Older borrowers are increasingly taking out ultra-long mortgages, with a 156% rise in the last five years Half of UK homes saw price increases in 2024, there’s a clear north-south divide in property values Rent costs for tenants under 45 hit a record £56.2bn due to rising mortgage rates Retiring with a mortgage With a […]
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Why life insurance matters
50% of salaried employees and 33% of non-salaried workers lack life insurance Life insurance covers expenses like mortgages, bills and education costs should the worse happen Policies can start as low as a few pounds a month, offering affordable protection and peace of mind Taking out life insurance is a crucial step in protecting what […]
News in Review
Global economic growth is slowing, with major economies facing tight financial conditions and rising trade barriers Basic retirement costs have decreased due to lower energy bills, though comfortable living standards are higher than last year New pension reforms aim to improve returns, merge small pots and support stronger retirement outcomes for savers ‘The global outlook […]
HNWIs face gaps in retirement and succession planning
Research shows a third of European HNWIs are yet to make a financial plan for retirement 80% of survey respondents plan to pass wealth to their children, but only 34% have a plan in place Over half of respondents are focused on growing their wealth through investing in equities and/or real estate Many high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) […]
Flooding puts 6.3 million homes at risk
6.3 million homes face flooding threats, but the dangers are expected to rise significantly due to climate change 4.6 million properties are at risk of surface water flooding, a 43% increase since 2018 Taking proactive steps, including insurance, is key to protecting against flood damage A recent report from the Environment Agency has revealed that […]
News in Review
UK economic growth has been revised upwards by the International Monetary Fund – 1.2% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026 The government plans to double £25bn+ pension megafunds to improve retirements and boost UK investment Retail confidence plunges to a five-year low, with sales falling and businesses bracing for tougher conditions ‘An economic recovery is […]
Economic Review May 2025
GDP unexpectedly rose by 0.7% in Q1 2025, driven by services, production and investment growth The Bank of England cut interest rates despite inflation jumping to a 15-month high at 3.5% The UK labour market shows weakness as payrolls drop and unemployment edges up to 4.5% UK growth beats expectations First quarter gross domestic product […]
Wealth – In the news
Research highlights key differences in wealth transfer preferences and family financial priorities between men and women Top financial priorities for 2025 include enjoying life (34%), building emergency savings (30%) and pension saving (11%) AI now accounts for 42.5% of financial fraud attempts, with cases rising 80% over the past three years Women put children first […]
Equity Release – cause for optimism
Over 15,000 active customers and £622m in lending recorded in Q4 2024, up from £525m in Q4 2023 A 3.3% increase in UK house prices contributed to larger loan sizes and improved product availability. A 27% rise in returning customers using further advances shows growing confidence in equity release Looking at The Equity Release Council’s […]
News in Review
The CPI rate of inflation rose to 3.5% in April—above forecasts—driven by energy, services and air fares The £20,000 ISA limit is to remain but changes to the cash ISA component are under review The government is expected to expand eligibility for winter fuel payments in the Autumn Budget “April’s rise in inflation was widely […]
