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Explained: Why your pension could become liable for Inheritance Tax

Next year, a significant change to how pensions are treated when calculating Inheritance Tax (IHT) could mean more families become liable for the tax. Here’s what you need to know to understand if your estate could be affected and how you might mitigate a potential bill. Currently, pensions are usually outside your estate for IHT purposes. As a result, your ...
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What happens when your fixed-rate mortgage ends?

An estimated 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages will end in 2026, according to UK Finance (15 December 2025). If you’re among the homeowners whose deal will end in the coming months, read on to find out why you should be proactive, what your options are, and what it could mean for your finances. First, you don’t need to wait until your ...
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A man working at a computer.

Why business owners could benefit from working with a financial planner

When you’re establishing a business, it can be easy to neglect your personal finances. You might feel that you don’t have the time, or you simply plan to use your business to support long-term goals. Yet being proactive and working with a financial planner could be beneficial. Here are five reasons to work with a financial planner as a business ...
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5 tips for overcoming the fear of investment uncertainty

Investing money can feel daunting because you can’t be sure what your returns will be or whether you’ll suffer a loss. While you can’t eliminate uncertainty from investing, there may be things you can do to overcome the fear of the unknown if it’s affecting your financial decisions. According to an article from Financial Planning Today (4 February 2026), uncertainty ...
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How to be a successful investor: The importance of patience

Once you’ve set out your investment goal and strategy, what comes next? Often, it’s time to test an important investment skill – your patience. The average investor might benefit from a long-term approach When you think about the most important skills in investing, you might consider the ability to choose the “right” investments or understanding market movements. Yet, for the ...
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Investment market update: February 2026

In February 2026, ongoing uncertainty around trade tariffs and concerns about the impact of AI adoption on business profits affected the markets. Read on to discover some of the factors that may have affected your investment portfolio. Markets reached record highs but were affected by AI concerns and trade tariffs The FTSE 100, an index of the largest companies listed ...
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5 ways to emotionally recover from past financial mistakes

Mistakes, financial or otherwise, are a part of life, and it’s normal to make them from time to time. While mistakes can be frustrating, moving past them is important. Holding onto mistakes and letting them dictate the decisions you make now could cause problems. For example, feeling embarrassed about a financial mistake could lead you to avoid engaging with your ...
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2 reasons to mark the new tax year in your calendar

On 5 April 2026, the current tax year will end, and the new one will start the following day. Making a note of the deadline in your calendar could help you make the most of tax breaks as part of your financial plan. Here’s why the start of a new tax year might matter to you. 1. 5 April 2026 ...
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The power of pension tax relief and how it could boost your retirement income

If you’re saving for retirement, you will want to get the most out of what you’re putting into your workplace or private pension. Fortunately, there are plenty of tax efficiencies when you save your wealth into a pension. Indeed, any investment returns generated within your fund are typically free from Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. Better yet, you can ...
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3 insights from the FTSE 100’s performance that could help you curb impulsive decisions

Despite ups and downs throughout the year, 2025 proved to be a great year for the FTSE 100 – an index of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. According to the Guardian (31 December 2025), the FTSE 100 increased in value by a fifth in 2025, marking the strongest annual gain since 2009. When markets closed ...
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