Interest rates have been heading in one direction for more than a year now, rising from 0.1 per cent in December 2021 to 4.25 per cent today. That’s had a very real and tangible impact on households in the form of higher mortgage repayments, and also pushed up the cost of borrowing for businesses too. …
Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has delivered his Budget, in which he unveiled big changes to pensions and childcare as part of an effort to tempt people back into work. Here’s our summary of the main announcements: Pensions The lifetime allowance – currently £1,073,100 – to be abolished The tax-free annual allowance for …
Money worries can have a devastating impact on a person’s life, causing untold stress and heartache day after day. So it’s really important that you’re not left feeling as if your finances are like a runaway juggernaut: out of control. Otherwise, you leave yourself vulnerable to a host of further financial problems, from growing debt …
If you haven’t got a will, you don’t have control over what happens to your money and assets after you die. That means your wealth may not go to your chosen beneficiaries, and could cause lots of lengthy and costly legal issues for the loved ones you leave behind. Here are our top reasons why …
With soaring inflation and rising interest rates, many people are feeling justifiably anxious about making ends meet. That’s partly because the key triggers of the cost of living crisis are beyond our control – so it’s easy to start feeling completely helpless. But there is something you can do – speaking to a regulated, professional …
Early last month, City AM had a dramatic headline: ‘Cash-strapped homeowners turn their properties into personal cash machines.’ They reported that equity release was ‘booming’, with homeowners releasing a total of £4.8bn from their homes in 2021. Ten years previously, the amount released was just £790m with only two years out of the ten – …
Many people understand what a professional, regulated financial advisor does and the benefits of speaking to one. But at the same time, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding financial planning, which often put people off getting advice themselves. We wanted to explore some of the most common myths we hear around this issue and …
You’ve worked hard to be able to afford to send your child to university, and now the time has come for them to fly the nest and strike out on their own. So naturally, you’ll want them to start their adult life with good financial habits. Here are a few bits of wisdom you could …
Couples who live together but aren’t married sometimes refer to their boyfriend or girlfriend as their common law partner. But what does that actually mean in legal terms? Well, to be blunt, not a lot, as you’re not related to your partner either by blood or by marriage. So if you die suddenly, they won’t …
Financial knowledge and awareness can affect countless aspects of our lives, from being able to budget for our weekly food shop and pay bills, to meeting our mortgage payments and having enough money to live off during retirement. So why are so few people receiving proper guidance and education on how to manage their finances? …
