News - Auto Enrolment

Starmer’s departure clears the way for the country’s seventh Prime Minister in a decade, in time for the summer recess Experts were surprised by the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, expecting inflation to rise to 3% The Monetary Policy Committee voted to retain Bank Rate at 3.75%. The Federal Reserve did likewise […]

Residential Property Review – June 2026

Housing outlook – Savills has predicted house prices will fall by 2% this year House sales – according to Rightmove, 44% of UK homes for sale failed to sell in the last three years Property hotspots – Bootle, Merseyside, has emerged as the UK’s top seaside property hotspot for summer 2026 Revised outlook for 2026 […]

Commercial Property Review – June 2026

Commercial market – data from Carter Jonas indicates an uneven recovery in investment volumes, below levels seen in Q4 2025 Logistics market – according to Knight Frank, the sector saw £1.64bn in transactions in Q1, 5% down on Q1 last year Infrastructure capital – a CBRE report highlights that this is an increasingly important driver […]

News in Review

UK GDP is expected to grow by 1.1% in 2026 and 0.9% in 2027, down from previous CBI projections The White House and Iran have agreed on a framework deal aimed at securing an end to hostilities UK retail sales increased by 3.7% annually last month, up from growth of 1.0% in May 2025 “What’s […]

In the news

Almost one in five first-time buyers are searching for mortgages below 60% loan-to-value The Lifetime ISA will be replaced with a new savings product focused on first-time buyers Average mortgage payments are projected to fall to around 40-41% of gross salaries, lowest since 2021 Growing divide in first-time buyer deposits Almost one in five first-time […]

Small steps to securing your financial future – it is attainable!

Average pension savings lag significantly behind comfortable retirement targets Changing pension rules and longevity trends demand proactive planning Reviewing contributions and investment strategy can reduce future shortfalls It can be easy to disengage when you see the statistics about how much you’ll need for a comfortable retirement, especially when you’re working hard and the demands […]

News in Review

In the UK, GDP growth is expected to weaken to 0.9% in 2026, down from 1.4% last year A report has calculated that a comfortable lifestyle in retirement would cost £45,400 annually for one person The headline UK Purchasing Managers’ Index reached 53.9 in May – the highest level in four years “Countries need to […]

Passing on wealth – the essentials of IHT

Estates above £325,000 may face 40% IHT, with additional residence allowances available Lifetime gifting and trusts can reduce estate value but require careful structuring Professional advice helps navigate complex rules and avoid unintended tax liabilities Gifting and trust strategies can have tax implications and may not be suitable for everyone. The value of investments can […]

Salary sacrifice – things to consider

Current salary sacrifice rules allow full Income Tax and National Insurance efficiency National Insurance relief will be restricted above £2,000 annually from April 2029 Forward planning could maximise pension contributions under existing rules Salary sacrifice is one of the most effective pension planning tools available, particularly for higher earners. It allows you to exchange part […]

News in Review

Latest Nationwide data shows a drop in house prices for the first time this year, falling by 0.6% month-on-month London tops Europe’s leading tech spots in latest Global Tech Ecosystem Index, ranking fourth globally Households in England, Wales and Scotland are likely to see their energy bills rise by 13% a year in July “The […]