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Last January, as a new decade dawned, little did we know how the next 12 months would unfold. Now, as another year begins, there are growing shoots of optimism but, whatever the year does bring, a crucial lesson from 2020 is undoubtedly the need to prioritise financial wellbeing in order to ensure we can cope […]

Whatever 2021 has in store, we want to reassure you that we’re here for you and your financial planning needs. In addition to uncertainties created by the pandemic, Brexit, trade and political issues will no doubt persist. As always, the only real certainty is that we live in uncertain times. There are many factors involved […]

Did you know that the phased increases to State Pension age (SPA) reached 66 for both men and women in October 2020 and it’s set to rise further? The minimum age for taking funds from a personal pension is also set to rise in 2028. Getting to know your pension ages, and what you can […]

When the property market reopened in mid-May last year, pent-up demand, combined with many people reassessing their housing needs following lockdown, led to a surge in buyer demand. Demand was further bolstered when, in July, the Chancellor announced a Stamp Duty holiday, during which the first £500,000 of most residential property purchases in England and […]

Over the past year, our vulnerabilities have been starkly exposed by coronavirus, and the pandemic continues to present an array of challenges on many different levels. Economic frailties have also been laid bare but, as we enter a new year, there are hopes of recovery in the second half of 2021 and beyond. A gradual […]

Most people (98%)1 appreciate the impact their home has on their sense of wellbeing, which can be thrown into turmoil if problems with neighbours present. Nearly two thirds of Britons (64%) have had a dispute with a neighbour2, with Welsh residents having the most gripes (72%), followed by those in Northern England (70%), South West […]

According to Barclaycard Payments1, the UK population spent £40.6bn, or a staggering £771.34 each, on dispensable items to alleviate lockdown boredom. The ordinary… Popular purchases included takeaways (24%), summer clothes (19%) and garden plants and flowers (16%) – but not everybody was so conventional. And the bizarre Topping the list of the weirdest items purchased […]

UK investors return to funds Following the highest ever monthly outflow from retail funds in March, UK savers invested more in the second quarter of 2020 than they did for the whole of last year. Figures show that £11.2bn was invested for the quarter, compared to £9.8bn in 20191. In June, global shares were the […]

In current terms ‘The Budget is a statement made to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the nation’s finances and the Government’s proposals for changes to taxation.’ So, when was the earliest one? It was certainly before 1860, when William Gladstone was using the red despatch box discarded in 2011 […]

Granny and Grandad lend a hand Nearly half (48%) of grandparents have stepped in to shore up their financially-struggling grandchildren during the pandemic1. This help has come in the form of cash (32%), childcare (8%) and assistance with rent and mortgage payments (6%). FCA announces new mortgage support Borrowers struggling to make their mortgage repayments […]