Category: Blog

  • 4 ways you could choose to pass on assets to loved ones

    4 ways you could choose to pass on assets to loved ones

    Do you want to create a legacy by passing on assets to your loved ones? There’s more than one way to do it, and you might want to combine several different options. As part of your estate plan, you might want to consider who you’d like to benefit from your estate and how you will…

  • Why earning more than £100,000 doesn’t have to mean falling into a tax trap

    Why earning more than £100,000 doesn’t have to mean falling into a tax trap

    A hidden marginal tax rate that affects workers earning between £100,000 and £125,140 is often dubbed a “tax trap”, and research suggests it’s shaping career decisions. However, there are ways you might mitigate the additional tax charge without putting the brakes on your career progression. The Personal Allowance is £12,570 in 2026/27, and you can…

  • Why the State Pension triple lock matters for retirees

    Why the State Pension triple lock matters for retirees

    The triple lock increases the State Pension year-on-year to protect pensioners from the effects of inflation. Learn how the triple lock works, how it benefits retirees, and two additional strategies you might use to mitigate the effect of inflation on your personal pension wealth alongside your State Pension. The triple lock ensures your State Pension…

  • 5 questions to answer before you withdraw a pension lump sum to reduce Inheritance Tax

    5 questions to answer before you withdraw a pension lump sum to reduce Inheritance Tax

    From 6 April 2027, many unused pension pots will be included in Inheritance Tax (IHT) calculations. Since the government announced the change in the 2024 Autumn Budget, an increasing number of people have opted to withdraw their tax-free lump sum from their pension as soon as they can. Currently, you can access your pension from…

  • Revealed: The hidden benefits of long-term financial planning

    Revealed: The hidden benefits of long-term financial planning

    When you think about the benefits of long-term financial planning, the opportunity to work with a professional to increase your assets might be the first thing that comes to mind. While that might form part of some financial plans, the hidden benefits may be even more valuable to you. A financial plan isn’t only focused…

  • 2 steps to not being bad with money             

    2 steps to not being bad with money             

    This guest blog was written by Chris Budd, who wrote the original Financial Wellbeing Book as well as The Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellbeing. He founded the Institute for Financial Wellbeing and has written more than 130 episodes of the Financial Wellbeing Podcast. A comment that one often hears when discussing finances is that people…

  • Investment market update: April 2026

    Investment market update: April 2026

    During April 2026, markets have continued to experience volatility as the conflict in the Middle East has developed. Find out what external factors may have affected the performance of your investments. One effect of the conflict on global markets is the rising price of energy. Indeed, analysis from UBS suggests that March 2026 experienced the…

  • 7 key numbers you should check before your mortgage deal expires

    7 key numbers you should check before your mortgage deal expires

    When your mortgage deal expires, rather than diving straight into finding a new deal, take some time to review these seven key numbers first. 1. The number of years on your mortgage term Start by looking at how many years you have left on your mortgage term. This will help you calculate how your repayments…

  • Tax-efficient ways for business owners to pay themselves

    Tax-efficient ways for business owners to pay themselves

    As a business owner, how you pay yourself matters. Doing so without considering the tax implications could mean you miss opportunities to make your income more efficient. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution that will be suitable for every business owner. It will depend on your needs, long-term goals, and the structure of your business, which…

  • Powerful reasons to plan how to use your 2026/27 allowances and exemptions now

    Powerful reasons to plan how to use your 2026/27 allowances and exemptions now

    The 2026/27 tax year started on 6 April 2026. While you have until 5 April 2027 to use tax-efficient allowances and exemptions, making a plan now could be valuable. Here are four powerful reasons to consider your tax strategy for the current tax year. Avoid last-minute stress as the end of the tax year approaches…