During the Autumn Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled an increase to Stamp Duty that could affect buyers of second homes and property investors. The temporary higher thresholds for Stamp Duty are also set to end in 2025 and could lead to larger tax bills when buying property. Read on to find out what you need to know about the tax. ...

If you and your partner are considering taking out life insurance, one question you may want to answer is: Would single or joint life insurance be better suited to us? Life insurance is a type of financial protection that would pay out a lump sum if you passed away during the term. The payout would go to your beneficiary, who ...

Christmas is a magical time of year, especially for young children who will be eager to see what Santa has left them under the tree. Along with their gifts, your child may receive money that could be put towards long-term goals and milestones. It’s likely not just you who will be buying presents for your child this year. Indeed, according ...

As a business owner, the Autumn Budget delivered at the end of October 2024 could affect both your business and personal finances. Read on to discover the key changes you need to be aware of. 2 Budget tax changes that could affect your business’s finances The good news is that despite speculation that Corporation Tax could rise, this didn’t materialise. ...

Paying off your mortgage might come with a sense of relief and far more financial freedom. If reaching that milestone as soon as possible is one of your goals, there are ways to pay off your mortgage quicker.  Being mortgage-free could open up doors for you. Without mortgage repayments, you might be able to travel more, retire sooner, or simply ...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is providing scammers with new ways to try and dupe you. One type of scam that’s on the rise that you should be aware of is “voice cloning”. Voice cloning uses AI technology to replicate the voice of a friend or family member. Fraudsters then use this to contact you to ask you to transfer funds or ...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the new Labour government’s first Budget on 30 October 2024. Amid the announcements were key changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Inheritance Tax (IHT) that could affect your financial plan.  Ahead of the Budget, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it would be “painful” as there was a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. ...

Almost four months after Labour won the general election, chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her 2024 Autumn Budget, outlining the government’s plans for this tax year and beyond. Arguing that the July general election had given Labour a “mandate to restore stability and start a decade of renewal”, Reeves described it as “a Budget to fix the foundations and deliver ...

When you’re taking out a mortgage, it can be difficult to understand the terminology, which might seem like it’s filled with jargon and acronyms. Indeed, one such term “loan-to-value” or “LTV” can be confusing. If you’re unsure what LTV means, read on to find out and discover why it could be important if you’re searching for a mortgage. LTV is ...

High inflation has been a hot topic over the last couple of years, and as its pace stabilises, you might think it no longer needs to be part of your financial plan. Yet, skipping inflation when calculating your long-term finances could leave you with a shortfall. The government sets the Bank of England (BoE) a target of keeping inflation at ...