4 simple ways to reduce your financial anxiety in Stress Awareness Month
April is recognised as Stress Awareness Month in the UK, which aims to raise awareness of both the causes and potential cures for the modern-day stress epidemic. Financial stress can be experienced by people from all walks of life, regardless of their age or circumstances. Indeed, research by the Mental Health Foundation has revealed that […]
What the State Pension triple lock could mean for your retirement
You might have been dreaming about retiring for many years. Perhaps you have big travel plans or can’t wait to spend more time with your children and grandchildren. However, the cost of living crisis that the UK has been experiencing since late 2021 means your carefully planned retirement savings may need to stretch further than […]
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, […]
