Category: News
-
Guide: 7 key allowances you might want to use before the end of the 2025/26 tax year
The new tax year will start on 6 April 2026, and many of your important allowances and exemptions will reset. Checking whether you could use these valuable allowances before the end of the 2025/26 tax year on 5 April 2026 might help your money go further. Before you make any…
-
3 insights from the FTSE 100’s performance that could help you curb impulsive decisions
Despite ups and downs throughout the year, 2025 proved to be a great year for the FTSE 100 – an index of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. According to the Guardian (31 December 2025), the FTSE 100 increased in value by a…
-
How to be a successful investor: Following a strategy that’s right for you
There’s more to being a successful investor than following the latest market trends and tips. Setting out a strategy that’s right for you could allow you to balance risk against your goals. Last month, you read about the importance of defining what success means for you. With your goals outlined,…
-
6 life insurance myths homeowners should know
Compared to other countries in Europe and the US, Brits are among the least likely to take out life insurance, and it could leave their families in a vulnerable position if the worst happened. Life insurance would pay out a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you passed away during…
-
ESG investing: Why social and governance factors could be essential for business success
When you first think about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, there’s a chance that environmental issues might be the first that come to mind. This is entirely understandable, as carbon emissions, climate targets, and sustainability pledges have been dominating headlines for some time now. This might lead you to…
-
2 reasons to mark the new tax year in your calendar
On 5 April 2026, the current tax year will end, and the new one will start the following day. Making a note of the deadline in your calendar could help you make the most of tax breaks as part of your financial plan. Here’s why the start of a new…
-
The power of pension tax relief and how it could boost your retirement income
If you’re saving for retirement, you will want to get the most out of what you’re putting into your workplace or private pension. Fortunately, there are plenty of tax efficiencies when you save your wealth into a pension. Indeed, any investment returns generated within your fund are typically free from…
-
Guide: 5 tips to help you manage your wealth in 2026
The start of a new year can be the perfect time to check in on your finances, set goals for the year ahead, and create a plan for how to achieve them. In fact, the Investment Association (6 January 2025) found that 43% of UK adults planned…
-
Gifting to reduce an Inheritance Tax bill? Here are 5 things to check first
In the Autumn Budget 2025, the chancellor announced that Inheritance Tax (IHT) thresholds would remain frozen for a further year, until 2031. Upcoming changes will also see unused pensions included in an estate for IHT purposes for the first time from April 2027. These measures could see estates facing a…
-
Homeowners opt for flexibility over a “forever home”
The concept of a “forever home” is less important to younger homeowners, research from Zoopla (4 November 2025) has found. Instead, they favour flexibility, although this approach could cost more overall. Traditionally, homeowners have sought a forever home that they’d live in for 15 to 20 years,…
-
7 ways financial planning could help you set realistic goals
As 2026 begins, it’s a good time to think about what you want to achieve in the coming months. A tailored financial plan can help you set realistic goals. Creating goals on your own can be challenging, especially if they bring together several different parts of your financial plan or…
-
Why retirement has a language problem and how to change the narrative
Language is powerful. The words you use to describe different scenarios can change how you perceive events, and the language used for retirement could lead to a pessimistic outlook. Writing in an article for Saga (21 October 2025), lexicographer Susie Dent explains that in English, “retire” has…