Commercial Property Market Review – May 2025

Q1 2025 West End investments hit £1.71bn, driven by three major transactions despite fewer deals  UK commercial property demand is rebounding, with offices and industrials gaining, while retail lags behind  The Big Six cities, especially Manchester and Leeds, show strong office market recovery and occupier demand West End investment rebounds   London’s West End commercial property […]

Navigating uncertainty together 

Economic and political uncertainty can lead to impulsive financial decisions—long-term planning is key  Media headlines create noise, but financial plans should be tailored to personal goals, not speculation.  A strong financial strategy is built to adapt—seek expert advice to stay on track  Over the past five years, we’ve experienced a global pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, political […]

Surging demand for protection insurance – are you covered?

Income protection demand is expected to grow, with 51% of financial advisers predicting an increase in 2025  44% of advisers anticipate rising demand for life insurance, as more people seek financial security   With economic uncertainty, more individuals are prioritising private health insurance and income protection  The demand for health insurance, income protection and life insurance […]

Closing the investing gap

13 million UK adults are sitting on £430bn in cash, potentially missing out on higher long-term investment returns  Many savers find investing too complex—74% need guidance on choosing the right investments   Holding cash is useful for short-term needs, but long-term investing can offer greater wealth-building potential  A recent report1 estimates 13 million UK adults are […]

IHT receipts continue their ascent

IHT receipts topped £6.3bn in the eight months to December, a £600m increase on the same period the previous year  OBR predicts IHT receipts will continue their ascent, forecasting total receipts of £9.7bn a year by 2028/29  Factors including a rise in asset values and frozen thresholds are contributing to rising receipts  HM Revenue and […]

Positioning portfolios in a protectionist world

US Vice President JD Vance spelled it out in Munich – “there is a new sheriff in town” – and that sheriff’s policies are already having far-reaching consequences. While dealing with geopolitical uncertainties is clearly nothing new for long-term investors, Trump’s re-election has once again vividly highlighted the need for a sound investment approach based […]

Money – In the news

Child Trust Funds still unclaimed  Some 728,000 people who have recently turned 18 have not claimed their Child Trust Fund, figures1 show, with the total value of unclaimed money amounting to £1.4bn. Many eligible young people do not know that their account exists, campaigners say. MPs are urging more action from HMRC to inform potential […]

Economic Review April 2025

The UK economy grew 0.5% in February, driven by strong service and manufacturing sectors despite looming headwinds  Inflation dipped to 2.6% in March, but April’s household bill hikes are expected to reverse the trend  The labour market weakened as vacancies fell, though wage growth remained robust amid cost pressures and job cuts  UK economy returns […]

Investment megatrends for 2025 and beyond

Megatrends are powerful, long-term shifts, which are already changing the way we live and work  Today, trends such as AI, defence spending, changing energy supplies and demographics, are evident  While markets fluctuate daily, megatrends are shaping the future, creating exciting opportunities  Investing megatrends are powerful, long-term shifts expected to reshape industries, economies and investment markets […]