The current situation in the Middle East has led to market volatility. While it might seem new, similar movements have happened before, and looking at how these events have affected investor behaviour could be useful. At the end of February 2026, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which [...]

Estate planning isn’t always as straightforward as leaving everything to a spouse or direct descendant. In fact, many people in the UK are opting to leave some or all of their wealth to their “chosen family”. Research cited by Today’s Wills and Probate (29 January 2026) found that, of those [...]

Planning your finances without clear goals is like setting off in your car without a destination – you might be able to keep moving, but you can’t be sure you’re heading in the right direction. That’s why goal-setting is at the heart of effective financial planning. However, not all goals [...]

In February 2026, ongoing uncertainty around trade tariffs and concerns about the impact of AI adoption on business profits affected the markets. Read on to discover some of the factors that may have affected your investment portfolio. Markets reached record highs but were affected by AI concerns and trade tariffs [...]

For most of our lives, education is often a means to an end. It’s how we gain qualifications, prepare for work, and advance in our careers. But learning new skills and knowledge can also deliver numerous benefits in retirement. It can often be enjoyable and create opportunities to socialise, while [...]

The saying “money can’t buy happiness” is true. Wealth doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be happier, but it could give you the freedom to focus on the things you enjoy and boost your wellbeing as a result. How you use money is just as important as having it when assessing whether [...]

When you’re establishing a business, it can be easy to neglect your personal finances. You might feel that you don’t have the time, or you simply plan to use your business to support long-term goals. Yet being proactive and working with a financial planner could be beneficial. Here are five [...]

Once you’ve set out your investment goal and strategy, what comes next? Often, it’s time to test an important investment skill – your patience. The average investor might benefit from a long-term approach When you think about the most important skills in investing, you might consider the ability to choose [...]

Next year, a significant change to how pensions are treated when calculating Inheritance Tax (IHT) could mean more families become liable for the tax. Here’s what you need to know to understand if your estate could be affected and how you might mitigate a potential bill. Currently, pensions are usually [...]

Just over three months after her lengthy Autumn Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves has addressed the House of Commons and delivered the government’s 2026 Spring Statement. Ahead of the Statement, Reeves reinforced the government’s commitment to “one fiscal event, one Budget, a year”. So, it will come as a relief to [...]

The new tax year will start on 6 April 2026, and many of your important allowances and exemptions will reset. Checking whether you could use these valuable allowances before the end of the 2025/26 tax year on 5 April 2026 might help your money go further. Before you make any [...]

Geopolitical tensions and threats of trade tariffs continued to impact global investment markets at the start of 2026. Read on to find out what factors may have affected your investments at the start of 2026. Markets experienced highs, but geopolitical tensions continue to cause volatility On 2 January, the first [...]