News

Tax Rates for 2025/2026

As each new tax year arrives, revised limits and allowances are often introduced. It’s important to keep yourself up to date with any changes, so we’ve created a one page summary of all the various tax rates which became applicable as the new 2024/2025 tax year became effective in April 2024.   Continue reading

Market update 7.4.25

“…sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something” Last week, President Trump took to the podium to make his much anticipated ‘Liberation Day’ global trade announcement. He unveiled a raft of expansive new tariffs on almost all imported goods to the US, set to affect nearly every country in the world, with the intention […]  Continue reading

Markets

At the end of March, concerns weighed on financial markets, days before Donald Trump’s tariff plans are due to take effect. Investors are braced for a broad set of tariffs, set to be unveiled on April 2 – described as ‘Liberation Day’ by the President. In the UK, the FTSE 100 index closed the month on 8,582.81, […]  Continue reading

Chancellor trims spending plans

Rachel Reeves delivered her Spring Statement on 26 March, unveiling welfare cuts and spending reductions in order to balance the government’s books in the face of a worsening fiscal outlook. The new spending plans were required to ensure the Chancellor stays on track to meet her two self-imposed fiscal rules, which she confirmed remain “non-negotiable.” […]  Continue reading

Dive into ’25 on top of key tax changes

A few months have passed since the Autumn Budget, a significant milestone for the Labour government. A comprehensive set of measures impacting individuals and businesses were announced, featuring £40bn in tax increases. Key announcements involved Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, domicile status, VAT on private school fees, Stamp Duty and Income Tax thresholds.  Continue reading

Only a few months left to maximise your State Pension 

The government is encouraging individuals to take advantage of the opportunity to maximise their State Pension by filling gaps in their National Insurance (NI) records for the period between 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2018.  Continue reading

Nurture your financial wellbeing in 2025 – get your life plans in place with smart planning 

As we step into 2025, now is the perfect time to set your financial plans in order.  Continue reading

What you need to know about Interest-only mortgages

An interest-only mortgage helps to keep monthly costs down, but can cause problems when the term ends. Start planning now to have all financial bases covered.  Continue reading

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.  Continue reading

Group Life Assurance  – how does it work? 

o As business owner, providing a Group Life Assurance scheme to your workforce goes a long way towards demonstrating genuine care for staff welfare as well as encouraging loyalty and reassuring staff that they are valued. Read all about it here.   Continue reading

Take steps to avoid a retirement overspend

A fifth (20%) of respondents to a survey* have consistently spent more than they expected to during their retirement so far. Moreover, 11% of the over-55s surveyed also said their overspending had occurred early on in their retirement.  Continue reading

Advisers play a ‘pivotal role’ in later-life planning

People who have sought financial advice are more likely to have taken action to prepare for later life and the transition of wealth, research by Canada Life has revealed.  Continue reading

Tips for ‘first time buyers’ 

Looking to get on to the property ladder? We know it can be a bit intimidating with all of the new terms and complex deals. But, as a first time buyer, savings are totally possible if you know what you’re doing and have the motivation to succeed.  Continue reading

Starting your pension early will pay off. 

Never think it’s too late to start saving for your retirement  Continue reading

Social Media isn’t a reliable source of Financial Advice

Social Media isn’t a safe or reliable source of advice or information,   Continue reading

First steps to handling divorce proceedings 

As the festive season gives way to the post-Christmas comedown, divorce season moves up a gear.  Continue reading

How to split pensions in a divorce: The three main options explained – and the many pitfalls to avoid

Pensions are often neglected in divorce settlements despite their value to both partners as a joint asset in a marriage.  Continue reading

How to deal with debt in a divorce

People in debt can get divorced, but will need to agree a plan or make a formal financial settlement to pay off what they owe.  Continue reading

Almost half of the self-employed struggle to get mortgages – here’s how to get accepted

Nearly one in 10 of all self-employed have had all their applications rejected  Continue reading