In the Autumn Budget 2025, the chancellor announced that Inheritance Tax (IHT) thresholds would remain frozen for a further year, until 2031. 

Upcoming changes will also see unused pensions included in an estate for IHT purposes for the first time from April 2027. 

These measures could see estates facing a larger IHT liability, or coming into the scope of IHT when they may previously have been exempt.

Research has suggested that families concerned about being caught in the IHT net are taking steps to mitigate their bills. According to M...

Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. Amid planning romantic gestures, thinking about combining your financial plan with your partner’s could be valuable.

Talking about finances might seem too practical for a day that’s about celebrating love. Yet, it could support your relationship. Here are two reasons why you might want to create a single financial plan with your partner.

1. Work towards shared goals

If you’re planning to spend the future with someone, you want to ensure you’re both on the same page about yo...

As 2026 begins, it’s a good time to think about what you want to achieve in the coming months. A tailored financial plan can help you set realistic goals.

Creating goals on your own can be challenging, especially if they bring together several different parts of your financial plan or have a long-term time frame. If you’re overly ambitious, it can be disheartening if you don’t reach the target you’ve set. On the other hand, if you’re too cautious, you could miss out on opportunities.

Here are seven ways a financial plan could support you...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption has rapidly increased in recent years, and it has affected the stock prices of businesses operating in the sector. Find out more about the financial biases that could be driving this boom. 

The rise of Nvidia, which provides essential hardware and software for AI development, demonstrates the scale of the AI boom. 

In 2023, Nvidia became the seventh US company to reach a valuation of $1 trillion (£0.74 trillion). Just two years later, the BBC reported (9 July 2025) that Nvidia became the first compan...

This guest blog was written by Chris Budd, who wrote the original Financial Wellbeing Book as well as The Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellbeing. He founded the Institute for Financial Wellbeing and has written more than 100 episodes of the Financial Wellbeing Podcast. 

Sometimes, when we make major financial decisions, the question of money must come first. Specifically: “Can I afford it?” and “Is it good value?”

However, there are other times when this question of affordability and value for money gets in the way of good financial de...

 After months of speculation and rumour, chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered the Autumn Budget for 2025. In this update, we’ll explain the key changes and what they mean for you. 

Last year, in her maiden Budget, the chancellor sought to balance the public finances with tax rises to cover a reported £22 billion black hole.

This year, Reeves arguably faced an even more difficult landscape. In turn, she has announced an estimated £26 billion of tax rises by 2029/30. 

The chancellor had to start her speech, however, by acknowledging the...

Having a stable income when you retire could give you the independence to enjoy a meaningful and fulfilling life after work. Indeed, a July 2023 survey by Legal & General found that 94% of UK adults said that financial security was their most important retirement dream.

Your State Pension, along with other savings and investments, could provide the stability you need to support the retirement lifestyle you want.

However, there is a worrying lack of understanding about the State Pension among UK adults.

The Retirement Voice report publis...

Are you a glass-half-full person? While some people dismiss optimism as naivety or a tendency to overlook the challenges of life, research suggests that those who seek out the positives could benefit from improved wellbeing.

Research gathered by CNN in September 2025 found that people who have a positive, happy outlook live longer. Indeed, a 2011 study found that Brits who felt content, happy or excited on a typical day were up to 25% less likely to die prematurely. 

Separate research linked optimism to a stronger immune system, better l...

There were ups and downs for investors during September 2025, with disappointing economic data dampening the market at times. However, some positive outcomes also emerged. Read on to find out what might have influenced your investment portfolio’s recent performance. 

Investors turn to gold as market uncertainty continues in September 2025

The price of gold reached a record high of $3,508.50 (£2,600) an ounce on 2 September. Gold is often viewed as a “safe” asset, so the rising value could signal that investors are feeling nervous about t...