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Insights

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The hardest part of financial planning? Spending your money

You have saved diligently, invested wisely and watched your pension grow. The spreadsheets balance. The ISAs are full. On paper, you have done everything right. And yet, when the time finally arrives to actually spend that money, something stops you. […]
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Student debt: What to plan for in 2026

Fear of debt can be a heavy load, and over two-thirds of UK students are worried about leaving university with thousands they need to repay. If you are among them (or maybe you have a child who is concerned about […]
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How to get a great start to the 2026/27 tax year

On 6 April, a new tax year will start. This date marks the expiration of many allowances and the arrival of new ones. For those who act early in 2026/27, it could make a significant difference to your long-term financial […]
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Pensions & "Tax Traps" - Watch Out!

Pensions are a superpower in financial planning. Just think about what they offer: upfront tax relief on contributions, tax-free growth inside the wrapper and (until recently) a favourable inheritance tax treatment. It’s little wonder pensions are a pillar in most […]
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Market Update - February 2026

The Bank of England held interest rates at 3.75% in February, pausing its cutting cycle as it assessed a more balanced inflation picture. CPI fell to 3.0% in January, the lowest since March 2025, raising expectations of a rate cut […]
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Falling interest rates: what they mean for you

Remember the days of near-zero interest rates in 2020? Those days are arguably long gone, with rates peaking at 5.25% in 2023. However, interest rates have been on a downward trajectory since Aug 2024, falling from a 16-year high of […]
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Will you fall into the "60% tax trap"? How to avoid it

Every year, thousands of people get stung by a hidden quirk in the UK tax system. Between £100,000 and £125,140, your effective tax rate isn't the 40% you might expect. It's actually 60%. This "60% tax trap" arises because your […]
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Agricultural relief: Are you confident your farm would qualify?

What has kept the UK’s family farms alive over the generations? Undoubtedly, the hard work of its labourers and owners. But also, rules like Agricultural Property Relief (APR) - which have long been a cornerstone of succession planning for farming […]
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The danger of a property-heavy portfolio (and how to balance it)

"An Englishman's home is his castle" is a saying that dates back at least 400 years. As a people, we place a deep cultural value on property. It is our private sanctuary - something we own and control. No one […]
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Market Update - January 2026

The Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged at 3.75% in February, pausing after several cuts in 2025 as inflation remains above target. Price pressures rose to 3.4% in December, but the BoE expects inflation to ease towards 2% by […]
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Tax Year-End Planning Guide – 2025/2026

With the end of the tax year approaching, it’s a good time to organise your finances and make sure you make the most of your tax allowances, reliefs and exemptions. Some of these allowances will be lost if you don’t […]
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5 ways to limit tax on your pension

Your pension is likely to be a cornerstone of your retirement plan. Yet, withdrawals can trigger significant income tax bills if you’re not careful. Income tax bands have now been frozen until 2031, and more pensioners are entering higher tax […]
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