Worldwide Financial Planning

I wrote about downsizing in last week's column as a way in which you could release capital from your home instead of 'equity release' so I thought I would go into more detail to explain what downsizing means while pinpointing other things you need to be thinking about.

In the UK, weaker retail sales and deteriorating Purchasing Managers’ Indices add to the gloomier picture for economic activity. However, there are some positive signs. Consumer confidence defied expectations of further weakness and consumers turned more positive after a noticeable downturn in the run up to the budget.

Nearly 500,000 people still have a mortgage after retirement and research shows they have a home worth £320,000 and a household income of £30,000. For some that income is enough, for others it’s not.

Trump is yet to announce his choices for the key economic jobs but many of his selections so far are from outside the political mainstream and show a more radical approach than in his first term.

Equity release, or lifetime mortgages are often badly misunderstood with the consequence of someone not taking action, and someone acting on half information or misinformation.

As Trump assembles his new government, investors will be keenly watching for indications of his policy priorities. How far his administration will go to deliver his promised tariffs and tax cuts, for example?