Since its introduction in 2006, the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) has been a cornerstone of UK pension legislation, shaping how individuals save for retirement. Though it was abolished in April 2024, its legacy continues to influence financial planning decisions today. Understanding its evolution and implications is essential for anyone navigating pensions, especially those with significant retirement savings. 

Long-term investing is a strategy that has stood the test of time, consistently proven to be one of the most effective ways to build wealth over decades. Whether you're planning for retirement, saving for a major life event, or simply looking to grow your wealth, understanding the basics of long-term investing in the UK is essential. In this article, we'll explore the key principles and strategies for successful long-term investing.

The term mortgage prisoner is one that has appeared more and more in the press in recent years, but for many homeowners it is not always clear what it means, how people find themselves in this situation, and what options, if any, are available to them. The phrase describes a group of borrowers who are, through no fault of their own, stuck paying higher rates on their mortgage because they cannot switch to a more affordable deal.

This issue is a complex and often distressing one, so it’s worth unpacking it carefully.

Pensions are a crucial part of financial planning and are used to support you in your retirement. In this article, we will delve into the basics of pensions in the UK, helping you to understand the key elements and how they work.

Life is rarely predictable. Just as you start to feel comfortable, circumstances shift, and your financial position shifts with them. A change in career, a family restructure, or even an unexpected windfall can dramatically alter your goals, priorities and financial responsibilities. In moments like these, speaking with a professional financial adviser can make the difference between uncertainty and confidence.

Thinking about how much you might need in retirement? It can feel abstract, but the Retirement Living Standards offer clarity, with numbers you can picture. Created through independent research by Loughborough University for the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, the RLS define retirement lifestyles at three levels: Minimum, Moderate, and Comfortable. Each is based on a “basket” of goods and services, everything from food and bills to transport, leisure and even charitable giving. The figures assume you own your home outright and don’t factor in costs like rent, mortgage payments, or social care, which you’d need to add if they apply.

When it comes to your money, peace of mind is everything. Most of us don’t spend too much time worrying about whether our bank is safe but knowing that your savings are protected if the unexpected happens is reassuring. That’s where the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) comes in.

For many homeowners, the mortgage is the single biggest financial commitment of their lives. Often stretching over much of their working lives, it can feel like a constant companion, one you’d happily see off into the sunset well before the final repayment date. The idea of being mortgage-free by the age of 50 is alluring. But is it realistic, or just a financial daydream?

There’s been some positive progress when it comes to pension equality. Recent government data shows that the gender gap in state pension income has almost disappeared for new retirees. That’s great news. But it only tells part of the story.

Buying your first home is a major milestone. It symbolises freedom, stability and, often, the start of a new chapter in life. Amid the excitement of key collections, decorating plans and mortgage repayments, one crucial piece of the puzzle is often forgotten, making a will.

Wills aren’t just for the elderly or the wealthy. In fact, they’re arguably equally as important for younger individuals buying their first property, especially those doing so on their own. Without one, you risk losing control over what happens to your most valuable asset if the unthinkable happens.

Accessing your pension should feel like a reward, a well-earned milestone after years of working and saving. Whether you’re planning a long-awaited holiday, helping family, or simply topping up your income, you expect it to be a smooth process. But many people are caught off guard when their first pension withdrawal comes with a surprisingly large tax bill, thanks to something called emergency tax.

So what’s going on, and more importantly, how can you avoid paying too much?

It’s become something of a tired joke: “If only you stopped buying avocado on toast and takeaway coffees, you’d be able to afford a house.” The implication being that millennials and Gen Z buyers may be unwilling to sacrifice their lifestyle to save for a deposit, rather than property prices have massively outpaced wage growth for over two decades. 

Of course, giving up your flat white won’t magically get you £60,000 for a house deposit. But it does raise a bigger question: how do people actually manage to raise the funds for a deposit in today’s market?

The term HENRY, short for High Earner, Not Rich Yet, is a popular acronym that’s gained traction over recent years in the world of personal finance. At first glance, it may seem like a contradiction: how can someone earning a high income still not be “rich”? The answer lies in lifestyle choices, financial behaviours and the very real impact of modern living costs.

In this blog post, we’ll unpack what it means to be a HENRY, why this group can be vulnerable to financial shocks despite earning well, and five practical tips to help HENRYs move from just earning more to building lasting wealth.

For many high‑earning UK earners, surpassing the £100,000 income threshold may feel like a financial milestone, but it also creates a surprising and unwelcome tax liability known as the “income trap”.

Administering an estate can be a complex and emotionally charged process, especially during a time of grief. That’s why choosing the right executor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when putting your will in place. An executor plays a central role in ensuring your wishes are carried out efficiently and correctly. In this article, we’ll explore what the role involves and offer some practical tips to help you choose the most appropriate executor for your estate.

As income rises over the course of your working life, through promotions, bonuses, or a change in career, it’s natural to feel the urge to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Perhaps it’s a more expensive car, a larger home, or dining out a little more often. While these decisions can seem small and justifiable in isolation, they can collectively lead to a phenomenon known as lifestyle inflation, sometimes referred to as lifestyle creep.

For those reaching retirement with defined contribution pension pots, flexi-access drawdown offers flexibility and freedom. You’re no longer restricted to purchasing an annuity or taking just a limited income. Instead, you can tailor withdrawals to your lifestyle and retirement goals.

But this freedom also comes with responsibility. A common risk can be taking too much, too soon – something we refer to as the ‘Bamboo Trap’. Much like a bamboo plant that grows quickly and hollows out from the inside, a pension pot drawn too aggressively may flourish initially, only to collapse unexpectedly.

When considering how best to pass on wealth, many people focus on inheritance tax (IHT) planning. However, tax efficiency is only part of the equation. Equally important is ensuring your assets can be accessed quickly and efficiently by your loved ones after you die. This is where probate trusts can be especially useful.

In this blog, we explore what probate trusts are, how they work, and the types of clients who may benefit from them – including those with potentially no IHT liability.

Estate planning is a crucial aspect of ensuring financial security and peace of mind for our loved ones. For families with a disabled child or adult dependent, the stakes are even higher. One of the most effective tools available for such families is the Vulnerable Persons Trust (VPT), also known as a Disabled Discretionary Trust. This specialist type of trust is specifically designed to support individuals who are unable to manage their own financial affairs due to mental or physical disability, both during and after the lifetime of their primary carers.

When considering how best to pass wealth to loved ones during your lifetime, one commonly used strategy is making outright gifts. This can be an effective way of reducing the value of your estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes. However, these gifts can come with their own complexities – particularly if you die within seven years of making them. This is where a gift inter vivos policy can come into play.

In this blog, we’ll explain what a gift inter vivos policy is, where it may be used, and the advantages and disadvantages of using one as part of your estate planning strategy.