Spring Statement 2025
“A serious plan for growth” On 26 March, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivered her Spring Statement unveiling updated economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), announced further reductions to welfare spending and confirmation of a rise in defence spending. The Chancellor reiterated her commitment to “just one major fiscal event a […]
Advised investors are ‘less vulnerable’
Investors who receive financial advice are four times less likely to be vulnerable than the general population, according to analysis1. The study looked at a cohort of more than 5,000 advised investors, assessing them using a psychometric financial wellbeing questionnaire. Designed by an in-house behavioural psychologist, the questionnaire was designed to find and evaluate indicators […]
Pension pulse – a reminder for ‘25
Aside from the change announced about bringing unused pension pots into IHT from April 2027, other announcements relating to pensions were thin on the ground during the Budget speech. The Chancellor confirmed that the State Pension will increase in line with average earnings, rising by 4.1% in April 2025. The new flat rate State Pension […]
Now here’s a golden anniversary worth celebrating!
It’s 2025 and we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Sex Discrimination Act which, amongst other measures, made it possible for women to get a mortgage without a man’s countersignature. It’s a great time to reflect on how far we have come in promoting financial equality between the sexes. In recent years, we have […]
End of tax year IHT recap – gen up on gifting allowances
Recent HMRC data shows that IHT receipts rose to £4.3bn during the period from April to September 2024, a £400m increase on the same period the previous year. With 27% of 18 to 34-year olds (1.1 million people) holding out for an inheritance before going ahead with major life events and 12% of UK adults […]
The changing face of retirement – as the traditional ‘hard-stop’ is consigned to history
Catalysed by the 2011 abolition of the Default Retirement Age, a combination of economic and socio-demographic trends are changing people’s outlook to retirement; and this, in turn, is heightening the need to adopt a more fluid approach to retirement planning. Carry on working Research1 suggests the traditional ‘hard stop’ retirement is increasingly being consigned to […]
Could ‘right-sizing’ help the housing market?
With the UK housing market facing an array of problems, experts have suggested almost as many solutions. One concept that could help resolve the current shortcomings is ‘right-sizing.’ ‘Right-sizing’ refers to the process of moving to a more suitable property for your requirements, generally one with fewer bedrooms. Closely related to downsizing, some analysts think […]
Narrowing the gender protection gap
You’ve probably heard about the gender pay gap. You may even have heard about the gender pension gap. But did you know there is also a gender protection gap? Women are typically less likely than men to have insurance that protects them financially against the risk of being unable to work due to illness or […]
A reminder of recent property tax changes
The Autumn Budget made the headlines with a host of announcements, mostly on taxation. Housing did not play a large part in the key fiscal event, but there are a few points to be aware of. Second homes From 31 October 2024, people buying a second home pay an extra 2% of the entire property […]