Author: Talking Finances

If you “open your eyes, look up to the skies and see…”, you can find financial planning lessons in the most unexpected places.

You’ve no doubt heard many of Queen’s greatest hits countless times. You might have danced to ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ at weddings, sung along to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the car, or stomped your feet to ‘We Will Rock You’.

What you probably didn’t realise is that you were absorbing some poignant lessons about how to approach your finances.

Freddie Mercury, rock music icon and the band’s lead singer, would have celebrated his 80th birthday on 5 September 2026. Mercury wrote the lyrics to many of Queen’s best-known songs. While it’s unlikely that Mercury wrote songs with financial planning in mind, his lyrics still deliver some important pearls of wisdom, including:

1. ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’: When is the “right” time to retire?
2. ‘We Are the Champions’: Preparing for life’s twists and turns
3. ‘Under Pressure’: Be aware of your growing tax liabilities
4. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’: Plan how you’ll pass on your estate
5. ‘You’re My Best Friend’: Work with someone you trust to build towards your goals

Download your copy here: 5 financial lessons to learn from Queen lyrics

If these Queen lyrics have inspired you to take a fresh look at your finances, our financial planners could help you create “a kind of magic” by helping you take control of your money.

Please note: This guide is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing (August 2026) and is subject to change in the future.

Retirement is a major life event that most people spend years planning and looking forward to.

And yet, research by Moneybox (3 July 2026) reveals that 43% of over-55s have never discussed their retirement finances with anyone, and just 44% have spoken about them to their partner or spouse.

This could leave couples with different expectations about when they will stop working and what their retirement will look like. It may also lead to missed opportunities to maximise their retirement income.

Read on to discover why so many people avoid retirement discussions with their partner, as well as some practical tips for starting this important conversation and how a financial planner can help.

Why retirement conversations might feel difficult

The Moneybox research found that 56% of UK adults worry about their retirement finances at least once a year and 34% worry at least monthly.

Despite these concerns and the potential impact they could have on their wellbeing, fewer than half of those surveyed had talked things through with their partner.

The data suggests this could be down to the unpleasant emotions that retirement discussions may trigger. When asked how they felt about retirement:

• 18% said confident
• 24% said anxious
• 16% said fearful
• 15% said stressed.

When asked what makes retirement planning difficult:

• 14% said fear of getting older
• 22% cited a lack of knowledge
• 15% said they lack confidence.

In other words, retirement conversations can bring up emotionally challenging subjects that you might feel uncomfortable addressing, even with the person closest to you.

However, while avoiding these topics may provide short-term emotional relief, it could make practical decisions more difficult later. Indeed, effective retirement planning is rarely a single decision, and normally involves many smaller choices made over time.

3 practical tips for talking to your partner about retirement

If you feel awkward discussing retirement finances with your partner, here are a few practical suggestions for broaching the subject:

1. Choose the right time

Set aside a specific time for discussion when you’re both prepared, relaxed, and not feeling rushed.

Framing it as an opportunity to plan something together and get excited about your future might make the topic less intimidating and onerous.

You might also find it helpful to break the conversation into smaller topics – such as how much you have in your pensions and when you’d each like to retire – rather than tackling everything at once.

2. Start by sharing your goals and concerns

Launching straight into a financial discussion might feel technical and stressful, which could lead to frustration and further procrastination.

The strongest financial plans are built around an individual’s or a couple’s priorities, values, and aspirations.

Here are a few questions you may find useful:

• What does a fulfilling retirement look like to you?
• What are you most looking forward to?
• What are your main worries?

These prompts could highlight areas of shared interest and differences that may not be evident from looking at your financial paperwork. For example, you might both be keen to spend more time with your grandchildren, but you’re also dreaming of exotic travel, while your partner is eager to make home improvements.

You don’t need to reach immediate agreement on every point. The first goal is to start talking and understand each other’s expectations and goals.

3. Build a shared financial picture

Once you’ve answered the big questions about what you both want from retirement, it’s time to review and assess your shared finances.

Here are a few key pieces of information you might want to gather:

• State Pension forecasts
• Workplace and personal pension statements
• An overview of your ISAs, investments, and savings
• Property and mortgage commitments
• Debts and regular expenditure
• Details of any other future income
• Tax considerations and planned gifts

You’ll also need to consider how changes to inflation, investment returns, and your health could affect your financial situation. This is where professional financial advice could prove invaluable.

How a financial planner could support your retirement discussions

If you’re struggling to talk to your partner about retirement, a financial planner could help by providing a dedicated time to talk about your finances and goals. They have the knowledge and experience to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have.

A financial planner could also act as a mediator between you and your partner, which may be especially useful if you have different views and are struggling to reach a compromise. They can use sophisticated cashflow modelling software to model different scenarios, such as varying retirement dates and spending levels, to help you create a plan you’re both happy with.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate cashflow planning or tax planning.

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. 

The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates, and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts. 

Workplace pensions are regulated by The Pensions Regulator.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. 

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loans secured on it.

How are you setting your life goals? Are you following a well-trodden path or choosing aspirations that are meaningful to you?

Everyone is different and spending some time thinking about what you want to achieve could lead to greater wellbeing and a sense of purpose.

Imagine you’re preparing for retirement. The traditional outlook would suggest you make time to relax, help look after your grandchildren, and maybe book a cruise. That might sound great at first, but when you examine what you want, perhaps you discover travelling the UK in a campervan, penning a novel, or joining a band sounds more attractive.

Similarly, you might have gone to university and are now working your way up the career ladder because it’s the expected route. Yet, there could be opportunities to retrain, take a career break, or launch a business that you could miss out on if you’re not open to different possibilities.

Of course, common goals are popular for a reason, and many might be important to you. But simply ticking off expected milestones could lead to regrets and missed opportunities.

According to a survey carried out by Samsung (10 September 2025), the average Brit spends 5.8 days a year thinking about what they would do differently if they could live their life again.

Pursuing meaningful life goals doesn’t guarantee you won’t have regrets. However, it could help you spend your time, energy, and money on what’s most important to you.

Setting meaningful life goals as part of your financial plan

A financial plan is a long-term roadmap that sets out how you might use your assets to achieve life goals. So, if you want to re-evaluate your aspirations, it’s a good place to start.

Here’s why.

1. Set goals that are focused on personal aspirations

A financial plan doesn’t start by looking at numbers, but by considering what your goals are. As a result, it provides dedicated time to discuss what’s important to you.

You might want to think about what gives your life purpose now and what you’d like to achieve in the future. This allows you to create a plan that balances short- and long-term goals that are tailored to you rather than simply following the crowd.

2. Turn vague goals into clear objectives

When you first set a goal, it’s often vague. You might say “I want to travel more”. This is a good starting point, but you need more details to create an actionable plan. In this scenario, you might benefit from considering questions such as:

• Is this something I want to achieve while working or when I retire?
• Would I prefer multiple short trips or a longer adventure?
• What kind of travel experiences do I want to have?
• Which destinations are most interesting to me?

After pondering these questions, your objective might be more defined, such as “I want to take a year-long career break in 2030 to spend time exploring South America”. You now have a clear objective that you’re working towards, so it’s easier to measure your progress and think about what steps you need to take to turn it into a reality.

3. A financial plan could give you the confidence to pursue goals

Following your dreams can be scary, especially if you’re worried about how it could affect your financial security.

As your financial planners, we can work with you to create a cashflow model that will allow you to assess the impact of different scenarios. For example, if you dream about starting a business, you might want to model whether other income sources could cover essential outgoings or the long-term implications of using a lump sum as start-up capital.

A cashflow model is a tool that uses information about your current assets and assumptions about external factors, such as expected investment returns, to project how your wealth might change in different scenarios.

It’s important to note that the outcomes of a cashflow model cannot be guaranteed. However, as a tool, it could give you confidence in your finances, allowing you to pursue goals and explore possibilities you might have previously dismissed.

4. A financial plan could be useful when goals change

While you might set a meaningful goal now, it’s not set in stone. Over time, the life you want to live could change. A financial plan could improve your security, so you have more flexibility if you want to adjust your short- or long-term objectives.

Contact us

To talk to us about how to build a financial plan around the life you want, please get in touch.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate cashflow modelling.

Autumn is the perfect time of year to curl up under a blanket by the fire with a good book.

As the nights draw in and Halloween approaches, there’s nothing quite like a story that sends a delicious shiver down your spine and adrenaline pumping through your veins.

Whether you’re a fearless horror fan, a lover of gentle psychological thrillers, or you prefer haunting tales with a healthy dose of humour, we’ve got you covered.

Read on to discover four wonderfully spooky books to add to your reading list this autumn.

1. Classic horror – The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

This timeless supernatural thriller was first published in 1959, and it received wide critical acclaim upon release. Author Stephen King, the “King of Horror”, called it “one of the finest horror novels of the twentieth century”.

Rather than jump scares and gory descriptions of violence, Jackson uses sharp prose to build a deep, unsettling psychological tension.

The story opens with Dr John Montague renting a spooky old mansion for the summer to study ghosts and find evidence of a haunting. He’s joined by the young, shy Eleanor Vance, an artistic psychic called Theodora, and Luke Sanderson, the heir to Hill House.

All four experience strange events, noises, and chilling sensations, but as the book progresses, it’s Eleanor who becomes increasingly terrorised by the house. The others begin to suspect she is the cause of all the unsettling happenings, and Eleanor’s mental state deteriorates, leading to a tragic ending.

If you enjoy this book, you might like to settle in for a few spooky evenings watching the 2018 10-episode TV adaptation.

2. Modern psychological thriller – The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

This book was published in 2019, and it quickly became a global bestseller.

It’s a psychological thriller about Alicia Berenson, a celebrated painter who shoots her husband five times and then never speaks another word. Her only communication with the world is a self-portrait she paints immediately after the crime.

Alicia is convicted of murder and sent to a secure psychiatric unit in London called The Grove, where she becomes a notorious enigma, known only as “the silent patient”.

Six years later, when the media furore has died down and most people have forgotten about Alicia, forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber becomes obsessed with her case. He takes a job at The Grove, determined to treat her and discover her motive.

It’s a clever story with a fantastic twist that will keep you guessing to the end.

3. Award-winning gothic fiction – The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Sarah Waters OBE is a Welsh novelist who is best known for her novels set in the Victorian era.

The Little Stranger was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2009. It’s an international bestseller, translated into numerous languages, and was adapted into a film in 2018 starring Domhnall Gleeson and Ruth Wilson.

The story is set in post-war England and opens with a doctor being summoned to a patient at Hundreds Hall, home to the Ayres family for generations. The once grand, now crumbling and lonely house is occupied by Mrs Ayres (Angela), her daughter Caroline, and son Roderick.

As Dr Faraday becomes increasingly involved with the family, strange and unsettling events begin to occur, suggesting the house may be haunted by a malevolent presence.

This atmospheric story offers an interesting twist on the haunted house trope used in classics such as The Haunting of Hill House. Waters not only creates an engrossing, bone-chilling read, but also weaves in weightier topics, most notably the role of class in society.

It’s a meticulously well-researched and beautifully written book.

4. Comedy with a pinch of spookiness – A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

If you’re after something a little lighter and less nerve-wracking than a classic horror or thriller, but still with a spooky theme, A Dirty Job could be an ideal choice.

This is a darkly comic novel about Charlie Asher, a neurotic “beta male” who runs a second-hand store in San Francisco. His life is devastated when his wife dies giving birth to their first child.

As Charlie is leaving the hospital to go home, he sees a mysterious man in a mint-green suit who claims no one else can see him. When people start dying around him, Charlie realises he’s been recruited as a “Death Merchant”, who is responsible for collecting the souls of the dying and recently deceased.

Hence the title, it’s “A Dirty Job”, but someone’s got to do it.

This is comic noir fantasy at its best: an original concept, brilliantly drawn characters, and laugh-out-loud humour.

When you’re investing using ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria, fund labels can be confusing. They might leave you unsure about which ESG factors are considered or what impact your investments will have.

ESG investing is an approach to investing that considers more than just a company’s financial performance. It assesses numerous factors to understand how responsibly a company operates across three pillars:

1. Environmental: How a company manages its impact on the planet, including emissions, energy use, waste, and climate-related risks.
2. Social: How it treats employees, customers, suppliers, and communities, including issues such as working conditions, diversity, and human rights.
3. Governance: How the company is managed, including leadership, transparency, executive pay, shareholder rights, and business ethics.

The goal of ESG investing is to identify companies that are aligned with your values, while also potentially delivering long-term returns in line with your wider investment strategy.

ESG investing is becoming more popular. According to a report in ESG Today (5 May 2026), research suggests that 90% of investors across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific are interested in sustainable investing. Indeed, two-thirds said they plan to increase their sustainable investment allocation.

ESG labels aim to make investment objectives clearer for investors

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced four ESG investment fund labels in 2024, aiming to make it easier for investors to compare different ESG funds.

Before this, there were no clear definitions for fund labels, which could make it difficult to determine their objectives and potential impact. There were also concerns about greenwashing – where vague or misleading language is used to overstate a fund’s ESG credentials.

The FCA regime provides four labels that funds can only use if they meet certain criteria, including a requirement for at least 70% of the fund’s gross value to be invested in line with its sustainability objective.

The four labels are:

1. Sustainability Focus: For funds investing in assets that are already environmentally or socially sustainable based on evidence-based standards. These funds might invest in companies providing healthcare products or using energy efficiently.
2. Sustainability Improvers: For funds investing in assets that have the potential to improve their environmental or social sustainability over time. Companies within these funds might have a clear path to reduce their carbon emissions or have committed to improving social standards.
3. Sustainability Impact: For funds aiming to achieve a positive, measurable impact on the environment or society. Measurable goals may include increasing renewable energy generation or supporting social housing.
4. Sustainability Mixed Goals: For funds that invest using a combination of the three approaches above.

The introduction of these ESG labels could help you select ESG investments with greater confidence.

The importance of looking beyond ESG labels

An ESG label can be a useful starting point, but it doesn’t tell you everything about a fund or whether it’s right for you

An ESG fund will not necessarily exclude every company, industry, or activity that you personally disagree with. So, before investing, it’s worth looking beyond the label and understanding what the fund is trying to achieve, what it invests in, what it excludes, and how it manages and measures progress towards its sustainability objective.

This can help you decide whether its approach genuinely matches your own priorities.

It’s also important to consider the financial side of the investment. Think about whether the fund fits with your overall investment strategy and objectives, as well as factors such as investment fees, the fund’s risk profile, and past performance.

Looking beyond the ESG label can help you make a more informed decision about whether a particular fund is right for you.

If you’d like our support when reviewing different investment opportunities, including those that consider ESG factors, please get in touch.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

In just a few years, AI has transformed how we approach tasks both at work and in our personal lives.

While using AI could save you valuable time in some areas, it could pose risks in others, including when you’re writing or updating your will.

Your will sets out who you want to inherit your assets when you die. You may also use it to appoint a guardian for your children, name executors to administer your estate, and note other information, such as your funeral preferences.

While it is possible to write a will yourself, it is a legal document and seeking professional support could be valuable.

Yet, a survey reported by Today’s Wills & Probate (2 May 2025) suggests a growing number of people would rely on technology. Almost half of those surveyed in the UK and US said they would even trust AI to help write their will.

While using AI to write your will might seem like a simple solution at first, it could create long-term issues. Here are some of the risks you could expose your estate to.

AI cannot guarantee that your will is valid

To be valid, a will must meet certain criteria, such as being signed in the presence of witnesses. Relying on AI could mean that legal requirements are overlooked, potentially rendering your will invalid.

If your will is invalid, your estate might be distributed according to a previous will. If there isn’t a previous will, your estate could be distributed according to intestacy rules, which determine who inherits your estate according to legally defined laws.

In both these cases, it could mean your assets are not distributed in line with your wishes and that some of your intended beneficiaries are disinherited.

AI may use ambiguous or confusing language

AI writes confidently, but language errors could cause issues when your will is being interpreted.

Even seemingly small mistakes could have an impact. For example, ambiguous language or contradictory clauses might mean it’s unclear how you want your assets to be distributed. Even a minor error could lead to disputes.

A legal professional understands the importance of precise terminology and language so that your wishes aren’t misinterpreted.

AI cannot offer personalised advice when writing your will

AI may generate a basic will, but every family and estate is unique. Your will should be written to reflect your circumstances, family dynamics, and personal wishes.

Speaking to a legal professional gives you a chance to discuss what’s important to you and they may ask follow-up questions to address areas you have not considered.

An AI-written will might also overlook how your wishes interact with other legal documents and estate planning strategies. For example, you might be considering how to reduce a potential Inheritance Tax bill or have already established a trust to pass on some assets. A legal professional could offer advice on how these areas might affect the contents of your will.

An AI-written will could increase the risk of disputes

While will disputes are rare, the number of cases reaching the High Court is rising. According to Today’s Wills and Probate (31 March 2026), more than 1,200 disputed cases were filed in 2025, an increase of 13% compared with 2024.

While choosing to work with a legal professional can’t eliminate the risk of disputes arising, doing so could reduce the chances as poorly drafted or unclear wills are more likely to be challenged.

Disputes can lead to stress, delays, and legal costs for your loved ones. In the worst-case scenario, a dispute could mean your estate isn’t distributed in accordance with your wishes.

Reviewing your financial plan when writing or amending your will could be valuable

When you’re writing your will, you’re thinking about what you’d like to happen when you pass away. However, it’s often not an isolated consideration, and reviewing your wishes alongside your wider financial plan could be useful.

The value of your assets now and how you intend to use them during your lifetime might affect who you want to inherit your estate.

To talk about your will and financial plan, please get in touch.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate will writing, tax planning, estate planning or trusts.