Why did The Body Shop enter administration? 4 key takeaways for business owners
On 13 February 2024, private equity company Aurelius announced it had put cosmetics retailer The Body Shop into administration just three months after purchasing the business. The US arm of the company immediately ceased trading, while some UK stores will remain open. However, according to Sky News, there are plans to close 75 stores and […]
Guide: 7 valuable behaviours for successful investing
How do you grow your wealth when you’re investing? Choosing the “right” investments is just one of the ingredients needed for success. Indeed, your mindset and behaviours could have a much larger effect on the outcomes of your investments than you might think. Your approach to investing could influence the decisions you make when you […]
All the winners and losers from the 2024 Spring Budget
With one eye on a forthcoming general election, the chancellor has announced a Budget aimed at generating long-term growth, with “more investment, more jobs, better public services and lower taxes”. While the headlines will inevitably focus on Jeremy Hunt’s cut in National Insurance contributions (NICs), many less headline-grabbing messages will affect millions of families and […]
Your Spring Budget update – the key news from the chancellor’s statement
The 2024/25 tax year is just a month away, and chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his 2024 Spring Budget, outlining the government’s plans for the next fiscal year and beyond. With a general election looming – prime minister Rishi Sunak has said he will call it before the end of the year – the chancellor […]
Guide: 10 things you can learn about your financial plan from these ABBA hits
In April 1974, a Swedish foursome took to the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest. Performing eighth on the night, ABBA introduced themselves to a global audience, romping to victory with their hit ‘Waterloo’. In the intervening five decades ABBA – made up of Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson – has […]
Guide: Everything you need to know about annuities when creating a retirement income
When you retire, you will often have a range of choices available to you about how you access your pension. One such method is an annuity, which could provide you with a reliable income. If you’re not sure how annuities work or if they could be right for you, this guide explains the essentials you […]
3 timeless lessons Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations could teach you about financial planning
Charles Dickens would have turned 212 on 7 February 2024. This world-famous author penned 15 novels in his career, and perhaps his most timeless publication is Great Expectations, the coming-of-age novel that follows Pip, a poor young boy who dreams of becoming a gentleman in London. Although the novel was written nearly 200 years ago, […]
What’s next for interest and inflation rates?
Over the past couple of years, it’s been difficult to escape headlines detailing the UK’s shifting interest and inflation rates. Indeed, after several significant global events, including Covid-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) reached a 41-year high of 11.1% in October 2022. In response to a post-pandemic rise in inflation, […]
How much is “enough” wealth for you? 5 steps you could take towards finding out
When you think about your hopes for the future, you may have some goals that seem to hang in the balance. Indeed, ambitions such as helping your children onto the property ladder, booking a round-the-world trip in retirement, or remaining in your family home past working age, might have sat on the “maybe” pile for […]
Guide: 7 allowances you might want to use before the end of the 2023/24 tax year
When a new tax year starts, many allowances reset. So, checking if you could make use of allowances before Friday 5 April 2024, when the 2023/24 tax year ends, might be valuable. This guide explores some of the allowances that could help your money go further. You might discover you could reduce your Income Tax […]
