News

The last few months have seen the release of positive economic reports and grounds for optimism remain with regards to future growth rates, certainly in terms of the US economy. However, while no one is currently predicting the onset of a sharp slowdown or recession, there are signs that the global economy may be starting […]

With property prices stabilising across the UK and falling in London, what steps can you take to ensure you get a good price if you’re planning to sell your home? With four-fifths of properties now sold below asking price1, experts agree that being realistic about price can be key to getting a sale. Over-pricing can […]

If ever there is a UK tax that needed a major overhaul, then Inheritance Tax (IHT) must be a prime candidate. Many families will therefore be delighted to hear that the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, has written to the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) asking them to put forward proposals for the reform of IHT “to […]

We all experience life-changing events such as moving to a new home and taking out a bigger mortgage, getting married, having children, retiring, but how many of us remember to update our protection policies to cover the financial commitments these all bring to our lives? It’s easy to overlook the need to review your cover […]

Buying a house involves making lots of choices, and some can be simpler to make than others. Finding the right house in the right location can be the easy part, choosing the best and most suitable mortgage deal for your financial circumstances can prove to be more of a headache. There are hundreds of different […]

People put off buying life insurance for a variety of reasons, and they shouldn’t. Not only does life insurance give valuable peace of mind to families up and down the country, each year insurers pay out millions of pounds to families to help ease the financial strain caused by life’s unexpected events. Here are a […]

As the state pension age rises, life expectancy increases, and final salary pension schemes become a thing of the past, it looks likely that more workers will remain in employment for longer in order to be able to build up sufficient funds for their retirement years. According to analysis by Aviva1, the number of people […]

Rising house prices, burdensome student debt and a low-wage economy have all contributed to millennials feeling under financial pressure. However, the good news is that many more people in the 18 to 35 age range are regularly saving into a pension than ever before. According to data from the Intergenerational Commission1, a decent pension ranks […]

Once upon a time, homeowners moved four times after their first purchase; now it’s more like twice. New evidence suggests that in England and Wales, many more of us are putting down roots and choosing to stay in our current homes for longer. Research1 carried out by Dr Ian Shuttleworth of Queen’s University Belfast points to […]

Think tank, the Adam Smith Institute, believes that Stamp Duty Land Tax, to give stamp duty its full name, should be scrapped. Amongst many reasons why they think it should be abolished is the belief that its existence prevents older people from downsizing. The prospect of paying stamp duty on a smaller home acts as […]