In contrast, those who are grandparents today have enjoyed a generally favourable environment for accumulating wealth. Here are some of the issues:

High cost of further education

Following the recent rise in university tuition fees, UK students now graduate with the highest levels of debt in the English speaking world.

Property prices have never been so out of reach

In London the house price to earnings ratio is now over 9, compared with less than 3 in 1991. A third of young people expect to be paying their mortgage beyond age 60. Were it a corporation, the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ would now be a UK top 10 mortgage lender!

Much lower employer contributions to pensions

Compared to the generous final salary schemes of the past, employers contribute less than half as much into pensions today.

Likely lower investment returns over the next 30 years

The exceptional economic and business conditions responsible for stellar returns over the past 30 years are unlikely to be repeated.

Getting started

In this guide we explain the best ways to help children secure their financial future.  It outlines the main options available and includes a number of case studies for parents and grandparents:

• Junior ISAs
• Investing in your own name
• Bare trusts
• Bequeathing your pension
• Junior SIPPs
• National Savings & Investments
• Offshore Investment Bonds
• Investing in property
• Discretionary trusts