Finance

If an unexpected lump sum lands in your bank account, you might be tempted to splash out and treat yourself. However, using a windfall effectively could create long-term prosperity. There are plenty of reasons why you might suddenly receive a cash injection. Perhaps you’ve received a bonus from work or inherited assets. Whatever the reason, before you start making plans, ...

Creating a financial plan can seem complicated, especially if you need to take into account your partner’s views, assets, and goals. At times, you might have conflicting ideas about what is “right” and it can be a difficult situation to navigate. Working with a financial planner as a couple could help you overcome some of the key challenges you might ...

The gender pension gap is a pressing issue, and it grows wider after women have children. While men’s pensions tend to stay on track, for women, the gap between their retirement savings and a typical man’s starts to widen significantly. Here’s why: Career Breaks for Childcare It’s no secret that women tend to take on the lion’s share of childcare. ...

Using allowances and exemptions could reduce your overall tax bill and help you get more out of your money. On 5 April 2025, the current tax year will end, and many tax-efficient allowances and exemptions will reset. So, here are five that you may want to consider using before the 2025/26 tax year starts. 1. ISA allowance ISAs provide a ...

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. ...

Spotting a great Black Friday deal might be harder than you think – especially after Which? reported that 98% of products that were on sale in 2021 were cheaper or the same as their Black Friday price at other times in the year. In fact, 86% of the items had also been the same price or cheaper in the six ...

The end of the year is fast approaching, and while your mind might be on celebrating the festive period, it’s the perfect opportunity to tick off some financial tasks you might be putting off.  Spending some time going through your finances and thinking about what you want to achieve next year could help you step into 2025 feeling confident about ...

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. ...

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 ...