Blog
Check out our latest thoughts and insights on a variety of financial topics
What might be coming in October's Budget?
Many chancellors ago, in November 2016, Philip Hammond announced an end to spring Budgets and their replacement with autumn Budgets. At the time it seemed a sensible idea to allow changes in tax to be legislated before the start of the new tax year. In practice, it did not go to plan...
The cost of pension tax relief
HMRC has updated its estimates for the cost of pension tax relief. Rachel Reeves will have taken note ahead of her first Budget on 30 October.
Should you help repay a student loan?
Are student loans something to avoid?
With the 2024/25 academic year on the horizon, student finance is again a hot topic for many parents. How hot differs slightly for the UK’s four nations as each has a subtly different way of funding students and, outside Scotland, their tuition fees. However, the broad principles are the same:
Save money on tax by helping charity
Tick the 'Gift Aid’ box to boost your donation to charity and save some tax.
The number of national and international calls on our goodwill to donate to causes has grown in the last few years. You are probably familiar with the tick the 'Gift Aid’ box, or a request to sign a declaration, when you donate to charity. As a rule, it makes sense for you and the charity to do so. This simple step could mean a £100 gift costs you only £40 (or £32.50 in Scotland).
The new government's pension decisions
Autumn won’t leave much time for the new government to settle before important pension policy decisions need to be made.
When MPs return to work after the summer recess, many areas of policy will require attention. Some are inheritances from the last government, while others are of the current government’s own creation. The pensions arena provides good examples of both...
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What can we expect in Labour's first 100 days?
With a majority of over 200 and a weight of expectations, what happens next for Sir Kier Starmer’s new Labour government?
The importance of the first 100 days of a new government cannot be understated. Within that period the new incumbent has the greatest political capital to take bold actions, as well as the greatest opportunity to lay the blame for ‘inherited’ problems on its predecessor.
Clampdown on greenwashing of investment funds
New rules have come into force governing the claims made by sustainable funds.
As sustainable investing has grown in popularity, the issue of ‘greenwashing’ has moved into the spotlight. However, investors, turned fund detectives, have discovered that funds with ‘sustainable’, ‘environmental’ or similar labels are buying shares in companies which do not match the branding. Elsewhere, some sustainable funds seem to differ little from their ordinary counterparts, with perhaps just the obvious red flags, such as the oil majors, excluded.
A new Labour government: What's next?
After 14 years of Conservative rule, Labour has taken the reins under Keir Starmer with a massive majority as the electoral map shifted from blue to decisive red on 4 July.
The last time the Labour Party replaced a Conservative government, within a few days it sprung an economic surprise that nobody saw coming – granting independence to the Bank of England. Just over 27 years later, no such shock move seems likely, but with Labour’s key message a promise of change, what lies ahead?
FIRE: Financial independence, retire early. Could you?
Do you dream of retiring much earlier than your peers?
Many ideas which originated in the US have made their way across the Atlantic. The latest financial innovation to join index-tracking investments, budgeting apps and exchange traded funds is the FIRE movement – Financial Independence, Retire Early.
How to buy a house for first-time buyers
Calling all first-time buyers...
If you’re ready to buy a house and take that all important first step on the property ladder, then this one’s for you. Maybe you want to start viewing properties, but don't know what you can afford? Have you got your decision in principle ready for when you want to make an offer? Have you budgeted for stamp duty and solicitor fees?
Are interest rates heading down?
Central banks around the world are beginning to cut interest rates with the European Central Bank leading the way.
3 ways we can help with your Pension Sharing Order
Divorce is a difficult time, with a lot to sort out and even more associated costs. If you’ve been given a Pension Sharing Order, it’s probably not at the top of your to do list right now... but you know it will need to be soon.
General election 2024: Initial tax plans
It’s early days yet, but some pointers on tax have emerged from both the main parties.
Within one week of the surprise firing of the general election starting gun, both the Conservatives and Labour have been promoting their tax plans. We can expect more to emerge in the coming weeks and in the manifestos, which will probably appear during the second week of June.
If inflation is down, why does it still feel so high?
April’s yearly inflation figure fell from 0.9% to 2.3%, so why does inflation still feel high?
