It doesn’t matter how much you prepare; sometimes unexpected life events could mean your carefully laid plans go awry. While you can’t know what’s around the corner, you can change how you respond to unpredictable events to help keep your financial plan on track.
A life event could have a huge impact on your wealth, both now and in the future. Circumstances outside of your control might even lead to you changing your long-term goals. So, even if you already have a robust financial plan in place, a review following major life events could be helpful.
Here are four unpredictable life events you might have experienced that could mean you’d benefit from updating your financial plan.
1. Experiencing redundancy
Redundancy could have a huge effect on both your short- and long-term finances.
In the short term, you might need to dip into savings or other assets to cover your essential outgoings. As you may stop contributions towards your long-term goals, such as adding to your pension for retirement, it could also mean you face an unexpected shortfall in the future.
You might also receive a redundancy payout, which you want to understand how to use to improve your financial security.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics, around 3.4 employees in every 1,000 were made redundant between March and May 2024. A separate poll from SurveyMonkey also found that 58% of employees feel uncertain about their future job security.
If you’ve been made redundant, a financial review could help you identify ways to manage your finances while you search for employment, and then assess the potential long-term impact.
2. Taking time off work due to an accident or illness
Needing to take a long time off work due to an accident or illness could leave you in a financially vulnerable position. Much like redundancy, it could affect both short- and long-term finances.
You might think the chances of you being unable to work for an extended period are slim. However, figures released at the start of 2024 and published in the Guardian, highlight how many people are affected by unexpected illnesses. According to the data, 2.8 million people were not working due to long-term sickness at the start of the year.
If you’re unable to work, a financial review could help you assess how to use your assets to create a regular income to cover essential outgoings. It might also consider how you could keep long-term goals on track.
3. Separating from your partner
Whether you’re married or not, separating from your partner may have large implications for your financial security. Separating when your finances are intertwined could have a substantial impact on your household income, regular expenses, and even long-term wealth creation.
Indeed, research led by the University of Bristol found that equal division of joint assets, including property and pensions, was not the norm during divorce. It only occurred in around 3 in 10 cases. This means that one person was likely to miss out financially.
Working with us to assess your financial plan following a separation could help you understand how your assets have changed and what steps you might need to take to improve your financial resilience.
A financial review isn’t just useful for assessing your assets. Following the breakdown of a relationship, your lifestyle goals and long-term aspirations might have changed too. So, updating your financial plan could ensure it continues to reflect the future you want.
4. Receiving an inheritance
Unexpected events don’t always harm your finances. Indeed, if you receive an inheritance or a windfall, it could provide you with greater financial freedom than you previously had.
Receiving a large lump sum out of the blue might feel overwhelming, especially if it’s through an inheritance and you are dealing with the loss of a loved one. When you’re ready, seeking tailored financial advice could help you understand how to use the wealth in a way that aligns with your goals.
Have you experienced an unexpected life event? Contact us to review your financial plan
Whether you’ve experienced one of the four unexpected life events listed above or you’ve been affected in another way, we could help you assess your financial plan to ensure it continues to reflect your new circumstances. Please contact us to arrange a meeting with one of our team.
Please note:
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
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.
