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As we step into 2025, now is the perfect time to set your financial plans in order. With changes on the horizon – like many pension pots becoming subject to inclusion in Inheritance Tax (IHT) calculations from April 2027 – it’s wise to prepare early.  Financial wellbeing involves having a positive relationship with your money, […]

As a new year dawns and we ponder what the next 12 months may hold for us as individuals and investors, one thing is for certain – some familiar challenges lie ahead.  The International Monetary Fund (IMF)1 unveiled its latest economic assessment the week prior to the US election, proclaiming a period of ‘stable but […]

In the latter part of 2024, the UK housing market experienced robust sales momentum, driven largely by higher disposable incomes and easing rates on some mortgages. What can we expect for the housing market as we enter 2025?  Last year marked the highest level of new sales since late 2020, with house prices rising modestly […]

Purpose has lately become a buzzword for investors and companies. Whether ‘mission-oriented’ investing excites you or makes you want to run for the hills, aligning your wealth with your values and interests can bring rich rewards.  Give and grow  Historically, wealthy people wanting to make a difference have done so through philanthropy. In response to […]

Selling a house is the biggest financial deal many people will ever make. Understandably, sellers want to get the best possible price; new research1 has cautioned, however, that aiming too high is not without risk.  Discount dangers  Analysis by Rightmove of sales over the past five years has revealed the risks associated with pricing your […]

Did you know that 46% of aspiring first-time buyers would consider buying a home with a friend or sibling to help them get onto the property ladder?1  Most people (62%) would ideally like to purchase a home with a partner; however, many have been forced to look at alternative options. The main reason for considering […]

A report from UK Savings Week shows that having a savings habit improves wellbeing.  Savers on the lowest incomes were found to benefit the most from regularly putting money aside, with 53% of this group reporting that they are satisfied with their life. However, only 40% of low-income non-savers could say the same1.  Interestingly, low-income […]

The UK buy-to-let (BTL) market has seen notable changes recently.  The number of new BTL mortgages granted has decreased sharply. This decline is largely due to higher interest rates and stricter taxation measures, which have served to cool investor enthusiasm.  Additionally, the overall size of the BTL mortgage market has contracted. Investors are encountering more […]

If you want your investment portfolio to strike a good balance between risk and return, it’s worth knowing how correlation can impact your investments.  If two different investments are perfectly correlated, their value will rise and fall by the same amount, at the same time. Investing in highly correlated assets can increase your losses, because […]

Recently released research1 suggests a significant proportion of working age people are no longer planning a traditional ‘hard stop’ retirement, with 45 to 54-year-olds most likely to feel they will continue working beyond pensionable age.  Work work work  According to the survey, more than a fifth of working age adults think it unlikely they will […]