Russell’s view – July 2026

Where are you going on holiday this year?

As peak holiday season hoves into view, many of us will be thinking of distant shores, sun-drenched beaches and relaxing by the pool with a cool drink in hand.

The chances are that capital gains tax considerations or mulling over the relative benefits of active versus passive investing may be rather further from your mind.

But should they be?

Why holidays are the perfect time for reflection

In my experience, holidays aren’t just about taking it easy and sampling the delights of the local cuisine – although I have to confess that I do enjoy both of those.

Being on holiday also allows you to free yourself of your day to day work and home concerns and give you the time to think about other things.

In my case, I find holidays are about the only time I get to think about life in a wider context – where I want to go, what I want to do and how I can go about achieving that.

Looking beyond the beach: thinking about your future

It is actually a great time to consider your life plan – and a big part of that is your financial plan.

For example, you might be sat in your sun lounger thinking “I could get used to this a bit more often”.

Turning travel dreams into retirement goals

If that’s the case, maybe it’s time to consider whether you’re putting away enough money for a retirement which allows for plenty of foreign travel.

Perhaps you’re loving life so much that you may even be thinking about retiring abroad – in which case, what do you need to do to put that idea into motion and how early can you stop work to make your dream come true?

From holidays to helping the next generation

If you’re in the middle of a fun-filled family holiday, that might make you think a bit more about how you can help your children or grandchildren get a great start to their grown-up lives with savings put aside, or further down the road, begin their own pensions so they have financial security later in life.

Holidays also give you time to be nice to yourself and to spend money on doing things which you enjoy.

Remembering what wealth is really for

This should act as a reminder to you that saving money for retirement and accumulating wealth is a means to an end, not an end in itself.

The phrase “don’t be too busy making a living to make a life” is very apt here.

It is not uncommon in our profession to see clients who have built up retirement income comfortably into seven figures yet who still feel stressed and anxious about their finances.

When saving becomes a habit that’s hard to break

They have enough assets to live a very comfortable and enjoyable retirement, but they are so used to saving money that they can’t permit themselves to spend it – they have built a fortress of wealth but somehow can’t bring themselves to live in it.

That’s another reason why talking to a financial adviser can be so beneficial.

How a financial adviser can help bring your plans to life

As well as putting into action those plans you’ve mapped out while enjoying your sunshine break, a financial adviser can also act as an impartial expert observer of where your wealth actually stands.

Using impactful tools such as cashflow modelling and their own experienced insight, they can show you what’s possible with the money you’ve put aside.

So if you’re still wondering whether you can really afford that holiday of a lifetime you’ve always promised yourself, if the circumstances are right and the numbers add up, your adviser can give you the good news.

That could be something to really think about as you sip your sangria this summer.

Put your goals into practice

For expert professional help on putting your financial goals into practice, get in touch with one of our advisers.