High inflation hits workers and savers
Employment is at a record high, but UK workers are starting to feel the squeeze as wages fall below inflation for the first time since 2014.
Inflation has gone up, in part, due to the Brexit-related fall in the value of sterling, but the fall in wage growth is unusual as it occurs at a time when employment is at a high. When prices rise faster than wages, it reduces spending power and puts pressure on household finances.
Keeping up with inflation
If you earned ÂŁ539 per week (the 2016 median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees) your pay next year would need to increase by another ÂŁ10 each week to keep up with an inflation rate of 2.6% (which it was in August 2017). Unfortunately, the current average pay growth of just 1.8% means your earnings will actually be worth ÂŁ4 less each week.
As well as your wage-packet, rising inflation could also erode the value of any savings you have on deposit, leading some to consider a riskier investment where there is potential for your money to work harder. If you find yourself in this situation, we can help.
Designing your investment strategy
After establishing and agreeing your attitude to risk, we will work with you to create an appropriate investment strategy – one that aims to maximise returns while maintaining the right level of risk for you.
As well as recommending the most appropriate product or tax ‘wrapper’ (a specific type of tax efficient investment) from the range available to us, we will also recommend the most appropriate fund or portfolio of funds.
Our recommendation will also take into account a number of other factors, including:
- Your objectives for the investment
- Your personal circumstances
- The timeframe over which you intend to hold the investment or pension
- The amount of money you have available to invest
- Other investments that you already have
With so many investment options available and the effects of inflation erosion posing an immediate risk to your savings, the hardest part can be deciding which route to take.
We’ll follow a clear and thorough process to clarify exactly what you need from your investments and how much risk you’re prepared to take. Our approach will help you get a solution that matches your needs – today and in the future.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance and may not be repeated. The value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up. You may not get back the amounts originally invested.
