Just a few months after delivering his first Budget as Chancellor, Rishi Sunak delivered a Summer Statement, dubbed a ‘mini-Budget’ on Wednesday 8^th July 2020.

Back in March, some of the measures announced in the Budget focused on supporting people and businesses as the Covid-19 pandemic was taking hold. Five months later, the focus has now shifted to recovery as lockdown and social distancing restrictions ease.

Rishi began by saying the government had taken decisive action to protect the economy earlier this year but acknowledged people...

When investing, we all know that capital is at risk. We’ve often talked about understanding your risk profile and the level of risk you should take when investing. But what affects how risky an investment is?

Understanding the risk of an investment can help you gauge if it’s the right investment for you and how it’ll change the balance of your portfolio. Numerous factors affect how risky an investment is, fund managers will use multiple ways to analyse each investment. However, one of the simplest places to start is by looking at the asse...

Building a nest egg for a child can help set them on the path to a financially secure future and highlight why saving is important. One of the most popular ways to save for a child or grandchild is using a Junior Individual Savings Account (JISA). During 2017/18, money was added to over 900,000 JISAs.

Money held in a JISA isn’t accessible until the child turns 18, making it an excellent way to save for the milestones they’ll reach in early adulthood. You may choose to save with the hope that it will be used to fund further education, lear...

When you think about your lifestyle goals and financial plan, how far ahead do you look? It wasn’t so long ago that planning to reach 80 meant you could be sure of financial security throughout your life. But now, it’s becoming increasingly common to celebrate your 100^th birthday, bringing new challenges to planning.

Just a century ago, 1% of babies born were expected to live to 100. As healthcare and a range of other factors improved, life expectancy has increased too. If you’re a female aged 60, there’s a 12.3% chance of turning 100, fo...

With interest rates at an all-time low and the economy facing uncertainty, you may have read headlines about whether negative interest rates are the next step. But what would that mean in practice and is it an option that would really be considered in the UK?

Ever since the 2008 financial crisis, interest rates have been low. Earlier this year, there were suggestions that the Bank of England would gradually start to increase its Base rate as the economy continued to recover. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed that. In March, the c...

When you retire, there are a lot of financial decisions that need to be made as you start accessing the savings and investments you’ve built up. It’s natural to have lots of questions about your financial security at this point, such as:

• How much income will I receive from my pension?
• How long will my savings last for?
• How should I access my pension?

But one important question is often overlooked: How much tax will I pay? 

How and when you access your pension, savings and investments can have an impact on your tax liability. Plann...

The Individual Savings Account (ISA) was introduced over 20 years ago and since then it’s become an essential part of many financial plans. Since the first ISA, this savings vehicle has evolved and there are four different types of ISA accounts available to open. Which one is right for you will depend on your goals.

What is an ISA?

An ISA is essentially a tax wrapper that allows you to save and invest tax-efficiently. Each tax year, you can place up to £20,000 into ISAs. This annual allowance may be used on a single ISA or spread across...

Over the last few months, speculation that the Bank of England would increase its base interest rate has been mounting. However, the impact of Covid-19 has changed that, leading to the central bank making two cuts to the interest rate in quick succession.

Coinciding with the 2020 Budget, the base rate was cut from 0.75%, where it’s been since August 2018, to 0.25% on Wednesday 11^th March. Just a week later, the rate was cut again on Thursday 19^th March to just 0.1%. The latest cut represents a historic low, and it could have an impact on ...

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate world headlines, here’s what it might mean for your pension and retirement plans.

The pandemic has created uncertainty in economies around the globe. As a result, stock markets have experienced shocks and over the last few weeks have seen significant falls. Fears of a recession following the pandemic have sparked even more concern. It’s natural to be worried about what the impact on financial markets means for your future. Understanding what the change means, and where adjustments may need...