Stephen | Finance55 🇬🇧
@finance55.bsky.social
Talking about financial freedom and early retirement.
Posts are not financial advice but personal experience. Do your own research.
Posts are not financial advice but personal experience. Do your own research.
In the UK you can’t get your state pension until 66 - 68
If you want to retire earlier than this you need a plan
You can access a personal pension earlier (currently 55 but rising to 58)
And of course there are ISAs
If you want to retire earlier than this you need a plan
You can access a personal pension earlier (currently 55 but rising to 58)
And of course there are ISAs
February 22, 2025 at 4:26 PM
In the UK you can’t get your state pension until 66 - 68
If you want to retire earlier than this you need a plan
You can access a personal pension earlier (currently 55 but rising to 58)
And of course there are ISAs
If you want to retire earlier than this you need a plan
You can access a personal pension earlier (currently 55 but rising to 58)
And of course there are ISAs
Natural yield - the dividends and interest that your investments produce
If you have enough invested, this can become a viable income stream.
If you have enough invested, this can become a viable income stream.
February 5, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Natural yield - the dividends and interest that your investments produce
If you have enough invested, this can become a viable income stream.
If you have enough invested, this can become a viable income stream.
When you are looking for growth with your investments - accumulation funds
When you are looking for income from your investments - income/distribution funds
When you are looking for income from your investments - income/distribution funds
February 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
When you are looking for growth with your investments - accumulation funds
When you are looking for income from your investments - income/distribution funds
When you are looking for income from your investments - income/distribution funds
Having financial goals may help you make better financial decisions
Do you know what your goals are?
Do you know what your goals are?
February 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Having financial goals may help you make better financial decisions
Do you know what your goals are?
Do you know what your goals are?
The term ‘#equity’ is used to describe the funds raised by a company for business growth and development
These funds are raised through public or #financial institutions by issuing company #shares which are then listed on a #stock exchange
These funds are raised through public or #financial institutions by issuing company #shares which are then listed on a #stock exchange
February 2, 2025 at 8:53 AM
The term ‘#equity’ is used to describe the funds raised by a company for business growth and development
These funds are raised through public or #financial institutions by issuing company #shares which are then listed on a #stock exchange
These funds are raised through public or #financial institutions by issuing company #shares which are then listed on a #stock exchange
‘Paying yourself first’ is a #financial strategy where you set aside an amount to #invest from your #income before you pay any other expenses
The easiest and most consistent way to do this is by setting up a direct debit to your #investment, that goes out the day after pay day
The easiest and most consistent way to do this is by setting up a direct debit to your #investment, that goes out the day after pay day
February 1, 2025 at 10:16 AM
‘Paying yourself first’ is a #financial strategy where you set aside an amount to #invest from your #income before you pay any other expenses
The easiest and most consistent way to do this is by setting up a direct debit to your #investment, that goes out the day after pay day
The easiest and most consistent way to do this is by setting up a direct debit to your #investment, that goes out the day after pay day
If you want to avoid some of the volatility in the #stock market, the strategy of Pound Cost Averaging is one way to ensure that you sleep well at nights
January 31, 2025 at 9:13 AM
If you want to avoid some of the volatility in the #stock market, the strategy of Pound Cost Averaging is one way to ensure that you sleep well at nights
Pound Cost Averaging = strategy where you #invest small amounts on a regular basis
When the market drops, you buy more ‘#shares’ for the same amount of money
The cost of your shares ‘averages’ out over time to between the highest & lowest value during your #investment window
When the market drops, you buy more ‘#shares’ for the same amount of money
The cost of your shares ‘averages’ out over time to between the highest & lowest value during your #investment window
January 30, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Pound Cost Averaging = strategy where you #invest small amounts on a regular basis
When the market drops, you buy more ‘#shares’ for the same amount of money
The cost of your shares ‘averages’ out over time to between the highest & lowest value during your #investment window
When the market drops, you buy more ‘#shares’ for the same amount of money
The cost of your shares ‘averages’ out over time to between the highest & lowest value during your #investment window
Wherever you are in your #investment journey, you should always have some easy access cash available for you to use in case of some sort of #financial emergency
This is usually referred to as an ‘Emergency Fund’
This is the money that helps you sleep at night
This is usually referred to as an ‘Emergency Fund’
This is the money that helps you sleep at night
January 30, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Wherever you are in your #investment journey, you should always have some easy access cash available for you to use in case of some sort of #financial emergency
This is usually referred to as an ‘Emergency Fund’
This is the money that helps you sleep at night
This is usually referred to as an ‘Emergency Fund’
This is the money that helps you sleep at night
Putting a small amount of money into low cost investments on a regular basis will really help develop a habit that will remain with you throughout your life
January 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Putting a small amount of money into low cost investments on a regular basis will really help develop a habit that will remain with you throughout your life
In order to increase wealth sufficiently to allow you the option of retiring early, it’s not enough to simply save money, you also need to invest it
Only by investing will you achieve a return to beat inflation, which is what you need to do for your money to grow in real terms
Only by investing will you achieve a return to beat inflation, which is what you need to do for your money to grow in real terms
January 27, 2025 at 4:18 PM
In order to increase wealth sufficiently to allow you the option of retiring early, it’s not enough to simply save money, you also need to invest it
Only by investing will you achieve a return to beat inflation, which is what you need to do for your money to grow in real terms
Only by investing will you achieve a return to beat inflation, which is what you need to do for your money to grow in real terms
When you invest, your money can grow in two ways
Your original investment can grow in value and it can also produce an income
The growth in value may be referred to as the growth in capital or capital growth
The income it produces may be referred to as natural yield
Your original investment can grow in value and it can also produce an income
The growth in value may be referred to as the growth in capital or capital growth
The income it produces may be referred to as natural yield
January 27, 2025 at 6:17 AM
When you invest, your money can grow in two ways
Your original investment can grow in value and it can also produce an income
The growth in value may be referred to as the growth in capital or capital growth
The income it produces may be referred to as natural yield
Your original investment can grow in value and it can also produce an income
The growth in value may be referred to as the growth in capital or capital growth
The income it produces may be referred to as natural yield
Investing through funds is usually considered less risky than compared to buying individual shares/bonds as you will own a small portion of many companies and assets, so if one falls in value, another may rise in value and the result should theoretically be less volatile.
January 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Investing through funds is usually considered less risky than compared to buying individual shares/bonds as you will own a small portion of many companies and assets, so if one falls in value, another may rise in value and the result should theoretically be less volatile.
Whilst it’s possible to buy individual company shares or bonds, and many investors do, it’s also possible to buy a ready made ‘basket’ of stocks and/or bonds which is usually referred to as a ‘Fund’
January 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Whilst it’s possible to buy individual company shares or bonds, and many investors do, it’s also possible to buy a ready made ‘basket’ of stocks and/or bonds which is usually referred to as a ‘Fund’
There is a clear difference between owning shares and bonds
When you have ‘shares’ in a company, you own a part of the company
If you have ‘bonds’ in a company, then you are lending the company money
When you have ‘shares’ in a company, you own a part of the company
If you have ‘bonds’ in a company, then you are lending the company money
January 25, 2025 at 10:46 AM
There is a clear difference between owning shares and bonds
When you have ‘shares’ in a company, you own a part of the company
If you have ‘bonds’ in a company, then you are lending the company money
When you have ‘shares’ in a company, you own a part of the company
If you have ‘bonds’ in a company, then you are lending the company money
When companies issue bonds, they are often referred to as Corporate Bonds
In the UK, when the government issues bonds they are sometimes called ‘Gilt-Edged Securities’ or Gilts for short
In the UK, when the government issues bonds they are sometimes called ‘Gilt-Edged Securities’ or Gilts for short
January 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM
When companies issue bonds, they are often referred to as Corporate Bonds
In the UK, when the government issues bonds they are sometimes called ‘Gilt-Edged Securities’ or Gilts for short
In the UK, when the government issues bonds they are sometimes called ‘Gilt-Edged Securities’ or Gilts for short
Having financial goals may help you make better financial decisions
Do you know what your goals are?
Do you know what your goals are?
November 24, 2024 at 10:02 AM
Having financial goals may help you make better financial decisions
Do you know what your goals are?
Do you know what your goals are?
Are you keeping a track of all your current subscriptions?
Modern marketing currently relies on sucking people in with subscriptions, broken down to monthly cost, often equating them to the cost of a ‘coffee’
But these ‘coffees’ add up!
Are you ‘over caffeinated’?
Modern marketing currently relies on sucking people in with subscriptions, broken down to monthly cost, often equating them to the cost of a ‘coffee’
But these ‘coffees’ add up!
Are you ‘over caffeinated’?
November 19, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Are you keeping a track of all your current subscriptions?
Modern marketing currently relies on sucking people in with subscriptions, broken down to monthly cost, often equating them to the cost of a ‘coffee’
But these ‘coffees’ add up!
Are you ‘over caffeinated’?
Modern marketing currently relies on sucking people in with subscriptions, broken down to monthly cost, often equating them to the cost of a ‘coffee’
But these ‘coffees’ add up!
Are you ‘over caffeinated’?
“We are what we repeatedly do’ - Aristotle
We achieve our best results from tiny continuous daily habits
What matters is repetition, this moves a behaviour from ‘willpower’ to ‘habit’
Build your habit to #invest
We achieve our best results from tiny continuous daily habits
What matters is repetition, this moves a behaviour from ‘willpower’ to ‘habit’
Build your habit to #invest
November 16, 2024 at 7:54 PM
“We are what we repeatedly do’ - Aristotle
We achieve our best results from tiny continuous daily habits
What matters is repetition, this moves a behaviour from ‘willpower’ to ‘habit’
Build your habit to #invest
We achieve our best results from tiny continuous daily habits
What matters is repetition, this moves a behaviour from ‘willpower’ to ‘habit’
Build your habit to #invest
Personal finance is just that - personal
There is no one right way
Be open minded and listen
And then choose the path that is right for you
There is no one right way
Be open minded and listen
And then choose the path that is right for you
November 15, 2024 at 7:03 PM
Personal finance is just that - personal
There is no one right way
Be open minded and listen
And then choose the path that is right for you
There is no one right way
Be open minded and listen
And then choose the path that is right for you
When a company or a government require extra money they may issue a ‘bond’ in order to borrow the money they need
A bond is therefore a form of IOU that can be traded by investors and usually has a fixed regular income
A bond is therefore a form of IOU that can be traded by investors and usually has a fixed regular income
November 9, 2024 at 9:23 AM
When a company or a government require extra money they may issue a ‘bond’ in order to borrow the money they need
A bond is therefore a form of IOU that can be traded by investors and usually has a fixed regular income
A bond is therefore a form of IOU that can be traded by investors and usually has a fixed regular income
We all need to be able to ‘make money while we sleep’
The alternative is to keep working until you get your government pension
Currently in the UK that is 66 years old - and due to rise!
The alternative is to keep working until you get your government pension
Currently in the UK that is 66 years old - and due to rise!
September 4, 2023 at 7:16 AM
We all need to be able to ‘make money while we sleep’
The alternative is to keep working until you get your government pension
Currently in the UK that is 66 years old - and due to rise!
The alternative is to keep working until you get your government pension
Currently in the UK that is 66 years old - and due to rise!
When younger I held #Index funds due to their low cost
Once I started to think about #retirement, I switched to income funds
These give me some growth AND a regular #income
It’s possible to get 4 - 5% income via this approach without selling any of your holdings
Once I started to think about #retirement, I switched to income funds
These give me some growth AND a regular #income
It’s possible to get 4 - 5% income via this approach without selling any of your holdings
September 1, 2023 at 5:23 AM
When younger I held #Index funds due to their low cost
Once I started to think about #retirement, I switched to income funds
These give me some growth AND a regular #income
It’s possible to get 4 - 5% income via this approach without selling any of your holdings
Once I started to think about #retirement, I switched to income funds
These give me some growth AND a regular #income
It’s possible to get 4 - 5% income via this approach without selling any of your holdings
What does ‘retirement’ mean to you?
Will you give up work completely and focus on your hobbies or will you need some sort of work to give your life meaning?
Knowing the answer to this will help you plan for ‘retirement day’
Will you give up work completely and focus on your hobbies or will you need some sort of work to give your life meaning?
Knowing the answer to this will help you plan for ‘retirement day’
August 31, 2023 at 5:42 AM
What does ‘retirement’ mean to you?
Will you give up work completely and focus on your hobbies or will you need some sort of work to give your life meaning?
Knowing the answer to this will help you plan for ‘retirement day’
Will you give up work completely and focus on your hobbies or will you need some sort of work to give your life meaning?
Knowing the answer to this will help you plan for ‘retirement day’