For many UK business owners, retirement planning takes a back seat to growing the business itself. Indeed, according to Financial Planning Today (27 April 2026), 3 in 10 business owners have no pension at all. When you’re focused on managing cash flow, staff, and profits, it’s easy to assume the eventual sale of your business…
There were highs and dips in the investment markets in May 2026. Discover some of the factors that may have affected your portfolio’s performance. Remember, short-term market movements are a normal part of investing. When you’re reviewing returns, it’s typically a good idea to look at the bigger picture and assess performance over several years.…
Could this affect you? The Government has announced that, from 6 April 2027, most unused defined contribution pensions (e.g. personal pensions) will be included when calculating the value of an individual’s estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes. For many people, pensions have traditionally been an effective way of passing wealth to future generations. If the…
A survey has identified an “ambition gap” in the UK, with millions of adults admitting they have no financial aspirations for the coming year. Not only can a clear goal mean you’re more likely to achieve your aspirations, but it can also have a positive effect on your wellbeing. The article in IFA Magazine (13…
Financial shocks can have a devastating effect on your short- and long-term finances. While you can’t remove the unexpected from your life, it is possible to be prepared, and a cashflow model could help you identify how. A cashflow model could help you visualise changes to your wealth A cashflow model is a powerful tool…
More than half of UK pension savers are also building up retirement savings outside their pension, according to a MoneyAge article (22 December 2025). As pensions provide some useful benefits when saving for retirement, these savers could be missing out. The survey found that people saving for retirement outside a pension were using a mix…
This guest blog was written by Chris Budd, who wrote the original Financial Wellbeing Book as well as The Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellbeing. He founded the Institute for Financial Wellbeing and has written more than 100 episodes of the Financial Wellbeing Podcast. According to research published by Gallup1 in 2010, there are five areas…
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 outside your estate for IHT…
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 The FTSE 100, an index…
In the November 2025 Budget, the chancellor revealed new Cash ISA rules that will affect under-65s. The change could affect your savings and wider financial plan. ISAs provide a tax-efficient way to save and invest, making them an essential part of many financial plans. In 2025/26, you can add up to £20,000 to ISAs and…
