Latest news with #Saga
Sky News
a day ago
- Business
- Sky News
Over-50s savings account launched - should you go there?
For this week's Savings Guide, Anna Bowes, personal finance expert from The Private Office, takes a look at a product specifically for over-50s... Insurance firm Saga recently announced that it is preparing to launch a range of over-50s savings products with NatWest. The company, which specialises in holidays, insurance and personal finance products for that specific age group, said it will be launching an "innovative suite of savings products". Saga itself is not a bank, so it works in partnership with UK banks to offer its products. At the moment, it offers its easy access savings accounts with Goldman Sachs. This will be taken over by NatWest in 2028. Is an over-50s account worth considering? Bowes says: "The savings accounts are exclusively marketed to those aged 50 and over, which might suggest they are specially tailored for this age group. "However, in reality, they are simply like most standard savings products, and don't necessarily offer better rates. "While over-50s branded savings products might suggest that they are providing a better option for a particular demographic, the reality is that you might be able to find better rates elsewhere - so shop around." Saga's easy access account and cash ISA are both paying 4.01% AER (3.94% gross). This rate includes a 12-month bonus of 0.49%, and the rate mirrors what you'd get if you went directly to Marcus by Goldman Sachs - the UK-branded version of Goldman Sachs. While the rate is competitive, better rates can be found elsewhere - here's a look at the top-paying easy access accounts around at the moment... Chase Bank offers a 5% AER (4.89% gross) easy access account with a 2.25% bonus, though you must be a new customer who opened a current account after 9 June 2025. Cahoot offers an easy access option at 4.55% AER, without app-only restrictions or the need to hold a current account with them. When it comes to fixed-rate bonds, Saga offers a one-year bond, provided by Chetwood Bank via the Flagstone platform, at 4.15% AER, but you could get up to 4.53% AER elsewhere. The pros and cons of this over-50s account "Once again, while Saga may be convenient, especially if you're already familiar with the brand, it doesn't guarantee the most competitive interest rates," Bowes says. "That said, cash platforms like Saga's (which runs on Flagstone's technology) can be appealing - especially for those with larger savings balances who value simplicity. "These platforms allow you to access a range of competitive savings accounts through a single application and login, without the hassle of opening new accounts for each bank. Plus, your money is protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme via each bank your funds are deposited with."
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Saga left me in the lurch over home insurance cover
My buildings insurance policy is with Saga and is underwritten by Royal Sun Alliance (RSA). RSA wrote to me just before my policy was due for renewal, informing me that it is no longer offering cover. I have had no communication at all from Saga, although my payments have been to it. When I called it for advice Saga said it would take up to six weeks to get back to me. I am in the middle of a claim for subsidence damage that RSA has agreed to cover but which has not yet been completed. I have been trying to find another insurer for when the cover ends, but because of this claim I have not had any success. I am finding this all incredibly stressful as I have recently been widowed. SM, London 'Cover you can count on,' Saga claims. RSA announced its withdrawal from the home insurance market early last year after selling its personal lines to Admiral Group. It is very poor that Saga did not write to you with ample warning and seek another underwriter for your policy instead of leaving you in the lurch. This is especially the case since while most insurers will continue to offer cover after a subsidence claim, albeit for a higher rate, it is notoriously difficult to find a new provider. In desperation, you eventually found cover with a specialist company at a cost of £3,300 a year plus a £5,000 excess. Your Saga premiums were £450 (and the excess was £1,000). Saga tells me, uselessly, that it will offer an alternative if needed. It just forgot to tell you so. 'In this instance, we apologise that we did not contact the customer directly and talk through options,' it says. Too little too late, especially from a firm that specialises in an older demographic who are more likely than average to be in vulnerable situations. It has agreed to pay you £100. RSA had already confirmed to you that it would support your current claim until complete. Anna Tims was named Consumer champion of the year at this year's Headline Money awards. The judges said she stood out as the best of the best, with stories and investigations that made a real difference to the lives of her readers. As well as tackling readers' problems every week, she exposed how EU citizens were wrongly receiving Ulez fines and councils' poor treatment of tenants' relatives after a death. She also forced Eurostar to reverse a wheelchair policy that had left travellers stranded. 'The impressive variety and depth of investigations was underpinned by a determination to get to the truth so that each one was carried out until a resolution was found,' they said. 'The impact of her work is demonstrated by the number of examples that led to some sort of regulatory change, or triggered a larger inquiry.' We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
You don't hate reading, you just haven't found the right book yet
Somewhere between school worksheets, forced 'classics,' and being told to 'read for your personality,' a lot of people decided books weren't for them. Not because stories bored them, but because the wrong stories were handed to them at the wrong time, with the wrong kind of pressure. If that's you, here's the truth: you don't hate reading. You just haven't met the book that feels like it was written with your brain, your pace, your life in mind. Maybe school broke it Most of us were taught to read like we were sitting an exam. Theme, symbol, foreshadowing, five-paragraph essays. No one told you it was okay to skim a slow paragraph, skip a chapter that drags, or abandon a book that isn't working. Reading turned into a performance, not a pleasure. Take that pressure off. You're not getting graded anymore. Start with frictionless pages Open ten different books and read just the first page of each. Not the blurb, not the reviews, the first page. The one that makes you forget you're 'trying' to read, keep it. Voice is everything. If the sentences feel like wading through mud, that isn't a moral failure. It's a mismatch. Form matters as much as genre Maybe you don't want a 500-page epic right now. Try a novella, a graphic novel, or an essay collection you can dip in and out of. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata is 176 pages and reads like a sharp, weird conversation with a friend. Before the Coffee Gets Cold is short, sentimental, and simple without being shallow. If you like visuals, Heartstopper, Saga, or Persepolis might do more for you than any dense literary brick ever will. If you like conversation-heavy storytelling, Daisy Jones & The Six reads like a documentary transcript, no heavy lifting, just pure story. Audiobooks count (and sometimes work better) If you're always on the move or your attention scatters on the page, listen instead. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is even better in his own voice. Andy Weir's The Martian or Project Hail Mary are basically adrenaline in audio form. Commuting, cooking, and folding laundry all become reading time. Stop gatekeeping yourself. Give yourself permission to quit Adopt a DNF rule: If you're not into it by page 50 (or 30, or 10, set your own line), stop. Life is too short to finish books out of guilt. Make a 'not for me' shelf and move on. Weirdly, that freedom alone makes you more likely to read more. Read for obsession, not obligation Ask yourself what you're actually into when you're not reading. True crime podcasts? Try I'll Be Gone in the Dark or The Adversary. Start-up drama and scandal? Bad Blood will keep you up late. Reality TV messes with the heart underneath? Contemporary romance like Beach Read, Happy Place, or The Hating Game moves fast and feels like hanging out with chaotic friends. Heist movies and morally grey geniuses? Six of Crows is a YA that reads like a blockbuster. Want a mystery that's clever without being bleak? The Thursday Murder Club is warm, funny, and weirdly tender. Short attention span? Go short form Pick up an essay collection like Jia Tolentino's Trick Mirror, Durga Chew-Bose's Too Much and Not the Mood, or Samantha Irby's anything. You can finish a piece in ten minutes and still feel like you ate a full meal. Newsletters, long-form journalism, even fan-fiction that's better than half the paperbacks out there, read what actually holds you. Make reading easy to start Leave a book (or Kindle) where your thumb naturally goes: next to the kettle, on your nightstand, in your bag. Download samples to your phone so you can test-drive a dozen books without spending a rupee. Put the library app on your home screen. Tell yourself you'll read two pages. Most days, you'll read more. But even if you don't, two pages is still two more than yesterday. Community helps, shame doesn't If you like talking about what you read, find a low-pressure book club or a friend who also wants back in. If you hate the idea, don't. Track your reads if that motivates you. Don't if it turns joy into a spreadsheet. This isn't a personality project. It's just you and a story that makes your brain light up again. Books by vibe If you want something fast, funny, but secretly smart, try Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine or Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. If you want tension and a plot that drags you by the collar, The Silent Patient, Gone Girl, or The Woman in the Window won't let you look away. If you want heartfelt and hopeful, A Man Called Ove, The House in the Cerulean Sea, or Lessons in Chemistry. If you want real life told like a novel, Educated, When Breath Becomes Air, or Crying in H Mart will do it. If you want pure delight, try Legends & Lattes fantasy with cinnamon rolls and zero doom. Swap any of these for something closer to your taste—sports, food, finance, art, parenting, space, myth, manga. There is a book for every niche. There is even a niche for every sub-niche. Someone has written your book. You just haven't bumped into it yet. The point is not to become 'a reader' T he point is to remember what it feels like to get lost for twenty minutes and come back lighter, brighter, or at least a little less alone. If a book doesn't give you that, it's not your book, at least, not right now. Put it down. Try another. Reading isn't a test of discipline. It's a search. And searches take time. You don't hate reading. You hate boredom, shame, and the feeling of being forced. Strip those out, follow your curiosity, and watch what happens. One day soon, you'll look up from a page and realise an hour just vanished. That's your book. Keep it close. Then find the next one. And the next.
Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- Times
Is Saga's savings account for over-50s a good deal?
Q. I read with interest the news about Saga's savings accounts for over 50s. But I'm not really sure how they differ from standard accounts other than the age requirement — are they a good idea for a middle-of-the road saver? Name and address supplied Saga is a trusted brand, best known for tailored holidays, insurance and personal finance deals for the over 50s, including Saga-branded savings accounts. However, it's important to note that Saga isn't a bank. It has deals with regulated banks which provide its savings accounts and deals. These Saga-branded accounts are marketed exclusively to those aged 50 and over, which might imply that they are tailored to the financial needs of this demographic. In reality, though, they function like any standard savings account. You deposit funds, earn interest, and terms & conditions vary based on whether the account is easy access or fixed term. The age-based branding may resonate with some customers, but it doesn't necessarily mean better rates or more generous terms. • Read more money advice and tips on investing from our experts At the moment, Saga's easy access account and cash Isa are provided by Goldman Sachs International Bank, both paying 4.01 per cent AER (annual equivalent rate), including a 12-month bonus of 0.49 per cent. This matches what Goldman Sachs offers directly through its Marcus brand. While competitive, better rates are available elsewhere. For instance, Chase Bank pays 5 per cent AER (4.89 per cent gross) on its easy access account, including a 2.25 per cent bonus, although you must be a new customer who opened a current account after June 9. Alternatively, the Snoop app pays 4.60 per cent AER via Vanquis Bank — you will have to manage the account on the app. For those preferring a traditional online account, Cahoot has an easy access account paying 4.55 per cent AER on up to £500,000 for a year. With regard to the fixed rate bonds on offer, again, far better rates can be found. For example Saga's one-year bond with Chetwood Bank via the Flagstone cash platform, pays 4.15 per cent AER, while you can earn 4.53 per cent elsewhere and in fact if you were to apply directly to Chetwood Bank, you could earn 4.40 per cent. For those with larger savings balances, the convenience of using a cash savings platform may outweigh chasing the very top rates. These platforms give you access to a range of competitive accounts with a single application and login, all while keeping your money protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) which guarantees deposits of up to £85,000 a year. Saga's platform, powered by Flagstone, is one such option, but others include Raisin UK, Savings Champion Savers Hub (which is owned by The Private Office) and Hargreaves Lansdown's Active Savings. Each charges different fees and offers access to various banks and rates, so it's worth comparing to find the right fit for you. So, while Saga's savings accounts offer a familiar and trusted brand, the branding alone doesn't guarantee better returns. If maximising your interest is a priority, it's wise to shop around and consider what works best for your needs. Anna Bowes helped to set up the consumer website Savings Champion in 2011
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership Expecting 29% Earnings Growth
The United Kingdom's stock market has recently experienced turbulence, with the FTSE 100 index closing lower due to weak trade data from China, highlighting global economic interdependencies. In such volatile environments, growth companies with high insider ownership can be appealing to investors as they often signal confidence in the company's future prospects and alignment of interests between management and shareholders. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In The United Kingdom Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth SRT Marine Systems (AIM:SRT) 24.1% 91.4% Saga (LSE:SAGA) 10.4% 90.8% QinetiQ Group (LSE:QQ.) 13.3% 67.4% Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) (AIM:MAB1) 19.8% 20.3% Hochschild Mining (LSE:HOC) 38.4% 23.6% Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LSE:GKP) 12.2% 63.5% Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (AIM:FARN) 24.6% 53.3% ENGAGE XR Holdings (AIM:EXR) 15.3% 84.5% B90 Holdings (AIM:B90) 22.1% 138.6% ASA International Group (LSE:ASAI) 18.1% 23.3% Click here to see the full list of 64 stocks from our Fast Growing UK Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. Let's dive into some prime choices out of the screener. Franchise Brands Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Franchise Brands plc operates in franchising and related activities across the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America, and Continental Europe with a market capitalization of £269.55 million. Operations: The company generates revenue from several segments, including Azura (£0.81 million), Pirtek (£63.91 million), B2C Division (£5.75 million), Filta International (£25.60 million), and Water & Waste Services (£46.05 million). Insider Ownership: 22.6% Earnings Growth Forecast: 29.4% p.a. Franchise Brands' earnings are forecast to grow significantly at 29.4% annually, outpacing the UK market's 14.6%. Despite slower revenue growth at 7.4%, it still exceeds the UK's average of 3.5%. The company has shown substantial past profit growth of 143.9% and is trading at a significant discount to its estimated fair value, with no recent insider selling activity reported over the last three months, indicating confidence in its future prospects. Take a closer look at Franchise Brands' potential here in our earnings growth report. Our comprehensive valuation report raises the possibility that Franchise Brands is priced higher than what may be justified by its financials. Energean Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Energean plc is involved in the exploration, production, and development of oil and gas, with a market cap of £1.71 billion. Operations: Energean's revenue is primarily derived from its oil and gas exploration and production segment, which generated $1.31 billion. Insider Ownership: 10.1% Earnings Growth Forecast: 18.8% p.a. Energean's earnings are projected to grow at 18.8% annually, surpassing the UK market's average of 14.6%, though revenue growth is slower at 11%. The company trades significantly below its estimated fair value and offers a high dividend yield of 9.52%, albeit not well-covered by earnings. Recent geopolitical events led to temporary production halts, but operations have resumed following government directives, highlighting operational resilience amidst challenges. Delve into the full analysis future growth report here for a deeper understanding of Energean. Our valuation report unveils the possibility Energean's shares may be trading at a premium. Foresight Group Holdings Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Foresight Group Holdings Limited is an infrastructure and private equity manager operating in the United Kingdom, Italy, Luxembourg, Ireland, Spain, and Australia with a market cap of £511.62 million. Operations: The company's revenue segments consist of Infrastructure (£95.89 million), Private Equity (£50.52 million), and Foresight Capital Management (£7.58 million). Insider Ownership: 35.3% Earnings Growth Forecast: 18.6% p.a. Foresight Group Holdings, with substantial insider ownership, is poised for growth despite trading below its estimated fair value. The company's revenue and earnings are forecast to grow faster than the UK market at 9.5% and 18.6% annually, respectively. Recent executive changes saw Gary Fraser become CEO, continuing strategic M&A pursuits with recent deals like WHEB and Liontrust. The company reported strong financials with earnings up by 25.8% from last year, demonstrating robust profitability trends. Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of Foresight Group Holdings stock in this growth report. Insights from our recent valuation report point to the potential undervaluation of Foresight Group Holdings shares in the market. Summing It All Up Delve into our full catalog of 64 Fast Growing UK Companies With High Insider Ownership here. Searching for a Fresh Perspective? Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 22 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include AIM:FRAN LSE:ENOG and LSE:FSG. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
