There’s just over two months left till the end of the tax year on 5 April. Here are key changes to have in mind, and things you can do to ensure you don’t miss out.The end of the tax year is a predictable annual reset for many financial and taxation-related allowances. Although these are predictable […]
HMRC has said it will reform the way it taxes pension withdrawals that leads to people being charged excessive tax. The issue has plagued pension holders since the introduction of pension freedoms in 2015. It affects defined contribution (DC) pension holders who reach pension freedom age – currently 55 years-old but set to increase to […]
Unemployment has risen unexpectedly in the UK in the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).For the three months to November 2024, employment fell by 47,000 sending the unemployment rate up from 4.3% to 4.4%. The ONS has also revised its previous data to reflect 32,000 extra unemployed in the three months to […]
IntroductionA New Year gives us the chance to look forward. We can expect more change in 2025 for personal finances, with a new Labour budget laid out and a returning President in the US. 2024 was a year of speculation and political change across the world, with President Trump and the Labour Party the key […]
A survey of over 1500 investors by AJ Bell in December showed that a quarter of those surveyed had either already withdrawn money to help financially support family or friends (15%) or were thinking about it (a further 10%). 76% had gifted sums over £2000. Unsurprisingly the most common reason for this was to help […]
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has written to more than 10 major UK regulators to challenge them to unleash growth in the UK economy. The Prime Minister has challenged major regulators such as the City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), energy regulator Ofgem and water regulator Ofwat to come up with ways to encourage economic […]
As we enter 2025, many people will be setting New Year’s resolutions. How serious they take them, and how long they last, depend on each persons will and motivation but many surveys report familiar themes. Some surveys show differences between different age groups. The differences reflect where they are in life and the issues and […]
Overall Market Backdrop, December: Rising inflation in the UK contributed to Bank of England (BoE) holding rates at 4.75% Global equities fall over December, driven by U.S stock sell-off China signals shift to “moderately loose” monetary policy Click here to read more
IntroductionThe US election provided another definitive moment in what has been a politically charged year. With many countries holding elections in 2024, analysts have been second guessing what markets will do for some time. Whether Trump is popular outside the US is debatable, but his election victory was convincing and markets have responded positively so […]
Blended families are formed when two people live together with children from previous relationships. They are increasingly common in the UK, and can work extremely well. However it is worth considering the estate planning implications. It is possible to accidentally leave family members without any inheritance due to a lack of planning or appropriate legal […]