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As we step into 2025, now is the perfect time to set your financial plans in order. With changes on the horizon – like many pension pots becoming subject to inclusion in Inheritance Tax (IHT) calculations from April 2027 – it’s wise to prepare early.  Financial wellbeing involves having a positive relationship with your money, […]

Headline inflation at eight-month high  Release of the latest inflation statistics showed consumer prices are now rising at their fastest rate since March 2024, while last month also saw Bank of England (BoE) policymakers become more divided over the need to cut interest rates.  Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the […]

A report from UK Savings Week shows that having a savings habit improves wellbeing.  Savers on the lowest incomes were found to benefit the most from regularly putting money aside, with 53% of this group reporting that they are satisfied with their life. However, only 40% of low-income non-savers could say the same1.  Interestingly, low-income […]

Robust demand for Scottish hotels  The Scottish hotels market continued to show resilience in Q3 according to Colliers.  Hotel investment in Scotland hit £110m in quarter three – £40m more than Q2 and 150% higher than the five-year quarterly average of £44m. The year-to-date investment total is £200m – up 18% when compared with the […]

Recently released research1 suggests a significant proportion of working age people are no longer planning a traditional ‘hard stop’ retirement, with 45 to 54-year-olds most likely to feel they will continue working beyond pensionable age.  Work work work  According to the survey, more than a fifth of working age adults think it unlikely they will […]

Are you confident you have all the relevant cover in place to protect your finances? Having a financial plan should go hand-in-hand with a conversation about insurance.  The statistics  We may not like to think about death, but the reality is it is inevitable; however, data has revealed that only 29% of UK adults have […]

Interest rates set to fall more gradually  Last month, the Bank of England (BoE) cut interest rates for only the second time since 2020 but also warned future reductions were likely to be more gradual due to the prospect of inflation creeping higher next year.   Following its latest meeting, which concluded on 6 November, the […]

Over one million individuals have entered self-employment since 20201, so it is important to ensure you are still planning for retirement by making regular pension contributions.  A growing sector  In 2023, there were 4.2 million people in the UK’s solo self-employed sector – 3% higher than the previous year. Overall, the solo self-employed contributed £331bn […]

Commercial property market outlook   Despite anticipation of the Autumn Budget, Savills reported that the commercial property market remained stable in October, with some areas of growth.   There was no change in pricing across any commercial asset class last month, with the average prime yield remaining at 6%. Eight sectors are now experiencing a downward pressure […]

A recent study1 has identified several distinct pension personality types, each with its own strengths and challenges. Which one resonates with you?  Procrastination Pete and Paula are the most common type, often overwhelmed by the complexities of pensions. This group is likely to make poor decisions, such as hastily withdrawing a 25% tax-free lump sum […]