Government to Ban Leaseholds
Leaseholds could soon be a thing of the past as the Government announces plans to ban the practice. The Government has set out plans to ban new leaseholds, moving to a system of shared freehold or ‘commonhold’ on flats and banning new leasehold properties from being sold. In its white paper, it called the leasehold system “feudal” while emphasising that commonhold is a popular approach used around the world, marking…
Less than a Third of Gen X on track for Retirement
Generation X or ‘Gen X’ – the generation of adults born between 1965 and 1981, roughly 45 to 60 years of age now – is woefully unprepared for now looming retirements, according to a survey of 2,000 UK adults in December 2024. One of the most significant issues the cohort faces, according to the research from Get Britain Pension Ready, is that the group fell through the gaps in…
Is an Annuity the Right Option for You?
Annuity sales hit their highest level in a decade in 2024, with higher rates tempting retirement savers to swap their pension pots for a guaranteed income for life. Insurers sold 89,600 annuities last year, up 24% on the year before – and the highest level since 2013, according to trade body the Association of British Insurers. However, while sales are at their highest level in a decade, they remain around…
Are Cash ISAs still a Good Idea?
The Chancellor has been urged to slash the tax breaks available on cash ISAs in a bid to boost the economy and support London’s dwindling stock market. Cash ISAs are by far the most popular type of savings account in the UK, allowing savers to earn tax-free interest on contributions of up to £20,000 a year. Figures from HM Revenue & Customs show that around 18 million people currently…
Income Tax Planning in Retirement
In the tax year 2022-23 61% of retirees paid income tax according to HMRC figures. The state pension will become taxable for the first time from 2027, as total earnings from the full new state pension reach above the personal allowance for the first time. The number of pensioners paying income tax is set to rise by 15 percentage points to 76% of all retirees, driven by both rising…
Unexpected Rise in Unemployment in the UK
Unemployment has risen unexpectedly in the UK in the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). For the three months to November 2024, employment fell by 47,000 sending the unemployment rate up from 4.3% to 4.4%. The ONS has also revised its previous data to reflect 32,000 extra unemployed in the three months to October 2024. Meanwhile, wages continue to grow at a strong clip, rising by…
Will Trump’s Tariffs Impact You?
Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the 47th President of the USA. On arrival he has announced a raft of immediate measures and made a series of threats too. One of these threats is the imposition of new trade tariffs. He has warned both Canada and Mexico they could face 25% import tariffs to the US as early as 1 February – unless they come to an agreement with the…
Is it Time Up for the Lifetime ISA?
The Lifetime ISA is subject to a Parliamentary review as it looks to consider whether the savings vehicle is fit for purpose. The Treasury Select Committee in the House of Commons is calling for evidence to gauge whether the Lifetime ISA remains relevant in the current savings landscape. The committee is considering whether the Lifetime ISA works in its current format, whether people who use it for a house purchase…
Why Simplifying ISAs Makes Sense
We are big fans of tax allowances. To be fair, the whole of the savings and investment sector is. We know that when allowances go up, or new tax reliefs are created, people save and invest more money, as well as withdraw funds tax efficiently when they need to spend it. Everyone is happy. So when a new ISA is launched by government you’d think everyone is financial services…
Mortgage Rate Gap Narrows
The gap in rates between average two-year and five-year mortgages is at its narrowest since January 2023, according to data from financial data firm Moneyfacts. The average two-year mortgage rate on the market is now 5.48% (correct as of 8th January 2025), while the average five-year fix is 5.25%, according to the Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report. Over 12 months the gap in average rates has narrowed from…
