After a year filled with uncertainty and rising trade tensions, markets were calmer in December 2025. Find out what may have affected the performance of your portfolio at the end of the year. Market volatility eased in December 2025 Markets were downbeat at the start of the month. Most European [...]

You might already know that salary sacrifice can be a practical way for your employees to bolster their retirement funds, while reducing their tax liability. However, in the 2025 Autumn Budget, the government announced changes to how salary sacrifice is treated for National Insurance (NI) purposes. From April 2029, a [...]

In the Autumn Budget 2025, the chancellor announced that Inheritance Tax (IHT) thresholds would remain frozen for a further year, until 2031. Upcoming changes will also see unused pensions included in an estate for IHT purposes for the first time from April 2027. These measures could see estates facing a [...]

As 2026 begins, it’s a good time to think about what you want to achieve in the coming months. A tailored financial plan can help you set realistic goals. Creating goals on your own can be challenging, especially if they bring together several different parts of your financial plan or [...]

Language is powerful. The words you use to describe different scenarios can change how you perceive events, and the language used for retirement could lead to a pessimistic outlook. Writing in an article for Saga (21 October 2025), lexicographer Susie Dent explains that in English, “retire” has its roots in [...]

Every investor wants to be successful. Over the next few months, you can read about ways to improve your investment strategy. Defining success against the performance of others can encourage a short-term mindset What “success” means when investing is different for everyone, and defining what it means for you is [...]

There is perhaps no better time than the festive season to sit down and enjoy a favourite board game with your loved ones. But as many families know, a friendly game can quickly get competitive. Sometimes this even leads to heated arguments over who gets to be the banker or [...]

One of the biggest factors affecting investment markets in November 2025 was concern about an AI bubble. Despite this, there were still market highs recorded during the month. Remember to consider your risk profile when you invest and review your portfolio’s performance with a long-term outlook. AI concerns led to [...]

The last 12 months have been interesting for investors, with the market experiencing volatility. Read on to discover valuable insights from 2025. 1. Many markets have performed well despite volatility If you simply read the headlines from 2025, you might think the markets performed poorly. Worries about high inflation, trade [...]

With the year drawing to a close, you might be thinking about what you can look forward to in 2026. If you love to explore new destinations and tick off bucket list experiences, Lonely Planet has put together a list of the best experiences of 2026. Whether you want to [...]

Biases affect how you act, and the personal goals you’re working towards could distort how you perceive risk, rewards, and information. Indeed, the more important the goal is to you, the more likely it is that bias occurs. Being aware of when bias might occur – and what might trigger [...]

When you’re making financial decisions, it can feel like you’re faced with indecipherable numbers. You might know how much you have in your bank account or pension, but what does the figure mean for your future? Cashflow planning can turn the numbers into possibilities. If you feel uncertain about your [...]