Introduction The global financial markets continue to grapple with a complex mix of geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and evolving central bank policies. The past year has seen significant shifts in market dynamics, with varying impacts across different regions. This commentary provides an overview of the key factors influencing financial markets in the UK, Europe, the …
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt recently got himself in a bit of a pickle when he said £100,000 is “not a huge salary” for people in his Surrey constituency. Writing on X, Mr Hunt was recalling a chat with a constituent in Godalming who was concerned about the government’s childcare offer, as it isn’t …
As you move through your working life, it’s easy to get a rosy picture of retirement and dream of the day when you finally step away from the office. But how do you work out when that day should actually be? Well, there’s no simple answer to this question, as there are so many factors …
Striking the right balance between work and other aspects of your life, such as family responsibilities and hobbies and pastimes, can be very hard. But that doesn’t mean people won’t take serious measures to make it happen. According to a study by Travel Counsellors, half of working people in the UK expect to leave their …
Introduction For several months now, we’ve been noting that while growth remains slow across much of the globe, the worst of the inflation crisis seems to have passed. The International Monetary Fund believes the world economy has been “remarkably resilient” in recent years, noting that despite “many gloomy predictions, the world avoided a recession, the …
More and more people are finding themselves in legal disputes with loved ones over inheritances, new figures have revealed. According to the Ministry of Justice, 80 inheritance disputes went in front of judges in 2012. However, this figure had risen to 145 by 2017, and in 2021/22, it stood at 195 – more than double …
We’ve been through a difficult period in the last few years, to say the least. Thanks to factors ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic to Liz Truss’s catastrophic Mini-Budget, along with soaring interest rates and inflation rising to a 40-year high, people in the UK have been put under unprecedented and sustained financial pressure. But interest …
Introduction Although many of the world’s major economies have struggled to achieve strong growth in recent months, there is a sense that some key markets are starting to turn a corner. The worst of the inflation crisis, for instance, seems to be behind us, and central banks that had been hiking interest rates are now …
Money can often be something of a taboo subject, so many of us stay tight-lipped even if we’re desperate to say something. But a new trend, termed “loud budgeting”, suggests that attitudes could be changing. This trend, which is growing in popularity on platforms such as TikTok, encourages open discussion about your finances and why …
The 2023/24 tax year is coming to an end on April 5th, so you don’t have long left to use your various allowances – in particular your Capital Gains Tax allowance. This is especially important this year as your Capital Gains Tax allowance is being cut from £6,000 to £3,000 from April 6th. So what …
