Trade wars and fears that tariffs could spark recessions meant investment market volatility continued in March 2025. Read on to find out more about some of the factors that may have affected the value of your investments recently. 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development slashed the growth forecast among advanced economies this year due to concerns about trade wars. The organisation now expects the global economy to grow by 3.1% in 2025 – down from the previous forecast of 3.3%.

As investors sought to move money into “...

Geopolitical tensions have led to a bumpy start to 2025 for investors. If you’re worried about volatility and what it might mean for your long-term finances, there are reasons to remain calm despite the uncertainty. 

The ongoing war in Ukraine has resulted in some anxiety in Europe, with the UK and other countries committing to increasing defence spending. In addition, the new Trump administration in the US has imposed several trade tariffs on partners and suggested more will follow.

As a result, many companies and sectors have seen shar...

Data released by Scotland’s largest health board has highlighted the potential challenges families could face if a loved one doesn’t have a Power of Attorney in place. 

According to a BBC report, in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, a third of patients who are delayed getting out of hospital are stuck because they don’t have a Power of Attorney, the Scottish equivalent of the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) available to residents of England and Wales. This means there isn’t someone to make decisions on behalf of a patient if they no longer h...

An incoming change to the way pensions will be taxed when they’re inherited might mean you’re rethinking how you use your pension. Before you dive into updating your retirement plan, it’s important to understand what the changes could mean for you and how to balance passing on wealth with your retirement aspirations. 

During the Autumn Budget in October 2024, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that from April 2027 unspent pensions are likely to be included in Inheritance Tax (IHT) calculations. The government predicts the move will affect...

Worrying about your finances in retirement could dampen your excitement as you start the next chapter of your life. As you’ll often be responsible for generating your own income once you give up work, it’s not surprising that a February 2025 report from Which? revealed half of over-55s are worried about running out of money.  

Indeed, just 27% of those who have retired or are nearing the milestone said they weren’t concerned about draining their pension or other assets in retirement. 

Some apprehension about your finances as you retire i...

If it’s been some time since you reviewed your pension, going through these practical tasks could help you get more out of your retirement savings in 2025. 

As retirement could be years away, it’s easy for your pension to slip off your list of priorities. In fact, a survey from The People’s Pension suggests that almost a fifth of savers have never reviewed how much is in their pension. What’s more, a third of people don’t know how much they’ve saved for their retirement. 

It could mean some savers are missing out on opportunities to boos...

Interest rates are expected to fall in 2025. If you’re a homeowner, it could present an opportunity to reduce your mortgage repayments and boost your finances overall.

The Bank of England (BoE) increased the base interest rate when inflation was high as a way to slow down the rising cost of goods and services. Between December 2021 and August 2023, the central bank’s interest rate increased from 0.1% to 5.25%.

For savers, this news is likely to have been welcomed, as the interest rate they received on their savings typically increased. H...

Political instability in Europe and further afield affected investment markets in December. Read on to find out what other factors may have influenced your investment returns at the end of 2024.

Remember to focus on your long-term goals when assessing the performance of your investments. The value of your assets rising and falling is part of investing. What’s important is that the risk profile is appropriate for you and that your decisions align with your circumstances and aspirations. 

UK

Hopes that the Bank of England (BoE) would cut ...

Using allowances and exemptions could reduce your overall tax bill and help you get more out of your money. On 5 April 2025, the current tax year will end, and many tax-efficient allowances and exemptions will reset. So, here are five that you may want to consider using before the 2025/26 tax year starts. 

1. ISA allowance

ISAs provide a popular way to tax-efficiently save and invest. Indeed, the latest government figures show in 2022/23, 12.4 million ISAs were subscribed to with around £71.6 billion being collectively added to accounts....