News & Insights

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt could have more options ahead of March’s Budget as government borrowing halved at the end of 2023. With a general election looming, Hunt may take the opportunity to ease the tax burden. Read on to discover some of the personal finance changes that could be announced. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that government ...

If you haven’t used your ISA allowance for the 2023/24 tax year, it could be wise to review your options over the next few weeks before the 2024/25 tax year starts. Read on to discover some of the reasons why an ISA could make sense for you. Government statistics show that ISAs are a popular way to save and invest. ...

Transitioning into retirement can present new challenges, not least, understanding how to sustainably start using your assets to create an income. As you move into the decumulation phase, you might worry about balancing your needs now with your long-term financial security, but a plan could give you more confidence. Managing the decumulation of assets is something more people will need ...

Valentine’s Day is not just about flowers and chocolates; it’s an ideal time for couples to strengthen their bond, and one crucial aspect of this is organising finances together. However, this year Valentine’s Day could be on a shoestring for many couples as the Office for Budget Responsibility recently downgraded its economic forecasts for 2024, predicting higher-for-longer inflation and borrowing ...

If you’re like most people, no matter your age, you often decide to save more and spend less. But life gets in the way, and you end up going back to your usual money habits. In the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray’s character experienced the unusual scenario of waking up to the same day repeatedly. Watching it was quite ...

Many markets rallied during December based on the expectation that interest rates will start to fall in 2024. Read on to discover what else may have affected your investment portfolio in the final month of 2023.  On 27 December, the MSCI World Stock Index, which comprises stock from nearly 3,000 companies to track global equity-market performance, was up 4.5% when ...

With interest rates at their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, finding a mortgage deal that’s right for you could save you thousands of pounds over the long term. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the BoE slashed its base interest rate, and it remained below 1% for more than a decade. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it cut the rate ...

The last few years have seen volatile investment markets due to the pandemic, lockdowns, and fears that high inflation could lead to economic recessions. Looming general elections could mean investors continue to experience ups and downs throughout 2024.  UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is expected to call a general election at some point in 2024. Indeed, the last nationwide vote ...

While chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced he’d cut the rate of National Insurance (NI) in the 2023 Autumn Statement, he failed to change the thresholds or rates for Income Tax. While that might seem like a good thing – it’s better for your finances than a rate rise after all – your tax liability could still increase.  “Stealth taxes” refer to ...

High inflation has dominated headlines over the last two years. With the rate now slowly nearing the Bank of England’s (BoE) target, taking stock of what it means for your finances could be useful.  The BoE is responsible for managing inflation and aims to keep it at 2%. The central bank explains keeping inflation stable helps everyone plan for the ...