Older borrowers are increasingly taking out ultra-long mortgages, with a 156% rise in the last five years Half of UK homes saw price increases in 2024, there’s a clear north-south divide in property values Rent costs for tenants under 45 hit a record £56.2bn due to rising mortgage rates Retiring with a mortgage With a […]
Author archives: matthew
Why life insurance matters
50% of salaried employees and 33% of non-salaried workers lack life insurance Life insurance covers expenses like mortgages, bills and education costs should the worse happen Policies can start as low as a few pounds a month, offering affordable protection and peace of mind Taking out life insurance is a crucial step in protecting what […]
HNWIs face gaps in retirement and succession planning
Research shows a third of European HNWIs are yet to make a financial plan for retirement 80% of survey respondents plan to pass wealth to their children, but only 34% have a plan in place Over half of respondents are focused on growing their wealth through investing in equities and/or real estate Many high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) […]
Flooding puts 6.3 million homes at risk
6.3 million homes face flooding threats, but the dangers are expected to rise significantly due to climate change 4.6 million properties are at risk of surface water flooding, a 43% increase since 2018 Taking proactive steps, including insurance, is key to protecting against flood damage A recent report from the Environment Agency has revealed that […]
Economic Review May 2025
GDP unexpectedly rose by 0.7% in Q1 2025, driven by services, production and investment growth The Bank of England cut interest rates despite inflation jumping to a 15-month high at 3.5% The UK labour market shows weakness as payrolls drop and unemployment edges up to 4.5% UK growth beats expectations First quarter gross domestic product […]
Wealth – In the news
Research highlights key differences in wealth transfer preferences and family financial priorities between men and women Top financial priorities for 2025 include enjoying life (34%), building emergency savings (30%) and pension saving (11%) AI now accounts for 42.5% of financial fraud attempts, with cases rising 80% over the past three years Women put children first […]
Equity Release – cause for optimism
Over 15,000 active customers and £622m in lending recorded in Q4 2024, up from £525m in Q4 2023 A 3.3% increase in UK house prices contributed to larger loan sizes and improved product availability. A 27% rise in returning customers using further advances shows growing confidence in equity release Looking at The Equity Release Council’s […]
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 […]