Identity theft is a significant problem in the UK. Indeed, Infosecurity Magazine reports that 4.3% of the population – that’s 1.9 million Brits – had their identity stolen and used by fraudsters to open a financial account in 2023. 

Your private information is incredibly powerful. You can use it to take out loans and credit cards or enter into phone contracts, although, chillingly, if someone else gets hold of your information, they could do all of these things in your name.

Falling victim to identity theft can be a distressing experi...

The tapering of the Personal Allowance means some higher-rate taxpayers effectively pay an Income Tax rate of 60%, sometimes without realising. Fortunately, if you’re affected, there could be ways to reduce your tax bill. 

A report in the Telegraph suggests 1.35 million workers were affected by the 60% tax trap in 2023/24. Collectively, they paid an extra £4.7 billion to the Treasury. Read on to find out if you could unwittingly be paying a higher rate of Income Tax than you expect. 

The tax trap affects those earning more than £100,0...

While inflation continues to be a challenge for many economies, there are positive signs in the UK and around the world. Read on to find out what may have affected stock markets and your investment portfolio in March 2024. 

Remember, volatility is part of investing and most people should invest with a long-term outlook. If you have any questions about your investment strategy or performance, please contact us. 

UK

In March, chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered the 2024 Budget and set out the government’s spending and changes to taxation. On...

The gains you can make before potentially paying Capital Gains Tax (CGT) have halved for the 2024/25 tax year. If you plan to dispose of assets, the change could affect you. Read on to find out when you could be liable for CGT and some steps you might take to manage a bill. 

CGT is a tax on the profit you make when you sell certain assets that have increased in value. CGT could be due when disposing of a range of assets, including:

• Shares that aren’t held in a tax-efficient wrapper
• Property that isn’t your main home
• Personal possessi...

Since they were introduced in 1999, ISAs have become a finance staple for many households thanks to providing a tax-efficient way to save and invest. As ISAs turn 25, chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled plans to launch a new UK ISA and has previously announced changes that could provide you with more flexibility.

Read on to find out what you need to know about ISAs.

The UK ISA could increase your allowance by £5,000

The government will carry out a consultation about the introduction of the UK ISA until June 2024. So, there are currently onl...

Pensioners have benefited from an 8.5% increase in the State Pension. While the boost is likely to be welcomed by many, the full new State Pension is nearing the Personal Allowance threshold. As a result, some retirees might need to consider their Income Tax liability for the first time or could be pushed into a higher tax bracket. 

The full new State Pension is £221.20 a week in 2024/25

Under the triple lock, the State Pension increases each tax year by the highest of the following three measures:

• Average wage growth
• Inflation
• 2.5%...

If you’re concerned about running out of money during retirement, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s one of the top financial concerns in the UK. Being proactive and working with a financial planner to create a retirement plan could offer you peace of mind. Read on to find out why.

In an Aegon survey, 7 in 10 financial advisers said their clients’ number one concern was outliving their savings. The good news is that by seeking the support of a finance professional, you can understand what income is sustainable for you and the lifestyle it m...

Effective retirement planning often involves weaving together lots of different threads. As you think about your retirement, you might be unsure how to bring everything together, but a bespoke financial plan could put your mind at ease. 

Over the last few months, you’ve read about the importance of deciding how you’ll retire, why you should set out your goals, and your options for accessing your pension. Now, read on to discover the challenges of bringing together these different strands of retirement planning and why a tailored financial...

The 2024/25 tax year is just a month away, and chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his 2024 Spring Budget, outlining the government’s plans for the next fiscal year and beyond.

With a general election looming – prime minister Rishi Sunak has said he will call it before the end of the year – the chancellor claimed that the government had met the prime minister’s three economic priorities laid out at the start of 2023, having:

• Halved inflation, down from highs of 11% last year to 4% in January 2024
• Kept debt falling in line with fiscal...