 you can open a 2 year fixed online saver with Halifax. As the name suggests this is an internet only account and the fixed term nature of the account means that no withdrawals are permitted during the term. The interest rate is 3.85% but remember that you will be taxed on the interest payable on this type of account.

With regards to cash ISA's, Northern Rock (soon to become part of the Virgin stable) are currently offering an eISA paying 3.05%. You can open this ISA with as little as £1. Again, we always recommend that you use your annual ISA allowance to take advantage of the tax benefits applicable to this type of account.     

As with so many things the online rates are often marginally more favourable than the rates payable on the in-branch or telephone accounts due to the redcued overheads faced by the banks.

One important thing to remember with deposit account is the depositor protection limit of £85,000 per individual, per institution. Always ensure that you don't place morer than this amount with any one institution and remember that many of the banks and building societies are now part of larger global banking groups.     

I will give you an update each month as well as offering some tips on where to look out for the best savings rates.

All too often it can seem like we are bombarded with bad news from the media about the state of the economy, double-dip recession, Eurozone Crisis etc. We know how complicated it can be to wade through this and make sense of the different opinion pieces and editorial slant from the journalists.

Over the last couple of years we have run a market commentary seminar with a leading fund management group, Brooks MacDonald Asset Management, which aims to cut through these messages and get right to the heart of what is going on with commentary from people who are at the cutting edge. As the nights are starting to draw in we are considering arranging another one of these if people would be interested. If you would like to attend a meeting like this please contact to register your interest and we will organise something for late November/early December.

As many of you will know one of the key messages that Retirement and Investment Solutions like to deliver is that we believe everybody planning for, considering or at retirement should have access to independent advice about their options and circumstances.

Allied to this is our belief that the greatest compliment that you can pay to us is by recommending our services to a relative, friend or colleague. You may not be sure how we can help but that is something we can ascertain when we have a chat or meet with them. 

If you think we could help someone in any way then please do pass on our details or get in touch with us and we would be happy to contact them and discuss their needs further. We value referrals of this nature and if you recommend someone to us who subsequently becomes a client then we like to say thank you by way of a gift. This can be something like lunch at a local restaurant, vintage champagne or a food hamper. For example just yesterday we sent one of our clients Thompson holiday vouchers to the value of £100 to thank them for referring a new client.

So please don’t hesitate to recommend us – you may be able to help a friend or relative and at the same time be rewarded for doing it!

I am sure that many of you will have seen that the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation in the UK matched its record high in September, rising to 5.2% from 4.5% the month before.

An increase in energy costs has been blamed for the majority of the increase. The rate of 5.2% is the highest CPI measure since September 2008, and CPI has never been higher since this  measure was introduced back in 1997.

September's CPI measure is considerably higher than the Bank of England's target rate of 2%. However, the Bank of England governor Mervyn King is still expecting inflation to begin falling next year once factors such as the rise in VAT last January begin to drop out of the equation.

This recent rise in the cost of living highlights the risk of the Bank's latest move to revive the economy through further quantitative easing, which could help to stoke inflation.

The CPI figure delivered in September is key because it will be used to set the amount by which the state pension and Jobseekers' Allowance will rise next April.

It will be the first time that benefits have increased with CPI instead of the RPI.

Other rates set by the September inflation figures include allowances and indexation for income tax, national insurance, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, disability and maternity benefits, income support and tax credits. With pensions and other benefits rising by 5.2%, it will place increasing pressure on the chancellor, who is already battling to reduce the budget deficit.

We work pretty hard at Retirement and Investment Solutions. Although we all work in a fairly small office environment it is easy for us to become wrapped up in our own little worlds of work. For this reason we like to get together a few times a year for some form of team-building exercise.

However being Retirement and Investment Solutions and having a penchant for doing things differently these things can be quite exciting. In the past year we have subjected our loyal band of staff to pub quizzes, go-karting and a night at the casino! However 2012 is just around the corner and we need to plan our agenda of activities.

With it being an Olympic year we think it should have a bit of a competitive element and suggestions have ranged from shooting to assault courses to duck-herding!?!?!?! What do you think we should do? Please send your suggestions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Here at Retirement and Investment Solutions we are not ones to rest on our laurels. With this in mind we have commissioned a professional firm - TLC Business -  to contact a number of our clients for a short survey about how they perceive us, how they came to work with us, what they think we do well and also what else we could be doing. The contact will come over the next couple of weeks and the results will then be compiled and digested so that we can continue to ensure that we offer the type of service that our clients have come to expect.

You may be contacted shortly to take part in this survey - please answer honestly as we value your opinions and it helps to shape how we work and constantly improve our offering.

Spare a thought for 62 year old Diana Nyad who has had to give up on not one but two attempts to try and swim from Cuba to Florida. On the first occasion she suffered an asthma attack and then on the second try she received a nasty sting from a man-o-war jellyfish. She had swum about 49 miles of the 103 mile journey.

One of Diana's primary aims was to try and inspire people to remain active as they age.

They do say that if at first you don't succeed then try again. If that fails even more spectacularly then it is probably time for a cup of tea and a revisit of your goals!

 For many retirees – as well as those considering their retirement plans – their home is likely to be their largest asset. In an environment of high inflation and low savings rates, money can be tight for pensioners, but misconceptions about equity release plans might prevent retirees from releasing the value tied up in their home. Research by Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP), the trade body for equity release providers, has found a number of myths that persist about equity release plans.

1 – 69% of UK consumers believe you risk losing your home. However, you can remain in your property for life as long as it remains your main residence. In cases in which a couple is involved, this rule will apply to the last surviving member of the couple.

2 – 67% of UK consumers believe you will not be able to leave an inheritance.  In fact, when you die, your home will be sold and the money used to pay off the loan. Although an equity release plan will reduce the value of your estate, any money left over will go to your beneficiaries. Taking out an equity release plan could also help by reducing inheritance tax liability.

3 – 52% of UK consumers believe you will not be able to move house. In practice, you have the right to move your equity release plan to another suitable property without suffering any financial penalty.

4 – 47% of UK consumers believe equity release plans are unsafe and unregulated. However, all members of SHIP have to abide by a rigorous complaints procedure to satisfy the Financial Services Authority.

5 – 43% of UK consumers believe your children will have to repay the loan themselves. In fact, you will never owe more than the value of your home and no debt is ever left to the estate. Importantly, SHIP providers also offer a no-negative-equity guarantee.

It is important not to confuse equity release plans with sale-and-rent-back arrangements, in which the house is sold – often at a discount – to a third party and then rented back to the vendor for a specified period. These arrangements tend to be an action of last resort, involving those in serious financial difficulties.

Equity release refers to Home reversion plans and Lifetime mortgages. To understand the features and risks ask for a personalised illustration.

 Here at RIS one of the important jobs we do is to help our clients with the assets they have outside of their investment and pensions;  the emergency funds, savings and just plain rainy day money that you build up.

At the end of last year it was announced that the level of depositor protection would increase to £85,000 per individual, per authorised institution (£170,000 for joint accounts). This is all well and good and in many ways a useful amount to give you some confidence that you will be able to make a claim in the event of the unthinkable happening and your bank goes to the wall.

However in these days of enormous global banking firms it is not always easy to tell which bank is part of which banking group. For example Marks and Spencers are part of HSBC; Post Office Savings are part of Bank of Ireland and so on.  The Financial Services Authority has produced a useful table which gives guidance on which firms belong to which group. This will help you to ensure that your savings don't breach that all important £85,000 limit per institution.

The table can be found here - www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/consumerinformation/uk_groups/index.shtml

 The government currently allows you to opt out of the State Second Pension - this is called 'contracting-out'.   You may also have known it as SERPS or the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme.

The State Second Pension is the pension that the government provides on top of your basic old-age pensions.  You will qualify for this additional pension if you are or have been employed and  you have been earning in excess of the threshold set by the government.  For the 2011/12 tax year this threshold is £5,304. If you are contracted out the government pays some of your National Insurance Contributions to your own individual pension arrangement; these payments are known as rebates.

If you are due to take your retirement benefits prior to April 2012 then these changes will not affect you.  However if you are due to retire after this date and you are contracted out then you will notice some changes.  After April 2012 you will receive no further rebate payments into your plan. The contracted out funds that you have built up so far will remain invested and will be treated in the same way as the remainder of your pension pot.

In addition to this the limitations currently applied to the contracted out part of your pension pot will be removed. You will no longer be required to provide a retirement income to your spouse or civil partner in the event of your death unless you choose to do so.

You can find out more information on the benefits available under the State Second Pension by downloading the HM Revenue & Customs factsheet at www.direct.gov.uk/contractedoutpensions

 We are pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Woodward as the newest member of our team. Julie will be joining us in October as Pat’s Client Relationship Manager/PA and we know she will be a big asset to the company.

Julie has previous experience of the financial services industry and joins us from her current role working as a Fundraiser for the Rainbow Centre in Fareham.  We are all looking forward to Julie starting with us. If you pop into the office then be sure to say hello.

Justin Randall will be our new Practice Manager from October and will be ensuring the continuing smooth running of the company with particular responsibility for Research, due diligence and Compliance.  All these functions ensure that RIS maintains the high level of service and ethics that our clients have been accustomed to.

Tracey Matthews has been promoted to become Steve Webb’s Client Relationship Manager/PA;  Tracey has worked at RIS for over 2 years as our New Business administrator and has excelled in everything she does.  Steve and Tracey make a formidable team and as well as providing advice and support to individuals, they manage several Group Pension Schemes for local businesses.

We are very proud to announce that our own Sue Tucker has been part of the Retirement and Investment Solutions team for 10 years now. Many of you will know Sue from your visits to the office and will know that she is one of the friendly faces who greets you upon arrival.

Sue has just recently moved to working part time after reaching a  milestone birthday (I won't say which one...) but remains a loyal  and hardworking member of the RIS team.

Congratulations Sue and thanks for all of your hard work and dedication!

Whilst we feel that we have a really good format for our seminars with the 7 Essential Steps for Everybody Facing Retirement and Your Options at Retirement we are not ones to rest on our laurels. Is there something you would like to see discussed at one of our seminars? What do you feel are the burning issues for those facing retirement? We would love to hear your feedback so that we can make sure that our presentations remain relevant and answer the questions that you have.

Low interest rates are great news for borrowers but for savers, they can have a devastating effect. With inflation currently running far in excess of base rates, even though the value of your capital may be safe, you need to keep a close eye on the interest rates you are earning to stop, or at least limit the rate at which the buying power of your money is being eroded.

Nowhere is this more apparent than with Cash ISAs. In a recent survey for watchdog, Consumer Focus, over 80% of Cash ISA holders were found to be earning less than just 0.5% a year on their savings. In most cases, the attractive introductory rates which lured savers in had come to an end and been replaced by very low "standard" rates. In some cases this change had even gone unnoticed. Whilst it is true that, whatever the conditions in the market, most people should hold at least some money in an easy access, readily available deposit account, simply to make sure they can cover unforeseen emergencies and short term needs, any saver with longer term plans should be alarmed by findings like this. At the very least, you should do a review of the market and see if you can find an account paying more.

In response to the findings, Consumer Focus suggested that: "...customers who have not switched their [ISA] savings may be losing one to two per cent in interest. In total this could amount to as much as £1.5 billion to £3.0 billion per year…” With those potential gains at stake, it is certainly worth shopping around”.

It has long been accepted that improvements in medicine, lifestyle and an understanding of the effects which habits such as smoking can have on our health means life expectancy is increasing. Future generations are likely to enjoy much longer and healthier lives on average than their predecessors.

However, figures released in April 2011 by the Department of Work & Pensions illustrate more accurately exactly what that means. These figures suggest, of the under 16s already alive today, over a quarter are going to reach the age of 100 – and already, the average new-born female is going to live to over 90.

As Steve Webb (that is the Minister for Pensions, not our own erstwhile Mr Webb) commented at the time, this means that millions of people will spend over a third of their life in retirement. However, as the DWP were quick to point out, this news also coincides with a period during which pension savings are in serious decline.

An ageing population is putting our welfare system under significant pressure as more people need not only pension income but also healthcare, incapacity support and help within the home. You can therefore have little expectation that a State Pension will provide anything other than a safety cushion when the time comes. If your retirement plans include holidays, visiting relatives and treating yourself on occasion, then it’s time to take control of your savings and take advantage of our Free Pension Review.

1.  Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

2.  In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

3.  No one expects you to run - anywhere.

4.  People call at 9 PM and ask, "Did I wake you?"

5.  People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

Here at Retirement and Investment Solutions we are constantly trying to improve and streamline our processes to give our clients the very best advice and a first class service.

One new addition we would like to announce is the introduction of a secure client facility on our website. We hope to use this facility to replace the current process of sending out Brooks Macdonald Quarterly valuations and Contract Notes by email. We will also update the secure site with market updates and any other information that may be relevant.

Steve and Jackie are currently beavering in the background fine tuning some details and then will be in contact regarding this exciting new facility.

Retirement and Investment Solutions have recently added to their library of Free Guides and have published “Questions to ask yourself BEFORE you retire”.

This insightful booklet will highlight all the questions you need to ask yourself as you approach retirement and get ready for the biggest remaining change in your life. What you decide now could have an impact on your life for the next 25 years.

The booklet explores everything from how your health affects your retirement plans right through to how to find any old lost pensions that may be gathering dust.

Download your copy here

Latest price inflation figures published this month show the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 4.5 per cent in April, up from 4.0 per cent in March. The last time CPI annual inflation was higher was September 2008 when it stood at 5.2 per cent (the record high for CPI).

The rate of increase of the Retail Prices Index (RPI) came down, from 5.3% in March to 5.2% for the year to April bringing CPI and RPI even closer together.

However it worth noting the timing of Easter 2011 had a significant impact on certain travel costs included in the CPI due to the collection periods for air transport, sea transport and international rail travel including the Easter holidays. Easter in 2010 was much earlier and did not affect the April 2010 CPI.

As one of the most requested topics, I am delighted to confirm that we will be running a seminar entitled Navigating The Retirement Maze – Your Options at Retirement on 26th May 2011 at the Botley Park Hotel.

When you come along to our Free seminar, you’ll learn:

• What options are available to you at retirement
• What steps can you take to maximise your income in retirement
• If State pension deferral is right for you
• How the new pension rules affect you and your retirement plans
• Plus much, much more!

It would be great to see you at our seminar, to book your place all you have to do is simply call the office on 01489 878300 or click here

All existing clients who bring a friend to the seminar will be rewarded with some Wickham Vineyard wine (please note friends name while booking to qualify)

Twice as many 50-60 year olds than 18-24 year olds in the United Kingdom use Twitter, according to research from Nielsen Online.

Audience figures showed 50-64 year old users account for 22% of the entire Twitter audience, which just goes to show that you are never too old to learn new tricks.

So in order to keep up with our clients, we have delved into the exciting world of Social Media and are very happy to announce you can now follow us on Twitter @RetireHappyPlan – we will be tweeting any changes in pensions, investments, current markets, and even posting the odd picture from the team hard at work to shots of the glorious Meon Valley in the sunshine.

Follow us via the link on our website http://www.retirementis.co.uk/

Collaborative law is a relatively new way of dealing with the breakdown of family relationships. It enables separating couples to opt out of the court process and instead resolve their differences in roundtable meetings with their (ex) partner and respective lawyers. Joanne Houston, of Just Family Law in Hampshire, has been trained as a collaborative lawyer for 5 years and recommends the process. "It is the best route for separating and divorcing clients seeking to achieve a dignified, non-aggressive solution, avoid acrimonious court proceedings, retain control of decisions affecting the family and retain positive family relationships."

You may have heard about the Governments new initiative The Money Advice Service, a new one stop shop to help people manage their finances – it’s independent, doesn’t sell anything and is available online, over the phone or face to face.

The idea is that it will work a bit like NHS Direct, allowing consumers to ring up with queries or search the website, which brings together a wealth of information, interactive tools and links to further resources.

Here are a selection of the recent questions that have been submitted to the Retirement Expert which you may have seen in local publications.

Should you have a question for the Retirement Expert – simply email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Steve will respond to your query and you may be published in our next feature.

1."What do you mean, you hate to travel?"

Have you and your spouse actually sat down and discussed how each of you envision retirement? If your dreams are completely opposite to your spouse's both of you are going to be disappointed. Talk honestly about your retirement plans and goals before you get the gold watch. Be creative and open to compromise, so that both of your dreams can come true.

2."You mean, you're here ALL the time, now?"

Spending all this quality time together may seem like a wonderful idea, but remember, you both have daily routines, some of which may have been 30 years in the making. Also, you're not used to spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in each other's company. Recognize and respect the needs both of you have for space, as well as each other's routines.

The compensation limit for people who lose money if their bank, building society or credit union goes bust, has increased from £50,000 to £85,000.

The new limit began on 31^st December and applies to every customer at each authorised firm, however publicity surrounding the change has been somewhat lacking.

The new limit is part of a Europe-wide requirement for each country to offer compensation equivalent to 100,000 euros.

The New Year is typically a time when we get our financial affairs in order, aim to get round to doing all those things we mean to get organised and try to get ready for the year ahead. Therefore RIS have come up with a list of Top Tips for 2011 to help you feel secure knowing you’ve got all the essentials covered.

 1. Don’t put it off

Most people procrastinate over financial planning issues for a number of reasons: they don’t want to know the truth, they are worried about fees, or they think it will be hard work.  If you don’t take action now, when will you start? What could you be missing out on if you don’t take the bull by the horns?

 2. Make/Update your Will

None of us can predict what the future has in store, and making provisions for when we are gone is the last thing most of us want to consider. But the New Year is an ideal time to check that your Will still reflects your wishes.

After the phenomenal success of our seminars in 2010, I am delighted to confirm that we will be running our ever popular  7 Essential Steps for Everyone facing Retirement seminar again on 31st March 2010 at the Botley Park Hotel.

When you come along to our Free Retirement Planning Seminar, you’ll learn:

• Why relying on a state pension for significant income is unwise
• How to minimise any tax liabilities when your pensions or investments pay out
• The options available to you when taking your pension benefits
• The value of independent advice at this crucial time
• The importance of keeping your options open throughout your retirement to handle any unforeseen expenses that may occur
• What action you need to take now to ensure a stress-free retirement
• Plus much, much more!

Another month, another set of changes in pensions, so to keep you up to date here is our snapshot of the key changes-

State Pension age increasing – it has been proposed that the age at which you can begin drawing your State Pension will be increased to age 66 by April 2020.

Contracting Out of the State 2^nd Pension Scheme – you will no longer be able to contract out of the State 2^nd Pension Scheme on an money purchase basis (e.g. Personal Pension Plan) after 6/4/2012. If you are still contracted out on 6/4/2012 you will automatically be contracted back in to the State 2^nd Pension Scheme from that date.

Annual Allowance - the maximum amount that you and your employer can contribute to a pension arrangement each year without incurring tax penalties is being reduced from £255,000 to £50,000.

In a world of low interest rates and relatively high inflation it is important that you earn a return that protects the real value of your capital.  Structured products offer one such way of achieving this objective. 

There are a number of different ways to access stock markets from direct investments in shares, mutual funds, exchange tracking funds and structured products.  Structured products are investments which can be manufactured to offer income, capital growth, or a combination of both.  The returns are usually based on the performance of the underlying investments and are most often linked to a stock market index such as the FTSE 100. 

After a bitter cold Winter that has seen the Nation plagued by snow and illness, coupled with a dawn of 2011 and a gloomy economic outlook, we thought it would be nice to offer our clients the chance to escape from it all.

Simply refer anyone to RIS in the month of February, and you can enter our free prize draw* to win a night at a fabulous Hand Picked Hotel, for two persons in a classic room and full traditional English breakfast with 3 course fine dining dinner. And for that extra special treat, complimentary Champagne and chocolates will be ready on arrival.

RIS are delighted to announce that several local publications have invited us to be their featured "Retirement Expert" . 

This will involve answering questions from readers on all aspects of pensions, investments and current legislation every month.

Take a sneak preview of our first article below

Do I pay tax on my State pension?

Possibly – any pension that you receive from the State (including the basic Old Age Pension) counts towards your taxable income but you will only pay tax on it if your total income is more than your Personal Allowance.

However if there is any tax due on your State pension it is never deducted from the State pension itself – instead it will be deducted from any other pensions that you may receive or, if you don’t receive any other pensions or income, then you will have to pay the tax separately after the end of each tax year.

Just like making a will, or inheritance tax planning, funeral planning should be an important part of the financial planning process for anyone age 50 and over.

In light of the ageing population and the increasing cost of funerals in the UK, the demand and market for funeral plans is expected to grow considerably. It may surprise you to hear that a cremation funeral currently costs on average £2,733. Worse yet, these costs are expected to more than double over the next 5 years.

As part of the services offered by RIS we would like to introduce The Dignity Pre-Paid Funeral plan. This covers funeral costs and fixes those costs at the current market rate, which protects against any future increases. It is a fixed price plan and includes the services necessary for a cremation funeral.

How well do you know the team - care to guess who invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Chase Jarvis, Carl Lewis, David Bailey and Cameron Diaz to a dinner party, or who would like Keira Knightley to play her in a film ??

Find out more about your favorite team members here ... 

On a very wet and windy afternoon, the RIS team embarked on some staff training with a difference.  After sharing some Sangria and tapas we all ventured to the Casino in Gunwharf Quays for our private lessons on the Blackjack and Roulette tables.

There are a lot of changes to pensions coming up and we at RIS we feel our clients should be aware.  We have provided a brief guide to some of  the key changes that may or may not affect you. 

State Pension Age increasing

There are two elements to this:

Women

The age at which females will receive their State pension is being increased from 60 to 65 to bring it in line with the State Pension Age (SPA) for men.

This increase is being phased in gradually over a period of years with the result that women born between 5^th April 1950 and 5^th April 1955 will have an SPA of between 60 and 65 – all women born after 5^th April 1955 will automatically have an SPA of 65.

The original intention was that this increase would be phased in over a period of years ending in April 2020.

As dedicated adviser to the over 50’s, we at RIS, like to keep our clients up to date on various new financial products, special offers or services we feel would benefit them.

One such offer that has come to our attention is Active Health from WPA.

Western Provident Association (WPA) is a health insurer with a heritage going back over 100 years.   As a not for profit association their business is to add customer value - not shareholder value and achieve this through underlying principles dedicated to excellence in customer service.

Active Health is designed to meet the needs of active retirees seeking to maintain their valuable private health insurance cover.

As many of our clients are aware, RIS held a Market Update Seminar on 14^th October 2010 at the prestigious Hampshire Office of Brooks Macdonald Asset Management.

If you don't mind shopping online and would like some cash in your pocket then check out the website Quidco.

Quidco advertises itself as a "cashback cooperative". It is, in essence, a website full of links to various company websites who want to sell you their products. When you normally click on these advertising links, the referring website will earn commission if the potential customer actually buys anything. Quidco are simply passing this commission onto their users.

Of course they aren't doing this out of the goodness of their hearts - they charge all their members £5 a year for being a Quidco member. However, they only charge you if you actually earn a minimum of £5, so you won’t end up owing them money.

All the team at RIS are pleased to announce the launch of our new website.

We’ve gone for a crisper, cleaner brighter look that you should be able to navigate round easily. However as with the ever evolving world of technology we will be making ongoing improvement and updates so would love to have your comments.

HM Revenue & Customs is sending out 25 million tax codes, but not many people are aware that this year a large number of them are wrong!

Your PAYE coding notice tells employers and pension providers how much tax to deduct from your pay or pension.

Every year we are all allowed a certain amount of income before tax is paid – our tax code tells the employer or pension provider how much that is so the rest can be taxed correctly. This year the Revenue has moved all our records onto a new computer system and it seems to have gone drastically wrong.

Pensions were one of the last things on Ken Hawkins mind all the time he was busy earning a living.

However for many years he had been contributing to a pension plan and as he approached retirement he started to think about how best to use his pension fund.

'I thought hard about the best ways to take my pension and realized that there were several options that were open to me,' he says. 'What I didn’t know was which option was best for me and this was a concern - the paperwork was baffling and the easiest option was to take the annuity offered and send the forms back”

Ken is not alone, each year thousands of people turn their backs on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to boost their retirement funds by failing to look at the open market option. It can make all the difference!

On the 24th June 2010 the RIS team set off with great intentions to be the Banking and Finance Industry Go Karting Champions 2010!!

After a hard day at work off trundled our team to the Go Kart Track in Eastleigh. Our team was made up of Sue, Tracey, Justin and Jackie - with the addition of two husbands to add some extra needed speed!

1 Pay off your debts. Those credit cards & personal loans are very expensive. The cost of borrowing money is much more than you get from a savings account...

As you are all aware, referrals from our existing clients just like you is one of our most important source of new clients.  We recently sent all our clients details of our amazing gift range and some lucky clients have already started to see the rewards!!

None of us can predict what the future has in store, and making provisions for when we are gone is the last thing most of us want to consider. But have you thought about the financial consequences of dying without leaving an up to date and valid Will.