The last few years have seen volatile investment markets due to the pandemic, lockdowns, and fears that high inflation could lead to economic recessions. Looming general elections could mean investors continue to experience ups and downs throughout 2024. UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is expected to call a general election at some point in 2024. Indeed, the last nationwide vote took place on 19 December 2019, so the next general election has to happen by 28 January 2025 – five

While a new year started, many of the key factors affecting economies and markets in January were the same as those in 2023, namely high levels of inflation and recession fears. The World Bank warned the global economy is set to slow for a third successive year in 2024 and is on course for the weakest half-decade of growth since the early 1990s. It added there was a risk that the 2020s would be a “wasted” decade following a series of setbacks, including the pandemic. Tensions

Managing your finances effectively as a couple could provide you with peace of mind and mean you’re more likely to reach your goals. Yet, it can be difficult as you could have very different financial priorities to your partner. Read on to discover five handy tips that could help you build a financial plan that suits both of you. 1. Set shared goals you can work towards Having shared goals you’re working towards as a couple can help ensure you’re both on the same page and und

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt could have more options ahead of March’s Budget as government borrowing halved at the end of 2023. With a general election looming, Hunt may take the opportunity to ease the tax burden. Read on to discover some of the personal finance changes that could be announced. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that government borrowing halved in December 2023. The lower deficit of £7.8 billion– the lowest month since 2019 – means the chan

If you haven’t used your ISA allowance for the 2023/24 tax year, it could be wise to review your options over the next few weeks before the 2024/25 tax year starts. Read on to discover some of the reasons why an ISA could make sense for you. Government statistics show that ISAs are a popular way to save and invest. Indeed, the latest data shows 11.8 million adult ISAs benefited from a deposit during the 2021/22 tax year (slightly down from 12.2 million in 2020/21). Collective

The pension Annual Allowance increased significantly in the 2023/24 tax year. If you haven’t already reviewed whether the changes could mean you can tax-efficiently add more to your pension, doing so before the current tax year ends on 5 April 2024 might be beneficial. The Annual Allowance is up to £60,000 in 2023/24 The Annual Allowance is the amount you can add to your pension each tax year while retaining tax relief. However, you can only claim tax relief on up to 100% of

Life insurance could ensure your family’s security if you pass away. It may be an important part of your financial plan and could provide peace of mind. Understanding the potential payout your family would need could help you choose an appropriate level of cover. If you take out a life insurance policy and pass away during the term, it would pay out a lump sum to your beneficiary. The beneficiary may use the money how they wish. They might use it to cover day-to-day expenses

More people in England and Wales are celebrating their 100th birthday. It could have implications for your financial plan and creating an income in retirement. According to a release from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), on Census Day in 2021, there were 13,924 centenarians living in England and Wales. The oldest person to complete the census was 112. While centenarians represent just 0.02% of the total population, the number of people celebrating the milestone is gr

As inflation remains stubborn, and interest rates may have to remain higher for longer, recessionary concerns have grown around the world. Read on to discover some of the factors that may have affected your investment portfolio in October 2023. When reviewing short-term market movements, remember to focus on your long-term investment goals. UK After a slump in July, official data shows the UK economy grew by 0.2% in August with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reporti

Aspiring homeowners who used the Help-to-Buy equity loan scheme to get on the property ladder could face an unexpected rise in their interest payments due to inflation. According to the government, the Help-to-Buy scheme helped more than 375,000 aspiring homeowners turn their dreams into a reality between 2013 and 2022, the majority of which were first-time buyers. In total, £23.7 billion was lent through the scheme, which funded £105.4 billion of property purchases. Under th