Cake is amazing life, you are so skilled.
I did get admitted 4 years ago Collie. I am rarely ill, so DH was very panicked indeed. I did need to go in tbf. I needed the fluids and the anti sickness stuff. 
The big corporations are not going to get hammered any time soon Genie. Why would they? There have far more power than any politician. Don't ever assume otherwise. Money always talks.
With share investments, the best thing to do, as it's so complex is get an IFA involved. They survey your attitude to risk annually, and shift your portfolio around in the best investment markets they find for that type of investment. I have a slightly stronger attitude to risk than DH, although neither of us are risk averse tbf (figures, we run a business, the ultimate risk). They will do the same thing for any pension fund you own. So the portfolio always keeps track of the current climate.
Ref the student loan, I'm not sure I would want any child of mine staying at home to go to Uni. It's far more than getting a degree to my mind for them. MSE has some brilliant stuff about the finance side. You can't really see it as debt, much of it is unlikely to be repaid. I also agree, that by the time your DS gets to Uni, it won't be free either.
I have an endowment policy from years ago that will mature when DS is ready to go. DD will go just a year later. It will be an expensive few years. My DC are lucky we can help them, we will get FA from the Govt.
Entered a race for March £16.