What April showed us (perhaps unexpectedly) is that financial markets are also capable of extraordinary optimism in the face of genuine uncertainty. The so-called “TACO trade” -shorthand for the belief that Trump always backs down when economic pain becomes acute enough – powered equity indices higher even as the disruption continued. The S&P 500 closed …
Good mental health is influenced by many factors, and financial wellbeing is an important part of that picture. While financial advice is not a substitute for mental health support, feeling informed and empowered about your finances can help reduce one source of stress and support overall wellbeing. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we encourage open …
The Bank of England has held rates again, and while the wider outlook continues to evolve, this is a useful moment to review what it could mean for mortgages, savings and longer-term financial plans. The Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held its base rate at 3.75% on 30 April, against a backdrop …
At the end of February we were talking about the FTSE 100 edging towards 11,000 with rumblings of a possible energy crisis clouding the horizon as news of the bombing of Iran broke. US President Trump gave us plenty more to talk about by the end of March. Markets were volatile, reacting to the slightest …
The new tax year is here, and upcoming pension changes mean that it’s now a good time to review your retirement plans. 1. Age to access your pension is rising From April 2028, the earliest age most people can start taking money from their private pension will rise from 55 to 57. If you were …
Inheritance Tax (IHT) continues to make headlines, and for good reason. According to the latest forecasts, the amount collected by the government is expected to reach a record £8.7 billion in the 2025–26 tax year. As property values and investment portfolios grow, more families are finding themselves within the scope of IHT. Increasingly, this is …
The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO), an independent pensions complaints arbitration service, has spoken out over potential fraudulent letters. The service has warned that it is aware people have received fake letters purporting to be from the TPO about a “failed investment”. The TPO’s site states: “These letters are not genuine, and the telephone number is not …
When it comes to building long-term financial security, investing is one of the most powerful tools available. Yet for many people, getting started can feel overwhelming. With unfamiliar terminology, market ups and downs, and the fear of making mistakes, it’s easy to put investing off altogether. Investing continues to outperform cash ISAs New data from …
Protecting your income and planning for retirement Unlike employees, self-employed workers don’t have employer benefits such as sick pay, workplace pensions, or death-in-service cover. That’s why financial planning is not just important, it’s essential. The growing self-employed workforce Self-employment plays a major role in the UK economy. Recent data (2025) shows: Around 4.38 million people …
Introduction President Trump has once again hijacked the headlines with a strike on Iran at the very end of the month. The implications are yet to be understood. It took some attention away from the UK government’s latest headache, a by-election loss to the Green Party, and a mixed bag of economic results. Meanwhile, the …
