Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced measures in his first Mansion House speech aimed at unlocking billions of pounds of extra pension cash to support the economy. According to the government, the Mansion House Reforms aim to secure the best possible outcome for pension savers, whilst strengthening the UK’s position as a leading financial centre. This is […]
Author archives: matthew
Crackdown on ‘finfluencers’
Influencers who generate content on financial topics are rapidly rising in popularity on social media, having been dubbed ‘finfluencers.’ The good news is that finance is becoming more accessible and appealing to younger generations through bite-sized, more light-hearted formats. Coupled with a lack of financial education in their school years, Gen Z and millennials are […]
Your protection safety net
When faced with the unpredictability that life brings, it is comforting to have the support of protection cover. Increased household bills, mortgage and rent costs, mean that protection is more important than ever right now but, in response to these challenging conditions, some households are considering reducing their level of protection – leaving themselves vulnerable […]
Residential Property Review – October 2023
Conditions remain challenging The residential sales market continues to be challenging, according to the latest UK Residential Survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), with demand, sales, instructions, and prices remaining in negative territory. At a national level, new buyer enquiries recorded a net balance of -39% in September, which although weak, is […]
Commercial Property Review – October 2023
Industrial and warehouse space in demand New analysis has highlighted that the most in-demand UK commercial property sector currently is industrial/warehouse space, as companies look to facilitate and improve their ability to deliver online purchases to customers as efficiently as possible. According to data from Sirius Property Finance, buyer demand for hospitality and leisure assets […]
Dividend Allowance cuts: implications for investors
With the UK in the midst of a sharp tax-raising drive, understanding the full impact of fiscal changes on investments has arguably never been so critical. One area that has been subject to particularly draconian reductions is Dividend Allowance, with changes in this area likely to have a significant impact on many investors. Six-year slide […]
Don’t panic about mortgages
After successive Bank Rate rises, the cost of a mortgage hit a 15-year high in July and will likely stay high for much of the next year. In unpredictable and unsettling times, here are some ways for mortgage holders to keep a cool head. Help is available If you’re worried about your mortgage payments, in […]
Mortgage Charter provides relief
A helping hand for mortgage holders was announced at the start of August by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt with a view to providing support to residential mortgage customers suffering from rising interest rates. Three-part plan The Mortgage Charter has three key elements: More flexible Further flexibility relates to customers approaching the end of a fixed-rate deal. […]
Achieving your long-term financial goals
After more than a decade of putting up with paltry savings rates, the sharp increase in rates over the past two years has certainly brought considerable cheer to savers. However, while the rise is certainly welcome, it is important savers do not overly rely on cash savings but carry on investing with a view to […]
Lifetime Allowance removal provides pension boost
Several months have passed since the Spring Budget, which, although not necessarily packed with good news stories, held one announcement that certainly did bring considerable cheer to higher rate taxpayers. A recent survey has revealed the dramatic impact that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s decision to scrap the pension Lifetime Allowance (LTA) is having on people’s retirement […]