Neurodiversity — protecting the future of a loved one with additional needs
For anyone caring for a neurodivergent loved one — whether that's autism, ADHD, dyslexia or another condition — one of the hardest questions is what happens when you're no longer there to provide support. Zurich's piece works through the planning that can give real peace of mind: understanding the person's current and future needs (independence, care, therapies, help managing money), and putting the right financial and legal foundations in place around them.
Two tools sit at the centre. A trust lets you keep control over how money is used rather than leaving it directly to someone who may need help managing it — trustees can make decisions in the person's best interests, provide structured access to funds over time, and in some cases help preserve eligibility for means-tested benefits. Alongside that, protection such as life insurance, family income benefit or income protection can provide the money those arrangements need. Zurich stresses this isn't a one-off exercise: circumstances, legislation and needs change, so plans — and the powers of attorney or deputyship that sit behind them — should be reviewed regularly.
Original commentary by Zurich, published in the 2plan Wealth Management Newsletter, Edition 51 (2026). Trusts and Power of Attorney are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The value of protection benefits depends on individual circumstances.Is deferring your State Pension a good idea?
Most people claim their State Pension the moment they reach State Pension age without a second thought — but you can choose to delay it, and in return your future payments grow for life. Fidelity puts real numbers to the decision: on the full new State Pension of £241.30 a week, deferring for a year adds around £13.95 a week (roughly £725 a year). The catch is that you forgo about £12,548 of income during the year you wait — so, deferring from 66 to 67, you'd need to live to around 84 just to break even.
That makes deferral a genuine option for some — if you're in good health, don't need the income yet, expect to live well into your 80s, or want to avoid your State Pension pushing you into a higher tax band while you're still working. But Fidelity is clear about the risks: poor health or a shorter life expectancy can leave you worse off, you can't build up extra pension during periods on certain benefits, and a higher pension can reduce means-tested support. It's a personal decision that turns heavily on your own circumstances.
Original commentary by Fidelity, published in the 2plan Wealth Management Newsletter, Edition 51 (2026). State Pension figures quoted at the full new State Pension rate of £241.30 per week. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and tax rules can change. This is not a personal recommendation.Should you save or pay down debt?
Building savings and clearing debt both improve financial wellbeing, which makes choosing between them genuinely difficult. Aegon's rule of thumb is a sensible starting point: if you're carrying short-term, high-interest debt, it's usually worth clearing that before you focus on saving — but the right answer depends on your circumstances. The article starts by removing the stigma: most people carry some debt, and borrowing (a mortgage being the obvious example) opens up opportunities you wouldn't otherwise have.
From there it offers a practical checklist — write down a plan and list every debt so you can decide what to tackle first; watch for interest rates that can rise unexpectedly on credit cards; check whether early-repayment penalties make overpaying a loan not worth it; and remember that some debts (mortgages, student loans) work differently and needn't always be the priority. Once you're on top of repayments, Aegon suggests building an emergency fund of at least three months' easily accessible savings as a safety net.
Original commentary by Aegon, published in the 2plan Wealth Management Newsletter, Edition 51 (2026). General information only, not a personal recommendation — free and impartial guidance is available from the government-backed MoneyHelper service.Great expectations — why your home shouldn't have to fund your retirement
Many people grew up on stories of vast, effortless gains on the family home — and assume the same will fund their own retirement. Parmenion pushes back with the fuller picture. Yes, according to Savills, average UK house prices rose over 250% in the last 25 years — but once adjusted for inflation the real increase is just 92%, and Rathbones' analysis notes the average UK home is now worth less in real terms than it was in 2016. The drivers of the property boom — falling interest rates, rising incomes, limited supply — have largely gone into reverse, yet a JP Morgan survey found 60% of people still expect the next 25 years to beat the last. As JP Morgan's Karen Ward puts it, that would take the house-price-to-earnings ratio from six times today to twelve — which she doesn't consider feasible.
The deeper point is structural: unlike a pension, your home isn't designed to produce an income. To turn it into money you have to sell, downsize or borrow against it — each with costs and compromises. Downsizing often releases far less than expected once fees and the price of smaller homes in nice areas are counted; equity release rolls up interest and erodes your estate; and putting your whole retirement on one asset concentrates risk in a way a diversified pension never would. For context, Pensions UK estimates a couple wanting a moderate retirement needs a pot of £165,000 to £250,000. Your home gives you security — but it shouldn't have to give you your income too.
Original commentary by Parmenion, published in the 2plan Wealth Management Newsletter, Edition 51 (2026). Sources: Savills (February 2025); Rathbones, 'Don't bet the house' (June 2026); Pensions UK Retirement Living Standards (May 2026). The value of investments can go down as well as up and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Not a personal recommendation.Why having several pensions can make things harder for your family
It's completely normal to build up several pensions over a career — different jobs, different providers, personal pensions started at different stages. But Quilter highlights how that can create problems later, particularly when benefits need to pass to loved ones. Each scheme can have its own rules, beneficiary nominations and death-benefit process, and life changes — marriage, divorce, a new partner, children or grandchildren — can leave nominations made years ago no longer reflecting your wishes. An outdated nomination could even send pension money to someone you no longer intended to benefit.
More pensions also mean more admin at the worst possible time: executors may have to contact several providers, complete different paperwork and wait for separate decisions before anything is paid. With tax changes coming from April 2027 adding further complexity around how pensions are inherited, Quilter's advice is to review regularly — checking nominations, suitability and potential tax issues. For some, consolidating pensions into one arrangement can simplify things and reduce the risk of old plans being overlooked, though it isn't right for everyone: it's important to check you won't lose valuable guarantees before making any change.
Original commentary by Quilter, published in the 2plan Wealth Management Newsletter, Edition 51 (2026). Nothing here constitutes advice or a personal recommendation. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and tax rules can change. Pension consolidation is not right for everyone — check for lost benefits or guarantees before acting.Enhancing your financial planning experience — 2plan and EVPro
2plan is introducing EVPro, a modern financial-planning platform that brings risk assessment and cashflow modelling together in one place. The updated risk assessment is designed to be more intuitive, building a clearer picture of your attitude to risk, your capacity for loss, and your investment knowledge — so your adviser can have richer conversations about your objectives and priorities rather than relying on assumptions.
The addition that brings it to life is cashflow modelling: using your income, spending, savings, investments and future ambitions, your adviser can build a visual representation of your financial future and explore "what if" questions together — when you could realistically retire, whether your savings will support the lifestyle you want, or what increasing your pension contributions might do. 2plan will begin using it over the coming months, and Metritá clients will see it as part of their reviews.
Original commentary by 2plan Wealth Management Ltd, Edition 51 (2026). Cashflow modelling is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The value of investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested. A pension is a long-term investment; the fund value may fluctuate and can go down.Want the full detail?
The individual articles referenced above appear in full in the PDF version of the newsletter, along with charts, further examples, and adviser commentary. If any of the above prompts a question about your own circumstances, get in touch.