News - Page 2 of 117 - Auto Enrolment

In its MPC summary, the Bank of England said it expects inflation to rise further in the coming months In the US, the Federal Reserve is also working to slow inflation, resulting in the first rate increase since 2023 The Chancellor has sought entry to the EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ programme, protecting industries from unfair […]

Residential Property Review –September 2026

Residential Market Survey – the housing market is stabilising further with buyer demand and agreed sales showing improvement Mortgage rates – In July, mortgage approvals were 16% below the 2017-19 average and the lowest level since December 2023 Rental market – In Q1 2026, the average UK landlord portfolio generated £88,454 in gross rental income, […]

Commercial Property Review – September 2026

Commercial property update – London captured the largest regional share of investment by the end of August Industrial and logistics sector – Demand in the sector still being driven by ecommerce growth and supply chain resilience Scottish market – French investors are particularly active in Aberdeen, according to research from Knight Frank Commercial property market […]

News in Review

The UK economy unexpectedly grew by 0.4% in the three months to July, according to the latest data from ONS Brent crude and US oil rose above $100, with both benchmarks reaching their highest prices since May Mayors and local leaders in England will be given new powers to charge a levy on overnight stays […]

Enjoying your happy and healthy retirement

As people are living longer, retirement planning increasingly spans multiple decades, giving a large window to prepare As priorities, health and spending needs change, review plans regularly to keep the right balance Retirement planning is about much more than money. A well-planned retirement should support your broader life goals With a clear sense of purpose, […]

A new shape to homeownership

First-time buyers are now entering the market later than previous generations, around age 33 on average Longer mortgage terms and later entry naturally lead to borrowing extended well into later life Refinancing is now popular for older borrowers. Many are remortgaging to secure better rates or release equity The traditional journey of buying a home, […]

Why is life insurance back in focus?

Pension tax efficiency needs to be considered as it will start to fall within IHT from April 2027 Life insurance can play a valuable role by providing a lump sum on death to help cover the tax bill Acting early can help ensure that any cover is affordable and increase your options Changes to Inheritance […]

News in Review

The Chancellor has acknowledged financial conditions are difficult but his “first priority” is to control borrowing and reduce pressure However, UK business confidence reached a five-month high last month, increasing to 53%, the highest level since March The UK manufacturing sector stalled slightly last month, but there was moderate expansion of the overall service sector […]

Retirement planning for the self-employed

Three in five self-employed workers could be missing out on crucial peace of mind and tax benefits Making regular contributions can be more achievable and build a bigger retirement pot than waiting for ‘surplus’ income Retirement saving can be more complex for self-employed workers. It’s never too late to improve retirement readiness Around 40% of […]

Remortgaging on the rise

Remortgage applications have risen sharply as pandemic-era fixed deals come to an end Shorter-term mortgage fixes are gaining popularity in uncertain interest rate conditions Landlords are increasingly refinancing to improve returns and release equity Remortgaging is firmly back in focus. Recent analysis1 shows applications surged by around 45% in Q1 2026, driving overall mortgage activity […]