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 new tax year is here, and upcoming pension changes mean that it’s now a good time to review your retirement plans. 1. Age to access your pension is rising From April 2028, the earliest age most people can start taking money from their private pension will rise from 55 to 57. If you were …
Inheritance Tax (IHT) continues to make headlines, and for good reason. According to the latest forecasts, the amount collected by the government is expected to reach a record £8.7 billion in the 2025–26 tax year. As property values and investment portfolios grow, more families are finding themselves within the scope of IHT. Increasingly, this is …
The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO), an independent pensions complaints arbitration service, has spoken out over potential fraudulent letters. The service has warned that it is aware people have received fake letters purporting to be from the TPO about a “failed investment”. The TPO’s site states: “These letters are not genuine, and the telephone number is not …
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 …
Protecting your income and planning for retirement Unlike employees, self-employed workers don’t have employer benefits such as sick pay, workplace pensions, or death-in-service cover. That’s why financial planning is not just important, it’s essential. The growing self-employed workforce Self-employment plays a major role in the UK economy. Recent data (2025) shows: Around 4.38 million people …
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 …
When you first set up a pension, whether through your employer or personally, it can feel like a huge tick in the box. But unlike setting up a dishwasher or booking a holiday, pensions aren’t something you can just “set up and forget.” They’re more like a long-term relationship: they need care, attention and regular …
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 …
