insight

Are we creating a ‘lost generation’ of young people?

5 April 2016

Today’s young people have been disproportionately hit by the financial crisis. This age group suffers from high unemployment, with levels of young people in work still not returning to their pre-crisis high, as well as poor job security. It is also increasingly being shut out of the housing market, instead being forced to rent at ever-rising prices. At the same time, many of the benefits enjoyed by their parents’ generation, such as free university education and in many cases, generous, defined benefit pension schemes are no longer available to them.

By Sophie Robson

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Do young people need to change their financial priorities?

4 April 2016

What’s more important to young people, a pension or a property? According to a recent report by financial services consultancy MRM of 1000 young people aged between 18 and 25, it’s property. Just over 32% of those surveyed said this was their top financial priority. On the other hand, just 7% said the same about a pension. Conversely, 21% were prioritising clearing debts and around 20% were saving for something specific, such as a holiday or a car. But with more and more young people locked out of the property market and lacking the means to save for a deposit, should they be focusing on saving for a pension instead?

By Sophie Robson

insight

Beer & Bytes podcast ep #6: Insta notifications and the trouble with Tay

31 March 2016

Brands went into meltdown (ish) this week over whether they should urge all their followers to turn their notifications on. Microsoft also suffered a meltdown of sorts, with the creation of a racist robot. Join the MRM Digital team in the beer tent, where they discuss everything (important) in digital this week.

By Amy Rowe

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Are young people savers or spenders? Part I

31 March 2016

Are young people savers or spenders? This is a time-honoured question: one with connotations of footloose and fancy free young…

By Sophie Robson

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Beer & Bytes podcast ep #5: You're wrong about Twitter; kids who code; robot love

24 March 2016

Twitter is 10 years old, but what exactly IS it? Join the MRM digital team in their server room/beer tent, where…

By Amy Rowe

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Why you’re wrong to call Twitter a ‘social network’

23 March 2016

If your job were to make Twitter bigger – “Head of Growth”, perhaps – you’d be forgiven for not being in a party mood this week as the network celebrates its 10th birthday.
The figures are well-reported but let’s remind ourselves: a net loss of £63m for the last three months of 2015 and user growth flat at 320 million monthly users. Investors are not impressed. There’s an atmosphere of decline. People are grumpy.

By Michael Taggart

insight

Q&A with UKSCF ambassador Henry Fraser

21 March 2016

MRM caught up with UKSCF ambassador, Henry Fraser, who supports the charity and work they do supporting paraplegics after suffering a spinal cord injury while on holiday with friends.

By Lucy Watson

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MRM’s charity of the year – UK Stem Cell Foundation

21 March 2016

Read about why MRM has chosen to support UKSCF as our charity of the year.

By Amy Rowe

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Auto enrolment and education: where does the buck stop?

18 March 2016

With unprecedented numbers of employers set to enter auto enrolment this year, the need for effective education and communication has never been more important. But there seems to be genuine confusion about whose job it is to educate members about the pension scheme, as well as making sure they know how much they are contributing. This could prove damaging both financially and reputationally for those caught on the wrong side of it. So, is there an educational and engagement black hole? And where does the buck ultimately stop in ensuring members are engaged and supported not just as they enter auto enrolment but over the longer term?

By Sophie Robson

insight

Beer & Bytes podcast ep #4: Kirstie Allsopp's meltdown, Budget Bytes & the future of Pinterest

18 March 2016

We’re joined by Robin McGhee from MRM’s Public Affairs team to talk about the highs and lows of how the…

By Lucy Watson

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Two minutes with Chris Tuite, Associate Director at MRM

14 March 2016

MRM’s Chris Tuite on the importance of decoding financial jargon, getting his elbows out on public transport and sparring at the gym.

By Amy Rowe

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Bite-sized predictions: What might the 2016 Budget mean for financial services?

11 March 2016

Finding Budget speculation confusing? Not surprising given the plethora of announcements, hints and the occasional kite that chancellors like to fly in the run up to the Budget. Fear not, we’ve compiled a bite-sized review into what’s likely to be covered next week.

By Robin McGhee