News

With financial concerns at the fore for many people, unfortunately it’s no surprise over half of adults have experienced anxiety as a direct result of rising bills, with a quarter suffering with feelings of depression as escalating costs take their toll, according to a new study1.  Nearly half of adults are staying at home more […]

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement on 17 November, with a host of announcements on personal taxation and public spending. Housing was largely absent from the key fiscal event, though a significant statement was made on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).  In September, then-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng had increased the nil-rate threshold […]

Nowadays there are more choices open to you than ever before. This means there are more things you need to consider and have a plan for, like how to manage your finances to provide the income you’ll need to live on, how you’ll transition into full retirement and what lifestyle you want to enjoy in […]

Green mortgages – a mystery  A recent survey1 has revealed that four out of five (83%) people have no understanding of green mortgages. Each lender’s criteria will differ, but typically they may offer a discounted rate, or cashback, if a property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or B. The government has […]

Child Trust Fund – on your radar?  His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has reminded teenagers and people in their twenties to claim their matured Child Trust Fund (CTF) savings. CTFs are long-term savings accounts set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The government provided an initial deposit […]

Women hold their nerve  Recent research1 reveals women are more likely to hold their nerve and avoid crystallising a loss when the market dips. Almost half of men (48%) have sold investments at a loss when they’ve dropped in value, in an attempt to stem their losses, while just 38% of women have done the […]

Following his controversial ‘stealth tax’ Statement in November, the Chancellor made a raft of key personal taxation and pension announcements.  The government pledged its commitment to the pensions Triple Lock, which will increase the State Pension in line with September’s Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of 10.1%. This means that the value of the basic […]

Even in times of economic uncertainty, the fundamentals of house buying remain mostly the same. For those looking to make a purchase in 2023, it’s never too early to start planning.  Why buy now?  House prices have stayed high over the past year thanks to sustained buyer demand and restricted supply. Trying to predict future […]