Latest News

Dafferns Wealth

IHT tax receipts soar

IHT tax receipts soar – how can you reduce your payments?

Between April and November 2023, HM Revenue & Customs collected £5.2 billion in inheritance tax (IHT) payments. That’s £400 million higher than in the same period last year, according to official figures. The IHT threshold is currently £325,000, or £650,000 for a married couple. So if your estate is worth more than this amount, you …

Read more

Market Commentary January 2024

Market Commentary January 2024

Introduction As the new year gets underway, there are positive signs that the inflation crisis around the world is finally starting to ease. But this doesn’t seem to have been accompanied by a surge in economic growth in many crucial markets. In fact, growth seems stubbornly slow in some countries. As always, let’s take a …

Read more

Downsizing to a smaller property

Would you downsize to a smaller property?

When your children have grown up and left home, your house can suddenly feel a lot bigger and emptier. But despite there being many compelling reasons to move to a smaller property, many of us stay put. So should you be thinking about downsizing? According to a study by Zoopla, more than nine in ten …

Read more

Family Savings Advice

Savers are missing out on free money

What do you do with your monthly earnings when they land? Do you leave all the money sitting in your current account? Or do you invest some elsewhere, so you can make your money work hard for you and maximise your returns? Well, a new survey by the Building Societies Association (BSA) reveals that many …

Read more

Private Healthcare

More people in work using private healthcare

It goes without saying that the NHS does an amazing job, thanks to its incredibly talented and dedicated professionals. But it’s far from controversial to say that the health service is under massive strain – and has been for some time. In fact, the NHS backlog recently hit a new record high, with the number …

Read more

Financial Market December 2023

Market Commentary December 2023

Introduction The ongoing crisis in the Middle East continues to dominate the headlines, although the temporary truce which saw many of the hostages in Gaza released was undoubtedly welcome. However, it must be said that the geopolitical tensions caused by the Israel-Hamas conflict pose a very real risk to the wider global economy, which is …

Read more

How to Budget for Christmas

How to budget for Christmas

Love it or loathe it, Christmas is fast approaching, and for many of us, it’ll be the most expensive time of the year. From buying gifts for friends and loved ones and entertaining dozens of family members, the festive season can be extremely costly. So how can you make sure your Christmas spending doesn’t tip …

Read more

Why Loyalty Doesnt Always Pay

Why loyalty doesn’t always pay

When you sign up for a service or subscription, such as an insurance policy or broadband contract, it’s easy not to give it another thought and just get on with your day-to-day life. But loyalty to a particular company or provider often isn’t rewarded, and blindly sticking with the same deal for years on end …

Read more

Financial Market November 2023

Market Commentary November 2023

Introduction All eyes have been on the Middle East following Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on October 7th, which led to the deaths of more than 1,400 people. The resulting conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, fears of a possible escalation across the wider region, and a surge in oil prices. We …

Read more