General News & Developments

HMRC still trying to give away money in unclaimed CTFs

HMRC is uncharacteristically keen to give money away, reminding young adults again that they may be due unclaimed child trust funds (CTFs). ...

General News & Developments

Retirement savings targets – still too low

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has been crunching the numbers on the adequacy of pension contributions....

General News & Developments

The cryptic arm of the taxman

Investors in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin should not forget the tax consequences of their digital wallets, says HMRC....

Announcements

2024 Budget Highlights: Key measures a glance

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has outlined the details of this year's Budget in the House of Commons, marking the last scheduled Budget before the upcoming general election later this year....

General News & Developments

How to raise £10,000,000,000

With a ‘black hole’ of £22 billion to fill, there are plenty of groups giving Rachel Reeves advice....

General News & Developments

An update on cash savings

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a review of the cash savings market following evidence of some dubious tactics at work....

General News & Developments

The taxing cost of pensions

HMRC has updated its estimate for the cost of pension tax relief. Rachel Reeves will have taken note ahead of her first Budget on 30th October....

Economy

2024 – the year of two Budgets…

The time to start planning for the Autumn Budget fall-out is now....

General News & Developments

Help your favourite charity and save tax

Did you know boosting your charity donation with Gift Aid can save you money on tax? ...

General News & Developments

Prepaying/repaying student loans. 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....

General News & Developments

The taxpayer club – have you joined?

New data from HMRC show growing numbers of income taxpayers are paying above the basic rate....

General News & Developments

Pension decisions for the new government

Autumn won’t leave much time for the new government to settle before important pension policy decisions need to be made....

General News & Developments

Opening the books – the government’s spending inheritance…

The date of the next Budget has been announced, accompanied by the new Chancellor’s warning about government finances....

General News & Developments

Light my FIRE – could you really retire early?

Is the FIRE movement for you or is it more than hot air for top earners and minimal spenders?...

General News & Developments

Greenwashing clampdown on investment funds

New rules have come into force governing the claims made by sustainable funds....

Economy

Take a deep breath in a year of elections

How does political noise affect the markets? Global elections may actually have short-lived effects...

General News & Developments

The Dow Jones breaks through 40,0000

In mid-May 2024, the Dow Jones Index crossed the 40,000 threshold for the first time....

General News & Developments

‘798 years on hold’: navigating HMRC’s customer service issues

The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a report on HMRC customer service which isn’t a happy story....

General News & Developments

Inflation’s stubborn cumulative effect

The inflation figure fell to 2% today, so why does inflation still feel so high?...

General News & Developments

How to raise tax revenue without raising tax rates

As the countdown to the general election in July is now on, be wary of those manifesto promises not to raise tax rates....

General News & Developments

The UK ISA slides into view: a closer look

One of the many well-trailed announcements in the Spring Budget was the launch of a UK ISA. However, both its arrival and interest may be uncertain....

General News & Developments

The march of the higher-rate taxpayer

New calculations issued alongside the Spring Budget show just how higher rate taxpaying status is becoming ever more common....

General News & Developments

Out goes hand sanitiser, in comes vinyl…

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been sorting through its inflation shopping basket. ...

General News & Developments

Born after 1978? Keep an eye on State pension age.

An independent report suggests that the State pension age (SPA) should rise much faster than planned....

General News & Developments

Working to 72? The retirement procrastination problem

Recent research on planned retirement ages has produced some unexpected and perhaps unrealistic results. ...

General News & Developments

How much does retirement cost?

New research has put some surprising numbers on the income needed in retirement....

General News & Developments

25 years of Individual Savings Accounts – ISA’s

Individual Savings Accounts will celebrate their 25th birthday on 6 April 2024....

Announcements

Key highlights from chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s 2024 Budget: A comprehensive overview

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has outlined the details of this year's Budget in the House of Commons, marking the last scheduled Budget before the upcoming general election later this year....

General News & Developments

Growth vs. Inflation: 40 years of lessons from the FTSE

As the FTSE 100 turned 40 in January, we look at how it compared to its predecessor and the lessons from our four decades of growth versus inflation....

General News & Developments

Navigating 2023: Unraveling the trend of disinflation

At the start of 2023, the Prime Minister pledged to halve inflation. The goal was reached, but how much credit can he take for the achievement?...

Budget

On your marks – an early Spring Budget for 2024

The early Spring Budget on Wed 6th March is a date to note in your calendar....

General News & Developments

The viral myth of the side-hustle tax

The media storm surrounding HMRC taxing eBay and other online sellers from the beginning of 2024 was, in fact, itself counterfeit goods....

General News & Developments

Prepare for the future: State pension age may rise to 71

As life expectancy increases and the workforce dwindles, the state pension age could climb to 71 by 2050....

General News & Developments

The regulator attacks greenwashing

The surge of ESG investment products has prompted the FCA to roll out new anti-greenwashing rules from July 2024....

General News & Developments

A revamp for individual savings accounts

From 6 April 2024, individual savings account (ISA) rules will be changing, mostly for the better....

General News & Developments

Getting a head start: retirement planning attitudes in 2023

A survey of 6,000 people aged between 18 to 80, revealed starkly different views on retirement across the generations....

Announcements

Shona Robison’s 2024/25 Scottish Budget: Key Highlights

With the challenge of dealing with a substantial £1.5 billion deficit in Scotland's finances, Ms Robison touched upon several critical points during her speech....

General News & Developments

A tale of two fund sectors

The Global sector is the largest fund sector, according to the Investment Association, but it might not be quite as global as you think....

Announcements

Autumn Statement 2023: November key points at a glance

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has presented the details of his Autumn Statement in the House of Commons....

Budget

A spring Budget cycle will resume shortly

With an Autumn Statement due in the coming days on the 22nd November, does this signal the return of the spring Budget?...

General News & Developments

An uncertain future for the Triple Lock

State pension increases could be outpacing inflation next April, and there’s no guarantee of the Triple Lock surviving the next election....

General News & Developments

Savings rates: don’t be caught out in the numbers net

National Savings & Investments has launched two top of the savings league table one-year bonds, but the headline rates may not be your net return....

General News & Developments

Do you know your OEICs from your ETFs?

Investment funds come in a variety of formats and acronyms – the differences are worth knowing...

General News & Developments

The reality of retirement affordability

New research reveals that one in three people could face hardship in retirement...

General News & Developments

Who is choosing your pension investments?

The Chancellor has announced a new initiative to stimulate higher-risk pension investment, shifting focus to UK private companies....

General News & Developments

Capital gains tax on the rise – behind the headlines

Capital gains tax raised £16.7 billion in 2021/22, according to HMRC – a 15% increase over the previous year. But what lies behind these statistics?...