Financial advice - the numbers speak volumes

By 2026, life expectancy is set to rise from 75.6 years to 79 years for men and from 80.4 years to 83.3 years for women (Source: Office of National Statistics 2003.)

There will be more pensioners than children in the UK within five years. (Source: Office of National Statistics 2003.)

158,700 - Divorces filed each year in the UK, with September the busiest month. (Source: Office of National Statistics 2003.)

£1.1 trillion – The anticipated total UK personal debt by the middle of 2005. (Source: Office of National Statistics 2004.)

£881.9 billion - Total secured lending on homes in January 2005. The UK population increased total mortgage debt by £101 billion in 2004. (Source: Office of National Statistics 2004.)

£183 billion - Total consumer credit lending to individuals in January 2005. We increased our unsecured debt (made up of personal loans, credit and store cards, overdrafts and so on) by a hefty £15bn in 2004. (Source: Datamonitor 2004.)

£28,927 – The average UK income, with people saving on average £132 a month, just 5.5% of their income. (Source: Liverpool Victoria)