Only 42% of UK consumers hold life, income or critical illness protection Affordability and lack of awareness are key reasons for underinsurance Major life events often trigger protection decisions, sometimes too late Have you got protection in place? A survey of over 14,000 UK consumers1, has discovered that just 42% have protection policies arranged, including […]
Monthly archives: June 2026
Sea view or swimming pool? The top property searches
Garages and annexes were the most searched property features in 2025 Rural homes and large gardens gained popularity Swimming pools ranked above sea views in buyer demand What features do you think of first when you imagine your new property? If your mind went straight to a garage or annexe, you are not alone: new […]
News in Review
Starmer’s departure clears the way for the country’s seventh Prime Minister in a decade, in time for the summer recess Experts were surprised by the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, expecting inflation to rise to 3% The Monetary Policy Committee voted to retain Bank Rate at 3.75%. The Federal Reserve did likewise […]
Residential Property Review – June 2026
Housing outlook – Savills has predicted house prices will fall by 2% this year House sales – according to Rightmove, 44% of UK homes for sale failed to sell in the last three years Property hotspots – Bootle, Merseyside, has emerged as the UK’s top seaside property hotspot for summer 2026 Revised outlook for 2026 […]
Commercial Property Review – June 2026
Commercial market – data from Carter Jonas indicates an uneven recovery in investment volumes, below levels seen in Q4 2025 Logistics market – according to Knight Frank, the sector saw £1.64bn in transactions in Q1, 5% down on Q1 last year Infrastructure capital – a CBRE report highlights that this is an increasingly important driver […]
News in Review
UK GDP is expected to grow by 1.1% in 2026 and 0.9% in 2027, down from previous CBI projections The White House and Iran have agreed on a framework deal aimed at securing an end to hostilities UK retail sales increased by 3.7% annually last month, up from growth of 1.0% in May 2025 “What’s […]
In the news
Almost one in five first-time buyers are searching for mortgages below 60% loan-to-value The Lifetime ISA will be replaced with a new savings product focused on first-time buyers Average mortgage payments are projected to fall to around 40-41% of gross salaries, lowest since 2021 Growing divide in first-time buyer deposits Almost one in five first-time […]
Small steps to securing your financial future – it is attainable!
Average pension savings lag significantly behind comfortable retirement targets Changing pension rules and longevity trends demand proactive planning Reviewing contributions and investment strategy can reduce future shortfalls It can be easy to disengage when you see the statistics about how much you’ll need for a comfortable retirement, especially when you’re working hard and the demands […]
News in Review
In the UK, GDP growth is expected to weaken to 0.9% in 2026, down from 1.4% last year A report has calculated that a comfortable lifestyle in retirement would cost £45,400 annually for one person The headline UK Purchasing Managers’ Index reached 53.9 in May – the highest level in four years “Countries need to […]
Salary sacrifice – things to consider
Current salary sacrifice rules allow full Income Tax and National Insurance efficiency National Insurance relief will be restricted above £2,000 annually from April 2029 Forward planning could maximise pension contributions under existing rules Salary sacrifice is one of the most effective pension planning tools available, particularly for higher earners. It allows you to exchange part […]
