Ask our Expert: Your financial planning questions answered
Financial expert Ben Mitson offers expert insight to your most crucial money questions – from tax-efficient ISA withdrawals and gifting strategies, to when you should purchase an annuity.
ESG investing: Not one strategy, not one outcome
ESG investing is often dismissed as either a marketing exercise or a guaranteed drag on returns. In reality, performance outcomes depend far less on whether a portfolio is “ESG” and far more on how ESG is implemented.
Monthly markets review – January 2026
January saw both global equities and bonds finish in positive territory. Precious metals stole the headlines as they rocketed to all-time highs, highlighting lingering geopolitical uncertainty across the globe.
Should I consider Relevant Life Insurance?
Looking for a simple, tax-efficient way to provide life cover for company directors and employees? Relevant Life Insurance (RLI) could be the optimal solution.
Mortgage affordability: Why UK banks are lending bigger
Homeownership just got a lot more doable. Lower rates, looser rules, and quirky new products mean lenders are handing out bigger loans. So what exactly is driving this shifting mortgage landscape?
Time is ticking: How to give your tax plan a year-end boost
A few thoughtful steps now – boosting pensions, maxing out ISAs, or trimming capital gains – could save you thousands in tax and leave more of your money where it belongs: with you, not HMRC.
Monthly markets review – December 2025
December wrapped up 2025 with calmer markets, dovish central bank signals and a strong finish for UK equities – even as underlying economic data painted a mixed picture.
Invest now or wait? Navigating today’s concentrated market
Markets are hitting record highs, but a handful of giant companies are doing most of the heavy lifting. With concentration risk rising and investors wondering whether to wait for a pullback, the real question is: does timing the market ever truly pay?
2025 markets: The year in review
The route through 2025 was not smooth, but the end result has been more resilient than many would have predicted in January.
Autumn Budget breakdown: What it means for your financial planning
While the Budget prioritises economic stability over growth, it also creates opportunities to optimise financial planning. This briefing outlines the macro outlook and what the announcements mean for your financial planning.
