Tony Mudd, Divisional Director, Development & Technical Consultancy. St James’s Place
FIVE WAYS TO SAFEGUARD YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE
The financial and economic impact of the coronavirus crisis has thrown up a host of issues for families to consider.
Above all, the experience has reinforced the importance of always being prepared.
The pandemic’s effect on jobs and incomes has underlined the value of having a robust financial safety net in place. And it’s never too late to take control and start planning. It’s time to focus on your ‘wealthbeing’.
Here are some positive steps you can take to safeguard your financial future.
- Income security
With almost nine million UK employees of around one million businesses1 placed on furlough since the coronavirus crisis unfolded, there is potential for large numbers of redundancies as employers examine their reopening plans and contemplate the future of their business.
If you’re in employment and still being paid, look at how long that is likely to continue. As far as you are able, try to budget appropriately. Also look longer term at other sources of finance that you would be able to access if needed (such as savings, existing investments or, perhaps, borrowing), as well as the gaps that insurance policies could help fill.
If you are facing redundancy, make sure you understand what you can expect from your employer – your notice period, redundancy entitlement and statutory redundancy cover – as well as the government support that’s available.
Ask yourself – Where do I stand? What do I need? Can I continue to pay my bills? What are my responsibilities?If you do need to dip into your savings or investments, be careful about where you take it from – and when. The right choices here will help you preserve your capital by helping you minimise your tax, reduce charges and get the best from your assets.
If you don’t have savings or investments available, check whether you’re entitled to state support. The Money Advice Service website is a good source of information and guidance. If you’re struggling, or think you might soon be, don’t hesitate to seek free, impartial debt advice from the likes of StepChange and Citizens Advice.
- Create an insurance buffer
Do a risk audit on yourself. Ask what the financial implications would be – for you and your family – if you get sick or lose your job. Ascertain what potential risks you might face as a family and as an individual. It will be different for everyone, so it’s about considering your personal circumstances and those of the people who rely on you to work out what you need. There’s nothing to stop parents or grandparents from paying income protection premiums for a younger member of the family, particularly if they are renting or starting out on the property ladder and can’t afford them.
- Prepared for later-life care?
It may seem a long way off, but the Covid-19 outbreak has shown us all that our lives can change in an instant. A will is something that should be reviewed on a regular basis, as it sets out not only who your assets will go to, but also when. Power of attorney (POA) can be especially important, and it’s essential in long-term care. This is an area where financial advice is enormously valuable. Long-term care planning is difficult, and too often people ask for advice when they are already in or approaching a crisis, when it’s likely too late to make a significant difference.
- Avoiding gaps in inheritance and legacy plans
Inheritance Tax legislation changes frequently, and because you don’t know when you are going to die, it can be difficult to cover every possible gap, even with a will in place and some form of legacy planning. The closest option is often ‘whole of life’ cover, which can pay out in trust as a legacy or help family cover any Inheritance Tax liabilities. One of the great things about protection policies is that they can be the solution to a range of different problems.
- Involve your partner and family
Many families remain reluctant to talk about money issues. Consider working with a financial advisor who can bring the family together to ensure that all the necessary issues are discussed among the people who need to be involved. An advisor can facilitate the discussions (without emotional involvement) and offer guidance.
