New research1 suggests young adults and their parents are becoming increasingly comfortable talking about money matters, which should ensure future generations are much better equipped to tackle their financial affairs. Breaking the taboo Historically, intergenerational discussions about finances have too often been viewed as a no-go area, but the research suggests UK families are beginning […]
Author archives: matthew
Income protection crucial for renters
The number of households renting privately in the UK increased by 63% in the decade to 20171, reaching an estimated total of 4.5 million. As the rising cost of living continues to cause difficulties for many, the importance of protection becomes increasingly apparent. Safety net Tenants in the private rental sector generally have lower financial […]
News in Review
“Today we build for the future” Jeremy Hunt delivered his first Budget last Wednesday, billing it as “A Budget for Growth.” The Chancellor kicked off his statement with a commentary of the latest economic projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Firstly, focusing on inflation, the OBR data suggests that inflation will fall from […]
Spring Budget 2023
“A Budget for Growth” Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, delivered his first Spring Budget on 15 March declaring it was “A Budget for Growth.” The fiscal update included a range of new measures, some of which had been widely trailed prior to Budget day, in order to achieve growth “by removing obstacles that stop […]
FCA issues ‘magic’ scam alert
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned pension holders to beware of scammers’ ‘magic tricks’ as research shows the economic squeeze is encouraging more people to withdraw pension savings. ScamSmart Britain’s financial watchdog recently launched its latest ScamSmart campaign aiming to give consumers the knowledge and tools to avoid scams. Over 700,000 pension plans were […]
It pays to think about estate planning
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is once again in the spotlight following the Chancellor’s decision to freeze IHT thresholds for a further two years until April 2028. Extending the frozen thresholds, together with rising house prices and soaring inflation mean that more estates are likely to be affected. IHT receipts on an upwards trend The latest IHT […]
News in Review
“Confidence is returning” UK gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.3% in January, according to the latest official figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday. Higher school attendance and the return of Premier League football helped growth return after a 0.5% contraction in December, though quarterly figures show that the economy […]
Economic Review – February 2023
Interest rate peak may be approaching Last month the Bank of England (BoE) announced another hike in its benchmark interest rate but hinted that rates may now be nearing a peak, as the tide in its battle with inflation begins to turn. Following its latest meeting held at the beginning of February, the BoE’s nine-member […]
Residential Property Review – February 2023
Housing market continues slowdown According to the latest UK Residential Survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) new buyer demand, sales, fresh listings and prices are all on a downward trend. January saw the ninth successive negative monthly reading for new buyer enquiries, with contributors to the survey in all parts of the […]
Commercial Property Market Review – February 2023
Commercial market downbeat but withstanding Conditions in the commercial property market continued to decline in Q4 2022, according to the latest UK Commercial Property Market survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). At the national level, 83% of respondents consider the market to be in downturn, a slight increase from 81% in the […]
