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Last month I wrote about the importance of leaving your affairs in order following the recent death of someone close to me. This was a difficult experience, but one that reinforced just how important planning ahead can be. While many people think of estate planning as simply having a Will and Powers of Attorney in

Death is something many of us prefer not to think about, but planning ahead is one of the most thoughtful things we can do for our loved ones. Following the recent loss of someone close to me, I saw first-hand the difference that having the right documents in place can make. It can provide peace

Like many people, I’ve spent the last few weeks glued to the football. Watching the highs, lows, tactical changes and last-minute drama has made me realise that planning for retirement has more in common with a game of football than you might think. Preparation is everything if you want to win a football match, and

Some UK households have accumulated large cash balances in recent years. Following the COVID19 pandemic, excess savings were estimated at between £143 billion and £338 billion, as spending opportunities were limited and uncertainty encouraged precautionary saving.1 Unlike in some countries — particularly the United States — British households have been slower to spend or invest

When I look at my children’s lives compared to mine, it really makes me realise how much things have changed. Back when my generation started our careers, buying a property was a natural milestone, but today the story is very different. In the UK, half of 25-year-olds still live with their parents1. The average age

The more recent market weakness, spanning late 2025 into early 2026, has felt quite different to the market downturn in early 2025. Instead of a single, identifiable trigger, which was instigated by Trump’s tariff episode, markets this time have been responding to a much broader mix of factors, including geopolitical tensions, higher oil prices, ongoing

As the end of the tax year approaches, many people look to use their pension or ISA allowances with a lump sum investment. However, with the markets currently experiencing so much volatility, these decisions can feel more stressful than usual.It’s natural to worry about putting money in today only for markets to fall tomorrow. The

Following recent budget announcements, there has been increased interest regarding inheritance tax and strategies for its mitigation. Trusts represent a key method in inheritance tax planning, and I thought I would take this opportunity to write an article on this subject. So what exactly is a trust? A trust is a legal structure in which

In the past year I have had a few clients who have been contacted by HMRC due to not declaring interest on their savings and seem to have little knowledge that this was something they needed to do, so I thought it would be a good topic to write about. Most banks and building societies