In 2024 the talk was all about monetary normalisation, as central bank’s sought to bring inflation under control and interest rates back down. In 2025 we could barely get through a month without talking about President Trump and his trade tariffs. The noise now is about the AI bubble and the dominance of US technology …
Here are five simple but important ways to begin 2026 feeling financially organised, confident and well prepared for what lies ahead. And, of course, your Insight financial adviser is always happy to support you with your plans. 1. Revisit your long-term goals Life rarely stands still. Career changes, family milestones, health considerations and shifting priorities …
Introduction The Autumn Statement on 26th November dominated British headlines. In the US the longest government shutdown in history came to an end, and China will hope that the trade war ceasefire will start to show improving results in their end of year economic performance. UK After months of speculation, the Autumn Statement finally arrived, …
The political background The chancellor Rachel Reeves has been under enormous pressure all year. In addition to some major economic headwinds, she has faced political battles on several fronts. Even her own MPs rebelled when she tried to save money through benefits cuts. The media reduced her choices down to two simple options. Break the …
Prices rises have remained steadily at 3.8% for three consecutive months, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows. These figures, published on 22 October 2025, show that the annual rate of the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) remained at 3.8% in the 12 months to September, unchanged for the third month in …
We’ve seen record highs in equity markets, a ceasefire in the Middle East, better than expected inflation figures, and surprisingly good UK retail sales performance. Despite this, the pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves is relentless as she heads towards another Autumn Statement on 26th November, where she is expected to face more criticism and possibly …
For many people approaching retirement, the pension tax-free lump sum is one of the most attractive features of their pension savings. It allows you to take up to a quarter of your pension pot as a one-off payment without paying income tax, up to a current maximum of £268,275. While this can seem straightforward, the …
Inflation and economic growth were the two key themes which politicians, global economists and central bankers grappled with in September. There is an almost unprecedented interest in economic indicators in 2025, perhaps because of the unchartered economic territories Trump has pushed the world into. Not all these indicators are reliable predictors of the future. So, …
The State Pension is due to increase by 4.7% next April after the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures were published on 16th September. The ONS data confirmed the latest annual wage growth of 4.7% would be the deciding figure under the State Pension Triple Lock. This uplift, while lower than some recent past …
Between April and June this year, HMRC issued refunds amounting to nearly £49 million to pensioners who had overpaid taxes on their pension withdrawals. Approximately 13,000 claims were processed during this period, with each individual receiving an average refund of £3,800. The issue of over-taxation arises from the method HMRC uses to calculate tax on …
