It’s never too late to turn over a new financial leaf – whether it’s the new year or not. Reflecting on our financial goals and the habits we need to put in place to reach them should be a regular date in our yearly diary.
NEWS
Pensions
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR…WHEN THE FESTIVITIES ARE OVER HOW ABOUT A FAMILY GET-TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE FAMILY FINANCES!
Getting everyone in your circle of loved ones on board and informed is the key to successful Inheritance Tax planning.
CAN YOU ADD £3,600 TO YOUR PENSION EACH YEAR (OR MORE) & SHOULD YOU?
Is adding money/capital to a UK pension savings plan still relevant and should you consider it for you personally or even for members of the family?
IS THERE A TRUST THAT YOU HAVEN’T REGISTERED?
It feels a little late in the day and somewhat locking the door after the horse has bolted as Trusts that are caught by the new rules should have registered in the UK last September.
ISAs OR PENSIONS – WHICH IS THE BEST TAX-FRIENDLY HOME FOR YOUR MONEY?
Hands up who wants to pay more tax? We thought so! It’s a no-brainer that we should all make the most of the key tax-efficient ways of saving and investing our hard-earned cash.
STATE PENSIONS – CAN YOU AND SHOULD YOU BUY MISSING YEARS AND DO YOU NEED TO ACT NOW?
The short answer for most people is yes, you should buy enough years to end up with a full State Pension. The low level of risk as any income is backed by and guaranteed by the UK government.
CATEGORIES
LATEST NEWS
NAVIGATING THE FOG OF WAR
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil chokepoint. Roughly one-fifth of global oil supply transits here each day. Commercial traffic has been severely disrupted since late February. Iran maintains a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil transits during peacetime. As long as that remains the status quo, analysts expect oil and stock markets to experience continued heightened volatility.
MIDDLE EAST ESCALATION: EARLY MARKET IMPACT & PORTFOLIO IMPLICATIONS
Following the weekend escalation involving US – Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran’s subsequent response, markets have – so far – reacted in a relatively orderly way. The immediate transmission mechanism is energy, because the Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas flows.
GETTING MY HEAD AROUND AI: WHY MARKETS ARE EXCITED — AND NERVOUS
Artificial Intelligence has moved from novelty to necessity in what feels like months. Markets have reacted accordingly. Some technology shares have surged on the promise of AI, while others have fallen sharply on fears that AI could undermine existing business models. Like many investors, I’ve been trying to get my head around what is actually happening — and why the stakes suddenly feel so high.
UK TAX: THE PAIN DEFERRED – WHY THE REAL IMPACT COMES LATER
Financial markets were primed for sharp, immediate tax rises. Commentators warned of fiscal tightening. Yet when the Chancellor delivered the measures, the initial reaction was muted. Markets barely moved. The plaster came off—and it didn’t hurt.