Travel experts Lonely Planet have released their “Best in Travel” list for 2023. Split across five categories – eat, journey, unwind, connect, and learn – the organisation named 30 countries, cities, and experiences to add to your bucket list.  From nearby cities (two UK destinations made it onto the [...]

Experts are predicting that the UK will face a recession in 2023. While it can be tempting to react to this news by changing your investment strategy, sticking to your long-term plan makes sense for most investors. Read on to find out why. Several factors are contributing to economic [...]

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) gives someone you trust the ability to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot.  This can ensure there’s someone taking care of your affairs and advocating on your behalf if you’re ill or lose mental capacity. Naming an LPA is an important [...]

The rules around filling in a gap in your National Insurance (NI) record are changing. From 5 April 2023, you will only be able to make voluntary contributions for the past six years. If you have gaps in your record, filling them in now could boost your retirement income.  [...]

Recently, you may have read headlines about how pension funds were close to collapsing. Naturally, you may be worried about your retirement savings and what protection is in place. Read on to find out.  In September, former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng delivered a mini-Budget that included aggressive tax cuts. It [...]

It has been a tumultuous year in British politics, with three prime ministers and four chancellors holding office.  After the calamitous “mini-Budget” ushered in the demise of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng, new chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his first autumn statement.  Hunt’s speech came at a tricky time [...]

From stalls filled with seasonal treats to entertainment like carol singers, they can really put you in the mood for the holidays. Whether you want to visit an event locally or combine it with a weekend away in Europe, there are hundreds of Christmas markets to choose from. 

Humans are hard-wired to make poor financial decisions. It’s just in our DNA. Financial wellbeing is a broad topic, covering all aspects of the relationship between money and our long-term happiness. It covers a wide variety of subjects, including how to manage money better, and how to use money [...]

It would be fair to say that the recent “mini-Budget” ended up being anything but. A series of tax cuts, the reversal of both the National Insurance increase and a planned Corporation Tax rise, and an eye-wateringly large intervention in energy markets prompted unprecedented market movements and even a rebuke [...]

With a new prime minister having taken office earlier this month, the government has begun to announce its plans for stimulating the UK economy during the cost of living crisis. Kwasi Kwarteng delivered what has been called a “mini-Budget” in an aim to drive economic growth, against the backdrop of [...]

High levels of inflation and concerns economies will experience recessions later this year continue to affect investment markets. While the stock market is experiencing volatility, remember to focus on your long-term goals. Guarantees cannot be made, but, historically, markets have bounced back from downturns and delivered returns when you look [...]

If you think that insurers don’t pay out when people make claims, you’re far from alone.  According to Scottish Widows, just 7% of people think that life cover claims pay out between 91% and 100% of the time.  For critical illness claims, this figure falls dramatically to just 2%. Together, [...]