News - Auto Enrolment

The Bank of England held rates at 4%, signalling cautious future cuts as inflation remains at 3.8% US-UK ‘Tech Prosperity Deal’ secures £150bn in pledged investment, focused on AI, quantum computing and clean energy UK consumer confidence declined in September, with households increasingly pessimistic about the economic outlook and personal finances “’We’re not out of […]

Residential Property Review – September 2025

Any Autumn Budget changes to Stamp Duty and CGT could heavily influence housing activity in late 2025 Mortgage rates dipped below 5% but gilt yields raise concern of further increases 15% of property sales fell through in 2025, with converted homes most affected Housing market outlook According to Savills, housing market performance for the rest […]

Commercial Property Market Review – September 2025

City investment volumes reached £2bn by July, 33% below average, but deal sizes are notably larger The outlook for H2 2025 is brighter due to improved credit and stabilising investor confidence in offices and industrials London construction faces pipeline contractions, though government-backed infrastructure projects show some momentum City investment market update The latest statistics from […]

News in Review

GDP grew by 0.2% in the three months to July, a slowdown from 0.3% recorded in Q2 US inflation was higher than expected in August with CPI rising 0.4%, the sharpest increase since January ONS revealed the latest wages data showing that total pay, including bonuses, for the three months to July was 4.7% “’In […]

Who will inherit your pension?

1 in 6 people don’t know who their pension would go to if they passed away Cohabiting partners are especially at risk of missing out if not formally nominated Some still have ex-partners listed – regular reviews are essential One in six people with a partner admitted in a recent study1 that they ‘do not […]

Mortgage overpayments: small sums add up

A third of homeowners are currently making overpayments on their mortgage 40% of homeowners don’t have the confidence to overpay their mortgage Most lenders allow you to make overpayments of up to 10% of your mortgage balance each year without incurring any penalties UK homeowners could collectively save £2.3bn on mortgage interest each year by […]

‘Squeezed middle’ falling into ‘protection gap’

Only 30% of those aged 30 to 34 and 34% of those aged 35 to 39 have enough life cover to protect their family Households often insure mortgages but neglect cover for children and dependents The ‘squeezed middle’ must prioritise protection to avoid future shortfalls People in their 30s and 40s are falling into the […]

News in Review

The Autumn Budget is on 26 November, with speculation over new taxes as borrowing costs hit 25-year highs The UK services sector grew strongly in August, reaching its highest activity level since April 2024, easing earlier concerns Retail sales rose 0.6% in July, but mortgage borrowing dipped, signalling subdued growth risks for the economy “Britain’s […]

Financial empowerment for retirement control

Nearly 4 in 10 people in the UK are not on track for even a basic retirement lifestyle Understanding retirement income targets is key to building financial resilience Personal pensions offer flexibility, tax relief and control – ideal for employed and self-employed people. Building financial empowerment is all about the confidence that comes from knowing […]

Joint, dual, individual: understanding your life insurance options

40% of life insurance policies in the UK are joint rather than individual Joint life insurance policies can prove problematic when a relationship breaks down Dual life cover offers separate, flexible protection for both partners You’ve opened a joint bank account. You’ve signed up for a joint mortgage. So, a joint life insurance policy might […]