March 2023

Welcome to our Spring Newsletter!

The first quarter of 2023 has endured turbulence both nationally and globally with 1 year since the Ukraine War and the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake. There have also been certain key dates of interest including International Women's Day and the Spring Budget. You will have already received an email from us with key facts from the Spring Budget and Tax Tables 2023. Meanwhile, the economy is still reeling from the effects of high inflation and the increase in interest rates, linking into the energy price hike and cost of living. Within this newsletter, we touch upon some practical tips and explanations into those areas affecting you on a day to day basis.

There have also been some changes here at Strategy and we would like to inform you that we have recently had the pleasure of a new Client Services Administrator joining the team!

Emily joined Strategy in January and as part of her role here, she oversees the arrangement of meetings with clients and data gathering. She is also responsible for the maintenance of software, systems and processes that enable excellent client relations and service.

As well as furthering her education in Economics, History and English, Emily has established a demonstrated history of customer service roles. She since progressed into the role of Business Development Co-ordinator and then Procurement. This multitude of varied, challenging roles has provided her with numerous skills vital to her role at Strategy including organisation, efficiency and attention to detail. Emily looks forward to advancing her skills and knowledge of Financial Services in order to pursue a career in the industry.

She is looking to acquaint herself with Strategy’s clients and so, if you haven’t already been in contact with her, it is likely that you will be at some point in the near future. 

A further business update from us that some of you may already be aware of, is the creation of our new Client Services Email Inbox (clientservices@strategyfinancial.co.uk). This will be managed by Emily and primarily used for booking meetings and updating your information. If you would like to speak directly to an adviser, please email Sophia or Tony directly, however the new inbox will also be accessed by our advisers too.

Please see the two buttons located at the bottom of this update that link to The Openwork Foundation's charity appeal if you would like to donate to Ukraine and/or Turkey-Syria.

We hope you enjoy the read and welcome any feedback or suggestions of content you would like to learn or read about.

If you're aged under 70, you now have until 31st July to boost your state pension by £1,000s or even £10,000s – so check NOW.

In addition, the cost of filling those gaps will stay at the same level instead of rising in April as planned.

That's what MoneySavingExpert.com's founder Martin Lewis urged everyone to do in a special 90-minute everything you need to know about pensions episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

The extension announcement now means thousands of people with gaps in their national insurance record between 2006 and 2016, who are not on track to get the full state pension, should now have time to get the information they need from Government helplines before making any voluntary national insurance contributions to HMRC.

After 31 July, it will only be possible to top up gaps from the previous six tax years. That's because "transitional arrangements" put in place when the new state pension system was introduced in 2016 will have ended.

Click on the button below to watch the Martin Lewis Money Show Live Pensions Special.

Wednesday 8th March was International Women's Day. In honour of this, Scottish Widows are using their 18 years of our expertise and research to explore the data behind the gender pension gap and get people to #StartTalkingPensions.

Did you know that today, on average women are retiring with £123,000 less in their pension than men?

Click the button below to find out more.

Click the link below to go to a Money Saving Guide to help you understand and choose the right savings account for you.

Read to receive tips on ways to boost your interest, the best easy-access savings accounts and the highest paying traditional savings accounts that are available to you.

Inflation is a measure of how prices of goods and services are changing in the UK and it can have a big impact on peoples household finances.

Use this Inflation Calculator to work out your personal inflation rate.

Strategy Financial Limited is an appointed representative of The Openwork Partnership, a trading style of Openwork Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Openwork Limited, Omnis Investments Limited and Openwork Wealth Services Limited are separate companies within the Openwork Group.

Openwork Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales under registered number 04399725. Registered office: Washington House, Lydiard Fields, Swindon, SN5 8UB.

Omnis Investments Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales under registered number 06582314. Registered office: Washington House, Lydiard Fields, Swindon, SN5 8UB.

Openwork Wealth Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales under registered number 10266077. Registered office: Washington House, Lydiard Fields, Swindon, SN5 8UB.