ChoiceChoiceChoiceTHE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50’S

MEDIA INFORMATION 2017

ChoiceChoiceChoiceTHE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50’S

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60 Is early retirement dead?

62 Loyalty card schemes

64 Matters to you: News

65 Terror and tourism

66 Your questions answered

68 Bestsavingsrates/Interest-bearingcurrentaccounts

Packedwiththebest financialadvice

OCTOBER 2016 CHOICE

MEET THEWRITERS

why we are tempted by these prettyuseless pieces of plastic – we alllike to think we may be gettingsomething for nothing, or a ‘gooddeal’, but as Choice writer AnnieShaw explains, it’s often theretailer who has most to gain.

Teri Harman, Editor,YourMoney &Your Rights

andyourrightsYOURMONEY

OCTOBER2016

Bouquetof themonthNationwide Building Society, which has become the first high-street financial services provider toachieve triple recertification to the Carbon Trust Standards for Carbon, Water and Waste. This isan independent certification recognising organisations that successfully measure, manage andreduce their environmental impact. Nationwide reduced its carbon footprint by 13.5 per centcompared to 2011, used 23.6 per cent less water than in 2010/11 and now diverts 100 per cent ofits waste away from landfill.

Brickbatof themonthSocial networking site Facebook, which has revealed it collects 98 snippets of information about its users,which allows it to correctly profile who you are. This information drives its advertising, which netted theUS based site $6.24 billion in just the second quarter of 2016, up 63 per cent on the same period lastyear. Facebook knows not just the obvious – your age, gender, and native language – but things such asyour income, relationship status, how you vote, even your favourite football team.

JOCOOPERhasworked extensively asan investigative consumerand financial journalistfor newspapers andmagazines and is a formerEditor of the YourMoneysection in Choice

ANNIE SHAWis a freelance financialjournalist who has workedfor The Times and theSunday Telegraph. Shenow runs her ownfinancial bulletinwebsite:(www.cashquestions.com)

IN THIS ISSUE…

This month we look at the value(or otherwise) of ‘loyalty cards’. Ihave just gone through my

handbag and counted 14 differentones, everything from my local shoeshop, to two different coffee shopchains, a major book retailer and noless than four supermarkets. I evenhave one for a nearby sausage shopwhere I sometimes have breakfast.

And still it seems every time you buysomething you are offered anothercard. One or two are useful but moreoften than not they are just taking upspace, so much so I am now resolvedthat enough is enough, I am turningdown all new ones, though I am notquite ready to cut up those that Ialready have! Which brings me to

59

Websiteof themonthTalking to a parent, relative or close friend about their plans for the future can bedifficult, especially if you want to broach subjects like moving into more suitable housingor making a Will. If you want to be able to talk more openly, there are ways you canapproach these sensitive topics and charity Independent Age has launched an onlineadvice guide called Difficult Conversations, which aims to help families talk with older relatives about ageing and futureplans. The website also has a wealth of other useful information (www.independentage.org).advice guide called Difficult Conversations, which aims to help families talk with older relatives about ageing and future

✃

CHOICE OCTOBER 2016

WHAT’SONNews of the best in the entertainment world this month

96

ALTHOUGH SEVERAL ofWoody Allen’s films havescooped Academy Awards overthe past 30 years, most notably

Blue Jasmine, Midnight In Paris andHannah and her Sisters, it’s his run ofcomedies released during the Seventiesthat are the most fondly remembered ofall the writer-director-performer’s movies.

Bananas, Love and Death, Sleeper,Annie Hall and Everything You AlwaysWanted to Know about Sex cementedWoody’s reputation as a comedy icon andestablished his cinematic persona as aneurotic, nerdy loser who somehowalways seemed to get the girl. All have

now been reissuedin a new Blu-ray boxset, Woody Allen:Six Films 1971-1978,along with Interiors,a solemn drama thatdidn’t have onelaugh in it, a suitably perverse creativecareer swerve from this reliablymaddening and singular artist.

Over the years Woody has attempted todisown his early films, or mockinglyreferred to them by putting lines such as “Imuch prefer your earlier, funny, films”into the mouths of shallow,unsympathetic characters. Indeed onewhole movie, Stardust Memories, notincluded in this set, appears to be devotedto taking pop shots at his fans, who then,in an ending with uncomfortable echoesof the murder of John Lennon, which hadoccurred only months before the film’srelease, take the ultimate revenge.

Woody is not alone in having no timefor this early work; many artists find itpainful to look back on what they oftenregard as juvenilia, but as a director heappears to set himself higher standardsthan most. Whole films have been reshot

because Woody has not been happy withthem, and he even tried to block therelease of Manhattan, widely regarded asone of his best films, offering to makeanother one for free. Thankfully, for usanyway, the studio ignored him.

Viewed as whole, rounded works of art,you can see that, in the case of the filmsfeatured in the box set, they may belacking in some fundamentals. WithBananas, Allen was still learning his craft– it was only his second film as director –and the narrative, taking the form of anextended newscast, is unrelentingly linear.There are none of the jump cuts or cleveredits you would expect of a more assuredfilm-maker. But, judged at the level ofsheer entertainment, this story of abumbling product tester who somehowbecomes a South American dictator is asfunny now as it was 40 years ago.

The same goes for Sleeper – a stylish

A new box set gathers togetherseveral of the director’s best-loved

movies. By Simon Evans

Thewonderof

Woody

buy our Retirement Planning Files for their retiring staff.

Choice also aims to help readers defend other assets like their health, family, relationships, time and talents. We then provide practical and inspiring ideas to use and enjoy those assets.

Our motto is Get the most out of life and that’s just what readers and advertisers get from Choice.

Independence isn’t the only factor that sets us apart from other magazines in the market.

n 95% of our sales are subscriptions mailed every month to individual addresses.n Our readers are committed to Choice - every copy is paid for and not at token prices, most pay around £25 a year.n Our readers are both men and women, just over 60% are female.n An impressive list of blue chip companies and public sector organisations buy Choice subscriptions for employees as part of their retirement planning. Nearly 50% of those go on after their initial company subscription to buy the magazine in their own right.n The company subs are a perfectly targeted source of refreshing our database. New readers are constantly added throughout the year through

this and other targeted direct marketing.

F or over 40 years, Choice Magazine has been providing a wealth of independent information, practical advice

and exciting ideas for people over 50.It’s a modern, glossy magazine but, just

like our readers, as well as an up-to-the-minute outlook, we have retained our values and common sense!

Established, independent and trusted....Every issue is 132-pages, each a glossy magazine packed with practical, essential information and inspiring photography. The heart of each issue is the 16-page Your Money and Your Rights section that helps readers make the most of their money, property and assets. Readers can even send written questions to our panel of independent experts and have access to a 24-hour, free legal helpline service. Other regular features include: health, travel, motoring, fitness, DIY, hobbies, food and drink.

We are independent and not beholden to any parent company or vested interest, so our advice and stance can be trusted by readers – many of Britain’s top companies t

Choice readers are firmly in the group of the 50 plus population that have high disposable income.

Choice therefore delivers an extremely attractive niche of 160,000* readers who are committed to getting the most out of life. More than 80% fall within the ABC1 groups.

But much more than that.

n They spend a lot of time making the most of their assets (40.8% say the Money and Rights section is the top reason for buying Choice). This means they are high users of financial services, they look after their property well (93% are homeowners) and are willing to shop around for a good deal.

n They keep their middle-age going strong by staying active, keeping up with modern lifestyles and travelling the world. A Choice reader on average takes five holidays a year (two main and three short breaks). They love taking cruises and visiting newer exotic destinations like China and South America as well as the old favourites at home and in Europe.

n To enable them to keep up the pace they watch what they eat, take supplements and try to keep fit. They use anti-ageing cosmetics and like to dress fashionably.

n But there’s a more serious side to their leisure time. More than 35% do voluntary work. 70% express an interest in supporting charities.

n Although 74% have no dependent children, just under half have living parents, hence their interest in property and products aimed at an older group.

READER FACTS84% are ABC160% are female80% are married or living together48% are aged between 60 and 70 29% are under 60, 23% over 7030% have a pension or income of more than £30k93% own their home83% have children74% of their children are not dependent83% of those with children have grandchildren46% have living parents

The 50+ market continues to be the most affluent and growing sector in the UK

n 17m+ are over 50 today, rising to 20m+ by 2020n They have a combined annual spending power of £260 billion in the UKn They enjoy financial freedom with small or zero mortgages and own 80% of all private wealthn Many will continue to benefit from the fast disappearing final salary pension schemesn They are the fastest growing segment of internet usersn They are highly responsive to advertising and prepared to buy, test and switch to new products

Sources TGI and Government Actuary

REACHING YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

JENNIFERSTORROWJennifer Storrow isInvestment Director of Gee7Wealth Management, a firmof financial planners. Shespecialises in investmentsand pensions and answerspersonal finance questionson radio and in newspapers

MIKEHORSEMANismanagingdirectorandfoundingdirectorof IFAsCockburnLucas.Heholdsadvancedqualificationsininvestment, taxationandtrustsandspecialisesinretirementplanning,Investments,andlong-termcare.

PENSIONS/INVEST

MENTS

INVEST

MENTS

66

Q My wife and I (both aged 88and disabled) have lived in

our detached bungalow since 1975.Our neighbour’s detachedbungalow borders our garden andat the rear the two properties areseparated by a low brick wall, ontop of which is a fence. The wholestructure is around six feet high.The present occupiers have been

there about eight years, and soonafter they moved in they planted anumber of small leylandii trees andan ornamental tree with copperleaves. In addition, there was alaurel tree which has been allowedto spread. The overall effect is nowa solid row of foliage around 40ftlong and 12ft high, with manybranches overhanging our garden.A friendly word with our

neighbours has failed to persuadethem to cut down the offendingbranches and reduce the height ofthe plants. Our concern is that

damage will be caused to the fenceand the trees will be allowed togrow uncontrolled, with the rootspotentially disturbing thefoundations of the dwarf wall.Could you please explain the

legal situation and advise onthe best course of action?

Name and address supplied

Jonathan Whittaker of SASDaniels replies:

AThe law in this area isgoverned by Part 8 of the

Anti-social Behaviour Act2003. This gives your localauthority/council the power toorder your neighbour to reducethe height of the hedge to nomore than two metresmeasured from ground level.You must first of all keepevidence of your attempts to tryto resolve the matter with yourneighbour. Without this

evidence the local authoritywill not accept your complaint.

If your attempts fail withyour neighbour, you mustcomplain to the local authorityon the prescribed form and paya fee which is not refundableeven if the council upholdsyour complaint. If the councildoes make such an orderagainst your neighbour andthey do not comply, amagistrates’ court may imposea fine of up to £1000. If theneighbour still does notcomply, some local authoritieswill undertake the workthemselves, but this is notmandatory. Also, you have nopower to do the work yourself.

Any branches on your side ofthe fence may be cut as theseare technically trespassing onyour land. In terms of the rootsand damage to the dwarf wall,

this again may be a trespass and youcould claim damages from yourneighbour by going to court.

However, these actions areexpensive as you will need expertevidence from a surveyor to provethat any damage to the wall has beencaused by your neighbour’s roots andno other reason. The costs of makingthe claim may be greater than thecosts of repairing the wall and this isusually a disincentive to court action.This is why formal mediationbetween you and the neighbour isoften the best option. The Party WallAct 1996 would not appear to berelevant as the shared boundary is awooden fence, not a brick structure.

CanmynephewbenefitfromdoubleIHTallowance?

Q I am a widow and my husbanddied in 1999. We did not have any

children and it is my intention to leavemy flat to my nephew. Will he be able tobenefit from the double Inheritance Taxallowance for married couples?

Name and address supplied

Kevin Minter, investmentdirector of IFAs Advison, replies:

AProvided your husband left allhis estate to you when he died,

you will have both nil-rate bands(NRB) of £325,000 available to you.If he used up some of his allowanceat the time of his death by leavingassets to people other than yourself, apro-rata amount of the NRB will beavailable. The ability for the survivingspouse to use both allowances came

CHOICE OCTOBER 2016

Canwecurbourneighbour’strees?

The Choice panel of experts answers your querieson tax, pensions, benefits, investment and the law

YOURQUESTIONSANSWERED

JONATHANWHITTAKERhasmore than 30 years ofexperience as a legalprofessional and is apart-time Judge andSenior Partner at SASDaniels LLP, a leading lawfirm in theNorthWest

answeringyourlettersoninvesting,tax,pensions,benefits, insuranceandthelaw

LAWMEETTHE

CHOICEPANELOFEXPERTS

LAW

CHARMAINEHASTisheadoftheFamilyteamatLondonlawfirmWedlakeBell.Shehasparticularexpertiseinadvisingonhighprofiledivorces,canadviseoncross-bordermoneymattersandhasaparticularinterestintrustsandpensions

CHOICE OCTOBER 2016

OCTOBER IS the month forpickling, when we begin topreservvrve surplus allotment bountyyty

or buy shallots and botttttle them in spicedvinegar for use on Boxing Day with theChristmas lefttftovers and other cold cuts.

Although unsubstantiated, it issuggested that the art of pickling firstbegan in India around 4000 years agousing cucumbers. Primarily, this mostbasic form of food preservation ensuredthat surpluses could be kept in an ediblestate well into the winter months whenfresh cultivation became impossible. In

meat-eating countries, pork and beefbecame the first meats to be salted fordeferred consumption, especially when longjourneys were necessaryyry via land or sea, andfood supplies en route could not be assured.

The etymology of the word picklederives from the Dutch ‘pekel’, meaningbrine, albeit in the global lexicon it canrefer to different things. For example, inNorth America a pickle will almostcertainly mean a pickled cucumber orgherkin. In Australia, it conjures up apickled onion or perhaps caulifllflower. Inthe UK, pickle – as in a cheese and pickle

Home and garden

piccick offofLighter, short-term pickling is the culinary flavour of the month.

Graham Sherwood has some quick pickling tips

88

“Turnips andradishes are making

an incredibleclimb in the food

popularity stakes asa result of pickling”

QualityWhen pickling try to use only unwaxed produce,making sure it is scrupulously clean and in goodcondition before preparation. Check for, anddiscard, any overly soft items and cut offblemished skin. For the very best results,the fresher and younger the vegetable, thetastier the pickle will be.

Similarly, do not be tempted to economise on thequality of the pickling ingredients. Use only picklingsalts and wine vinegars where stated in the recipe.You will only get out what you put in, as they say.

pickling

The

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