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If the former Leeds Permanent Building Society had ‘done what it says on the tin’ like that wood-stain in the old TV ad, the mortgage lender would surely still have branches on Britain’s high streets. Savers might even be able to invest in its Liquid Gold account, the ‘nice little earner’ promoted in another old […]

The week everything changed We saw a different face on the Downing Street podium on Friday afternoon, as Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove took centre stage, while the Prime Minister self-isolated after testing positive for COVID-19. Gove announced plans to begin a large-scale testing programme of health workers and the construction of two […]

  Baptism of fire (for Sunak and Bailey) When Andrew Bailey accepted the job of Governor of the Bank of England last year, he probably didn’t expect the first week or so in his new job would play out as it did. He certainly had no option but to hit the ground running. Following the […]

EMPTY NESTERS SITTING ON NEARLY £60,000 OF WASTED SPACE On average, over-50s in Britain have £56,574 worth of unused space standing empty in their properties (usually bedrooms belonging to children who have since flown the nest)3. Many are reluctant to downsize due to the nostalgia and memories linked to their family homes. LOWEST RISE IN […]

Acronyms Take Over Many Investment Concepts From ASOS to Zoopla, acronyms, abbreviations and made-up names are everywhere in the digital age. It may seem like a phenomenon largely confined to online marketing and, though there has been an eruption of new monikers in that arena, the process of shortening or updating ordinary corporate names, regulators’ […]

The latest population statistics released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the number of people in their nineties continues to grow. And this trend is raising serious concerns over whether traditional views of retirement are still fit for purpose. Population trends Figures from ONS show that the total number of people aged […]

As well as the Bank of Mum and Dad, the ‘Bank of Granny and Grandad’ now plays a major role in helping both prospective and existing homeowners. Recent figures show that nearly a third of buyers aged 18-34 were helped financially by their grandparents to buy their home and 12% of existing homeowners have received […]

HMRC data has revealed a significant increase in the total value of pension contributions exceeding the annual allowance, with more and more people falling foul of the complex rules and regulations. The latest personal pension statistics, which cover 2017/18, show a staggering 26,550 people reported contributions exceeding the £40,000 annual allowance in their self-assessment tax […]

Picture this: a spark from an open fire has caused a blaze in a house on a city street and the flames have spread to next door. The residents have all escaped safely and the fire brigade has been called. Fire appliances are soon on the scene and hosing water onto one of the blazing […]