Personal finance news, guides & articles.
Thoughtful personal finance articles that explore topical issues and answer the questions people want properly explained, helping readers build understanding and make more confident decisions.
Spring Budget 2023: What are the Tax and Pension Changes?
Learn about the changes to pensions and taxation coming into effect on 6th April 2023, following the 2023 Spring Budget. Stay up-to-date with our quick summary.
How much should I have in my pension savings pots at 40?
Turning 40 is a great time to review your finances, especially pensions. How much should you have in your pension savings pots at 40 and what is your target?
Financial Advice vs Investment Management: Are they the same?
Financial advice and investment management are both part of investing. Understanding the distinction between the two can help you meet your financial goals.
How do Pensions on Divorce Experts simplify pension sharing?
This article explains the need for a Pensions on Divorce Expert (PODE) when getting divorced and outlines how a Pension Sharing Order (PSO) is calculated.
What is a pension sharing order (PSO) in the UK?
Pension Sharing Orders divide the assets in pension pots between a divorcing couple, making it an essential part of UK divorce proceedings.
What is inflation and how does it affect my money?
Inflation is the steady increase in the prices of the things we buy and the subsequent decrease in the purchasing power of currency over time - how does this affect your money?
How do I protect myself from online scams and fraud?
Protect your data and yourself from online scams and fraud by learning how to keep your personal information secure. Follow these steps to stay safe online.
7 reasons why moving house is terribly stressful.
Although moving house can be incredibly exciting, it’s not always plain sailing. Our Mortgage Advisors break down the top 7 reasons why house moving is terribly stressful and what you can do to stay on top of things.
House prices vs income. How affordable are UK homes?
Are houses getting more or less affordable in the UK compared to salaries and how much would a house cost now if prices increased at the same rate as salaries?
What is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)?
It is early days for CBDCs and given the impact they could have, it’s important to be aware of what CBDCs are, how they work and what a CBDC could mean for you.
How do I prepare financially for the New Year?
At this time of year, we must review what we have done well with our money, the mistakes we have made and how we will prepare financially for the New Year.
How Is UK Personal Tax Calculated? Income, Capital Gains etc.
The UK has a tax system that taxes people at different rates, depending on what they earn. There are further charges for VAT, National Insurance and Duties.
What is the Pensions Lifetime Allowance? What are the rules?
The Pension Lifetime Allowance is the amount you can save into your pension pot and retain all tax benefits. Exceed this amount and you may pay additional tax.
Government debt, budgets and the deficit - what are they?
The news is always mentioning Government spending and how responsible the party in power is. Have you ever taken a moment to truly understand what it all means?
What is GDP and what is a recession?
GDP is the value of the goods and services produced by a country and a recession is when a nation has a reduction in GDP for two or more successive quarters.
Why is the value of the pound so important?
A strong pound may reduce exports but also reduce the cost of imports. A weak pound may attract investment and increase exports but may increase inflation.
What is National Insurance and what are the NI classes?
The payment of a National Insurance contribution over 35 years will build entitlement to a state pension and other benefits. Find out about National Insurance.
When can I retire and what is the Great Retirement?
If you have been keeping an eye on the media recently, you will no doubt have heard about ‘the Great Retirement’. What does this phrase mean and when can you retire?
How will an interest rate rise affect my mortgage payment?
With the Bank of England and the UK Government taking steps to combat rising inflation, how will an interest rate rise affect your mortgage payment?
What are bonds and gilts and how do they work?
What are bonds and gilts and how do they work? Are bonds and gilts a good investment? We answer all your questions about investing in bonds and gilts.