news & insights

During a ‘mini-budget’ delivered on 23 September, the Chancellor outlined a Growth Plan centred on the biggest package of tax cuts in fifty years.

It’s rude to talk about money. That’s something that many of us have drummed into us as small children. But in some instances, we really should talk about money. Take the subject of inheritance for example.

Kwasi Kwarteng’s first set piece as Chancellor of the Exchequer was never going to be easy, even before the 0.5% increase in interest rates the day before.

While most of us won’t be lucky enough to amass similar sums of money in our lifetime, it doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll avoid the issue of inheritance tax (IHT) if we do feel it’s right to pass our wealth on to our children or grandchildren.

It’s harvest time in the farming calendar. Land management has proven that the timing and order in which crops are harvested makes a great deal of difference to the yield.

Online discounts and the hot summer weather have encouraged an uplift in retail sales, with the latest official statistics showing a rise in July.

New buyer enquiries fell for a third consecutive month in July, the RICS report showed, with a headline rate of -25%. This is comparable to June’s reading (-27%) and means the market has now endured the longest stretch of falling demand since the early pandemic days.

At the time of writing this we continue to face challenging times. As we have emerged from the pandemic, we have entered a period of instability with the war in Ukraine and a cost-of-living crisis at home.

Most of us assume we would be delighted to receive a substantial sum of money. It’s fun to make that mental list of extravagant purchases such as holiday homes or your dream two car garage. However, while it’s a nice problem to have, it can be daunting. This is particularly true where the money is unexpected.

While everyday financial pressures can make saving challenging, it’s imperative not to neglect your pension and retirement plan. Diligent planning at the earliest opportunity can make all the difference between enjoying a comfortable retirement and enduring a regretful one. After all, you reap what you sow.

The images used in retirement marketing often show deck chairs on sunset beaches, golf courses and cruises. It is often portrayed as ‘the longest holiday of your life.’ However, behavioural research continues to challenge that reality.

There has been plenty of coverage in the financial media about retirement freedom and how you can now spend your pension fund as you see fit. However, more freedom and more choices mean you now have more decisions to make.