News

Demand for new builds is on the up due to more people seeking energy efficient homes, but research1 has revealed other factors people wish they had considered before purchasing a new build. Top of the list (36%) is researching the property manager as well as the developer, closely followed (35%) by checking out the parking […]

Research1 suggests that nearly one in five people are, or will be, financially worse off due to their divorce, and that many divorcees struggle to make ends meet after separating from their partner. The statistics make for worrying reading. A third of divorced respondents said they were forced to take money from their savings to […]

Currently a Junior Individual Savings Account (JISA) can be held by a child until the day they turn 18, the annual allowance for which is currently £9,000. On their 18th birthday, the child can open an adult stocks and shares ISA, the annual subscription which is currently £20,000. All pretty straightforward. Now, for the interesting […]

Getting a foot on the property ladder is an aspiration that dates back generations. Unfortunately, some mortgage myths are just as old. If you’re looking to buy in 2022, it’s important to know fact from fiction. 1. MYTH: You need a perfect credit rating A bad credit history can have a negative impact on your […]

With so many financial priorities to juggle, it can be hard to put your pension first, especially with spiralling household costs. Starting or maintaining your pension contributions is important. Whatever type of pension plan you have, you get tax relief at the highest rate of Income Tax you pay on all contributions you make, subject […]

Latest data from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed IHT receipts for April 2021 to March 2022 were £6.1bn, 14% (£0.7bn) higher than in the same period 12 months earlier. Factors at play Receipts have increased partly due to higher death rates during the pandemic, as well as due to the rise in property prices […]

With households facing the biggest squeeze on their incomes in many years, it’s understandable that families are looking for ways to cut costs. When looking to cut back, reviewing subscriptions and direct debits (for example, for streaming services, food subscription boxes or gym memberships) is often a good place to start, but there is one […]

The Trust Registration Service (TRS) opened in 2017 with the aim of digitalising the trust registration process. Following the UK’s adoption of the EU’s Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5MLD) in 2020, changes to the TRS were required in order for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to fulfil its obligations under the new regulations. The new […]

The Class of 2022 retirement report1 provides a riveting insight into the plans and thoughts of those either planning to retire this year or recent retirees, really highlighting the changing face of retirement in the UK. The last couple of years have impacted people’s plans, with people reassessing what retirement looks like to them. Less […]

The great bungalow shortage Demand for bungalows has increased over 60% in 20221, while supply has flattened, meaning prices for single storey properties has risen at double the market rate in some areas. Popular because of their large gardens and potential to extend, families are now keen to make offers, debunking the myth that only […]