Just six months ago, Kwasi Kwarteng stood up in the House of Commons and delivered his controversial “mini-Budget”.

The announcements ultimately brought down the short-lived Truss administration, with current chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announcing a series of policy measures in November 2022 aimed at calming the markets.

Having taken “difficult decisions to deliver stability and sound money”, the chancellor has delivered the next part of his plan: “a Budget for growth”.

Read on to find out who were the winners and losers from the 2023 spri...

On Wednesday 15 March 2023, chancellor Jeremy Hunt presented his spring Budget.

Focusing on the government's aims to halve inflation, reduce public debt, and boost economic growth, Hunt delivered his first official Budget alongside the latest economic and fiscal outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

“Despite continuing global instability, the OBR report today that inflation in the UK will fall from 10.7% in the final quarter of last year to 2.9% by the end of 2023.”

Hunt opened his speech by admitting that, in the aut...

2022 ended with uncertainty and volatility that’s persisted for much of the year. Read on to find out what happened in December and how it affected investment markets.

Looking ahead, uncertainty is likely to be something investors will need to negotiate in 2023 too. As economies continue to struggle with high levels of inflation, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon warned that “bumpy times” were still ahead.

Keep in mind that volatility is part of investing and you should keep your long-term plan in mind when reviewing performance. You shoul...

Last year, chancellor Jeremy Hunt made some key announcements during the autumn statement that could affect how much tax you pay from April. Reviewing your financial plan could help you understand if you’ll be affected and make changes if necessary.

In sharp contrast to the mini-Budget delivered by former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng in September, Hunt’s statement, delivered just two months later, increased taxes. As a result, you may find that you need to update your existing financial plan or that the amount of tax you pay increases.

The ...

When a new tax year starts, your pension Annual Allowance resets. Maximising your allowance could help you reach retirement goals and it can be a tax-efficient way to invest for the long term.

The Annual Allowance limits how much can be added to your pension each tax year while retaining tax relief benefits. It covers all pension contributions, including those made by your employer and other third parties.

For most pension savers, their Annual Allowance is 100% of their annual income up to £40,000. If you haven’t made the most of your al...

With so much doom and gloom in the headlines every day, it can be easy to overlook the positive new stories, but there are plenty of them. From scientific innovations to projects that protect the natural world, here are some feel-good stories from 2022 that you may have missed.

1. The COVAX vaccination programme surpassed the 1 billion milestone

At the start of 2022, the COVAX vaccination programme reached a milestone – it delivered more than 1 billion Covid-19 vaccines. The United Nations-backed vaccine-sharing programme delivers the mu...

Retirement is a milestone that’s often greeted with celebration. But what do you need to do to be happy during your later years? Research has revealed that it’s experiences, rather than material items, that are important.

A survey from Royal London found that 72% of those aged over 55 favoured experiences over material possessions. From seeing more of the world to trying a hobby you’ve always wanted to do, retirement offers an opportunity to create the life you want.

It’s not just the big-ticket experiences that those approaching retirem...

Fewer workers are choosing to give up work on a set date. In fact, 34% of over-55s that haven’t given up work yet are gradually phasing into retirement, according to Legal & General figures.

A phased retirement can take many forms. You may decide to reduce your working hours or change your role to one that has fewer responsibilities. Others are taking the opportunity to become self-employed or even set up their own business. A phased retirement means you can ease into the next chapter of your life and create a work-life balance that suits...

High levels of inflation and economic uncertainty continue to plague the investment markets. Investment portfolios are likely experiencing volatility – read on to find out what has been influencing markets.

Despite the doom and gloom statistics, financial services firm JP Morgan suggests that a global recession could be avoided as inflationary pressures ease.

As an investor, you may worry about what the current circumstances mean for your investments and financial goals. Remember, you should invest with a long-term time frame in mind and...