Latest news with #respondents
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Bournemouth named best beach as thousands plan summer trip to coast
Bournemouth has been voted the best beach in the UK, with holidaymakers praising its miles of sand and attractions including a zipline. A survey of 70,000 people found other popular beaches include Bamburgh in the North East, Brighton in East Sussex, St Ives and Newquay in Cornwall, and Llandudno in Wales. Half of those surveyed by hotel chain Travelodge said they plan to visit a beach during the summer. Almost two-thirds of respondents said they enjoy walking along a beach, one in five make sure they buy fish and chips, while the biggest bugbears include litter, expensive parking and lack of toilets. The top 10 beaches were named as Bournemouth, Bamburgh, Brighton, Scarborough, Blackpool Pleasure, Llandudno West Shore, St Ives, Weymouth, Whitby and Blackpool Sands.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Bournemouth named best beach as thousands plan summer trip to coast
Bournemouth has been voted the best beach in the UK, with holidaymakers praising its miles of sand and attractions including a zipline. A survey of 70,000 people found other popular beaches include Bamburgh in the North East, Brighton in East Sussex, St Ives and Newquay in Cornwall, and Llandudno in Wales. Half of those surveyed by hotel chain Travelodge said they plan to visit a beach during the summer. Almost two-thirds of respondents said they enjoy walking along a beach, one in five make sure they buy fish and chips, while the biggest bugbears include litter, expensive parking and lack of toilets. The top 10 beaches were named as Bournemouth, Bamburgh, Brighton, Scarborough, Blackpool Pleasure, Llandudno West Shore, St Ives, Weymouth, Whitby and Blackpool Sands.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Manulife Survey Reveals Hongkongers' New Perspective on Longevity--Prioritizing Living Well on Their Own Terms Over Simply Living Longer
77%[1] of respondents define health as "living independently and doing what's important", prioritizing a meaningful life over simply living longer. Many would prefer a fulfilling life to age 75 over living to 80 in an ordinary manner—reflecting a shift in how longevity is traditionally perceived. Resilience across physical, financial, and mental well-being—alongside strong family support—is key to aging well. With health issues to emerge as early as age 39 on average among respondents, the three most anticipated areas of increased spending are medication (43%), major illnesses and surgeries (37%), and mobility support (35%). To sustain themselves in later years, 91% are open to lifestyle changes such as cutting utility bills, choosing more affordable meals, or seeking cross-border healthcare. Mental health and family relationships are also seen as vital, with 83% valuing family support for mental well-being and 77% linking mental health to longevity. Building steady income streams and seeking financial professional advice are seen as key to sustaining one's desired lifestyle in retirement. 43% of respondents expect their pension providers to help ensure stable income in retirement, while many don't recognize the importance of diversifying their investments. HONG KONG, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest findings from the Manulife Asia Care Survey 2025 offer new insights into how Hongkongers perceive longevity. Rather than simply aspiring to live longer or avoid illness, the majority of the respondents now prioritize leading a fulfilling life on their own terms—valuing independence, purpose, and meaningful experiences. As this broader understanding of longevity takes hold, there is an urgent need for proactive planning and professional support. These measures can empower individuals to make informed decisions and adopt behaviours that foster holistic health and financial security, ultimately helping them achieve their life goals. New Perspective on Longevity: Balancing Life Quality and Lifespan According to the Hong Kong version of this survey, conducted between January and February 2025 with 1,000 adults aged 25 or above in Hong Kong, 77% of respondents define health as "living independently and doing what's important", rather than merely avoiding illness. Many indicated they would prefer a more fulfilling life—even if it meant living to age 75 instead of the average 80—highlighting a growing appreciation for life satisfaction alongside longevity. When asked about their top aspirations: 47% prioritize maintaining their physical and mental well-being to age gracefully. 41% aim for total financial independence and freedom. 33% focus on achieving or maintaining their most desired lifestyle or quality of life. "It's encouraging to see more people in Hong Kong redefining what it means to live well—not just living longer, but living with purpose, independence, and peace of mind," said Celia Ling, Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Hong Kong and Macau. "At Manulife, we recognize that quality and quantity of life don't have to be a trade-off. As people navigate their lifestyles and financial choices, the demand for flexibility and support continues to grow. Through our holistic suite of insurance products and services—designed to provide protection during illness and help financial planning for the future—we empower our customers to embrace aging with greater resilience and treat it as an evolving journey." The Three Pillars of Resilience: Physical, Financial, and Mental Well-being—Strengthened by Family Ties As individuals increasingly prioritize a fulfilling life over simply living longer, the survey reveals that achieving this vision requires resilience across three key pillars: physical, financial, and mental well-being—supported by the vital role of family relationships. Respondents report experiencing signs of health issues as early as age 39 on average, despite expecting them to begin around 67. Among them: 43% expect higher spending on medication. 37% foresee increased costs for major illnesses or surgeries. 35% anticipate greater expenses due to declining mobility or disability. In response, 91% are willing to make lifestyle adjustments to manage financial pressures during extended retirement, including reducing utility expenses (40%), choosing more affordable meals (30%), or seeking medical treatment across the border (20%). Beyond physical and financial health, mental well-being and family support also play a critical role. 83% believe family relationships are as important as financial well-being in supporting mental health, while 77% believe mental well-being significantly affects longevity. These findings underscore the importance of building all-rounded resilience early on—by maintaining a balanced focus on physical health, financial security, and mental well-being, while also nurturing strong family ties. They further highlight the value of adequate protection, with 61% of respondents agreeing that having insurance can influence their ability to sustain physical health. Seeking Steady Income in Retirement while Overlooking Diversification With growing awareness of the link between financial health and longevity, the survey shows that building long-term income streams is essential for achieving a desired lifestyle in retirement. 43% of respondents look to pension providers for services that ensure steady income, while 36% prioritize long-term investment growth and 32% seek protection against inflation. While the majority (70%) view financial health as a key enabler of longevity, 52% of respondents feel they may not have sufficient funds for retirement. The mindset that "cash is king" is prevalent among most people. Cash makes up 45% of liquid assets (property excluded) across total savings and investments, with younger individuals aged 25-34 holding an even larger share at 53%. When it comes to retirement preparation, 55% still consider cash their most important asset, followed by pension schemes (31%). Jeanie Ho, Head of Hong Kong and Macau Retirement, Manulife, commented: "While cash offers a sense of security, it alone is oftentimes insufficient in maintaining a high quality of life in retirement. Our survey shows that as the MPF system continues to mature, MPF schemes are playing an increasingly important role in retirement financial planning. At Manulife, we are committed to driving product innovation in the MPF space. In addition to offering the widest range of fund choices in the market, we are also strengthening investor education through artificial intelligence (AI) in creating educational videos and an MPF simulation game platform. These efforts aim to foster awareness and habits around continued investing after retirement, helping Hongkongers achieve their desired lifestyle throughout longer lives." The Role of Professional Guidance in Achieving Longevity Goals With longer life expectancy adding complexity to retirement planning, the survey emphasizes the critical role of professional guidance. Among respondents, 62% of those who have a professional financial planner are confident in having sufficient funds for retirement, compared to just 29% of those without one. However, the necessity for diversification is not top of mind, with only 30% actively prioritizing it. This may hinder their ability to build sustainable wealth for retirement and effectively mitigate inflationary risks. By aligning professional advice with the evolving goals of today's retirees—who seek not just longer lives, but better ones—financial planners can play a transformative role in helping Hongkongers age with confidence, resilience, and purpose. For further details on the Hong Kong-specific findings of the Manulife Asia Care Survey 2025, please visit: About the Manulife Asia Care Survey The Asia Care Survey 2025 was conducted across January and February 2025 and captured insights from over 9,000 individuals aged 25 or above (including 60+) across nine Asian markets: Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan region, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia. About Manulife Hong Kong Manulife Hong Kong has been a trusted name for more than 125 years. Since our operations started in Asia in 1897, we have grown to become one of the top-tier providers of financial services, offering a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to over 2.6 million customers in Hong Kong and Macau. We are committed to helping make decisions easier and lives better for our customers. Manulife Hong Kong, through Manulife International Holdings Limited, owns Manulife (International) Limited, Manulife Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited, and Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited. These entities are all subsidiaries of Manulife Financial Corporation. About Manulife Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping our customers make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice and insurance for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2024, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 109,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 36 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' in Hong Kong. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit [1] Some figures in this press release are rounded to the nearest whole number for ease of presentation, while others reflect exact values as reported in the survey. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Manulife Hong Kong 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
Fast Company
6 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Welcome to the Anxiety Economy, where safety sells and streaming is optional
Americans are seriously worried about their finances. Between high costs of living, tariffs, and job instability, driven, in part, by AI, the added anxiety means that consumers' spending habits are shifting. And while they're aiming to spend less overall, the stress also seems to be driving purchases that make them feel safer in an economy (and world?) that feels uncertain. According to a newly released Life360 survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, heavy financial burdens are being felt by the majority of Americans. The survey found that a staggering 71% of Americans now feel economically vulnerable with 64% admitting their anxiety has increased since the start of 2025. Likewise, the top three words respondents chose to describe their emotions in 2025 were ones with negative connotations: stressful, nervous, and crazy. Americans are cutting back—but not when it comes to peace of mind Unsurprisingly, Americans are coping by spending less. 56% say they've cut back on dining or takeout, 47% have trimmed their online shopping habits, and 45% are vacationing less often. However, spending isn't down across the board. In fact, in one category, it's going up: safety and security (like emergency alert tools, home security, and digital protections). The category was the only one where respondents were investing more than they were cutting. 21% of respondents said they were investing more in these tools, with only 20% pulling back. 'In moments of elevated economic uncertainty, the premium on security increases: Investors seek safe assets, businesses prioritize safe investments, and families double down on peace of mind,' Life360 economist Aaron Terrazas said in a blog post on the report. But, interestingly, it's the younger generations who seem to be the most concerned with safety and security in modern times. While Gen X and Baby Boomers ranked health and wellness as their biggest priorities in terms of spending, Millennials and Gen Zers said safety and security were the most important. Fear, uncertainty, and financial strain Terrazas says those habits are likely shaped by the groups' 'formative economic experiences', and pointed to 'pandemic-era uncertainty' as hitting the younger generations especially hard. Terrazas told Fast Company, 'Just like their grandparents and great-grandparents who came of age during the Great Depression and World War II, Gen Z and Millennials came of age in a fractious moment in world history. For young Americans who entered adulthood during the years from 9/11 to the Great Recession to the Covid-19 Pandemic, it's natural that safety and security would rank high on their priorities, and those priorities are likely to remain top of mind as they move deeper into adulthood.' Therefore, it makes sense that while there are plenty of things Americans are scrapping, tools that make people feel safer are not one of them. In fact, 40% of parents said safety and emergency alert apps were 'non-negotiable,' which was the highest of all the categories. 55% of parents, and 43% of respondents overall, said they'd fight to keep safety and security subscriptions. Terrazas noted that the survey included 'a mix of safety and security tools, including Life360, Citizen, Ring, ADT+ — apps that offer everything from real-time location sharing to emergency alerts and home security' pressing that these kinds of tools 'help people feel safer, more in control, and more connected in an unpredictable world.' That means that, for many, even as shopping, dining, vacations, and even streaming services take a backseat, the feeling of safety and security is of greater concern than ever. 'As people are increasingly anxious, whether about their finances or physical safety, tools that provide 'peace of mind' are something people find indispensable,' Terrazas said.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Majority of Canadians want to see a tougher response to Trump's tariff threats, says survey
Nearly half of the respondents in an Angus Reid Institute survey supported getting rid of the Digital Services tax, while 3 in 5 support a 'hard approach' to ne
