What April showed us (perhaps unexpectedly) is that financial markets are also capable of extraordinary optimism in the face of genuine uncertainty. The so-called “TACO trade” -shorthand for the belief that Trump always backs down when economic pain becomes acute enough – powered equity indices higher even as the disruption continued. The S&P 500 closed …
Good mental health is influenced by many factors, and financial wellbeing is an important part of that picture. While financial advice is not a substitute for mental health support, feeling informed and empowered about your finances can help reduce one source of stress and support overall wellbeing. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we encourage open …
The Bank of England has held rates again, and while the wider outlook continues to evolve, this is a useful moment to review what it could mean for mortgages, savings and longer-term financial plans. The Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held its base rate at 3.75% on 30 April, against a backdrop …
At the end of February we were talking about the FTSE 100 edging towards 11,000 with rumblings of a possible energy crisis clouding the horizon as news of the bombing of Iran broke. US President Trump gave us plenty more to talk about by the end of March. Markets were volatile, reacting to the slightest …
The “baby-boomer” generation (62 to 80 years of age) is sitting on £3.84 trillion in UK property wealth according to research by estate agent Savills. Around £2.92 trillion is held in main family homes with the rest in buy-to-let property investments and other residential properties such as second homes. For context, the annual gross domestic …
When it comes to building long-term financial security, investing is one of the most powerful tools available. Yet for many people, getting started can feel overwhelming. With unfamiliar terminology, market ups and downs, and the fear of making mistakes, it’s easy to put investing off altogether. Investing continues to outperform cash ISAs New data from …
Introduction President Trump has once again hijacked the headlines with a strike on Iran at the very end of the month. The implications are yet to be understood. It took some attention away from the UK government’s latest headache, a by-election loss to the Green Party, and a mixed bag of economic results. Meanwhile, the …
There is a feverish interest in whether the ‘AI bubble’ really exists and a lot of scrutiny on financial results as they are published. The attention is not just on the ‘Magnificent Seven’, but a range of technology stocks which are heavily committed to artificial intelligence. With this in mind, we will start our round …
Money is one of the most common sources of stress in relationships and one of the least talked about. In fact, many couples find it easier to discuss almost anything except their finances. Yet open, honest conversations about money don’t weaken relationships. Done well, they can strengthen trust, reduce anxiety, and create a shared sense …
In 2024 the talk was all about monetary normalisation, as central bank’s sought to bring inflation under control and interest rates back down. In 2025 we could barely get through a month without talking about President Trump and his trade tariffs. The noise now is about the AI bubble and the dominance of US technology …
