Clare Moffat: Roses are red, don't let cohabiting clients be blue

Valentine's Day is traditionally a time for romance and is often associated with marriage proposals. Yet Office of National Statics figures show a long-term decline in marriages and marriage rates between 1972 and 2009. While the decision on whether to marry or not is very much a personal one, cohabitees are often not afforded the same financial planning benefits as married couples or those in a civil partnership. As such, financial advisers can play an important role in helping clients to understand and plan for the implications of their decision. Pension death benefits Despite the...