“Clear beggars from streets of Windsor ahead of royal wedding, says local council leader”

Jan 5, 2018 | In the news

An independent (financial adviser’s) view

Stories of ‘aggressive beggars’ filled the airwaves this week, at the behest of the humanitarian (Conservative) leader of Windsor council. I’d compare them to a smoker’s tale of the uncle who puffed through 60-a-day from the age of 10 and lived to 100: an apocryphal excuse for inaction. It costs £50 to fill a car with petrol, so a pound to someone on the street won’t break anyone’s bank. If you’re worried they might spend it on Special Brew or needles, buy a Big Issue or give it to Shelter. Just do something. I’d say.

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“Record year for annuity sales driven by advisers”

“Record year for annuity sales driven by advisers”

I was asked this week whether annuities are now ‘a good investment’. They’ve been recommended very rarely in recent years, since ‘pension freedoms’ allowed pretty much unlimited drawdown on pension funds and anything left to be passed on to beneficiaries free of Inheritance Tax.