Wealth – In the news

Women put children first in succession planning 

Research¹ shows that women prioritise their children in succession planning, while men are more likely to focus on their spouse. Among high-net-worth women, 45% prioritise their children, compared to 33% of men. Meanwhile, 37% of men prioritise their spouse, whereas only 17% of women do, highlighting key differences in wealth transfer preferences and family financial priorities. 

Personal finance positivity on the up 

New research² reveals that 60% of UK adults feel positive about their finances this year, up from 52% in 2024. Top financial priorities for 2025 include enjoying life (34%), building emergency savings (30%) and pension saving (11%). Despite economic challenges and high inflation, pension-saving attitudes remain steady. Unexpected expenses remain the biggest financial concern (35%). These findings suggest that while financial confidence is growing, many people are focused on balancing short-term enjoyment with long-term security. 

AI financial fraud hits 42% 

A recent report³ reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) now accounts for 42.5% of financial fraud attempts, with cases rising 80% over the past three years. AI has made fraud easier to carry out, but external factors also contribute to the surge. Meanwhile, banks and financial institutions are leveraging machine learning to detect and prevent fraud, continuously improving their ability to combat evolving threats in an increasingly digital landscape. 

¹Charles Stanley, 2025, ²Aegon, 2025, ³Signicat, 2024 

The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. The past is not a guide to future performance and past performance may not necessarily be repeated. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not regulate Will writing, tax and trust advice and certain forms of estate planning.