Chase tops UK banking charts February 19, 2025 According to an Ipsos poll, Chase UK is the top-rated consumer bank in Britain. It joins digital banks Monzo and Starling, which have long topped the charts. Kuba Fast, Chase’s UK CEO, said: “These results are a testament to the fantastic people we have and our commitment to putting customers at the heart of everything [...]
Shield your assets from inheritance tax with life insurance February 17, 2025 Inheritance tax entered the headlines last year when the Labour government used its first budget to announce measures designed to close loopholes and raise funds, prompting savers and advisers to reconsider their financial planning. The government’s proposals include plans to impose inheritance tax on unspent pensions from April 2027 and a pledge to reform the [...]
What do falling interest rates mean for my finances? February 14, 2025 The Bank of England trimmed interest rates to 4.5 percent in February, the first of what could be multiple cuts this year aimed at kickstarting the UK’s weak economic growth. This raises questions about what loosening monetary policy could mean for savers’ finances. The BoE now expects GDP growth “to be notably weaker in the near [...]
Wealthiest adults do not financially plan for marriage February 13, 2025 Only one in five of the UK’s wealthiest adults discuss financial planning ahead of marriage, according to fresh research. Among a survey of 500 UK adults, who have at least £1.5 million in investable assets or total assets of £15 million, 93 per cent agreed planning for unexpected life events, such as divorce, was crucial [...]
IFS: UK must intervene to stop ‘ridiculous’ proliferation of small pension pots February 12, 2025 The government should clamp down on the “ridiculous” proliferation of small pension pots, a leading think tank has said. The growing number of these small-scale funds puts up costs for pension providers and makes it more difficult for savers to make sensible decisions, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) argued. “Further action is needed to [...]
What on earth is a ‘SIPP’?! A jargon-free guide on how it could help boost your ‘future you’ fund February 12, 2025 Camilla Esmund is a senior manager at Interactive Investor, the UK’s second largest platform for private investors Don’t be put off by the acronym – a ‘SIPP’ stands for a self-invested personal pension; a type of personal pension which gives you greater control over your retirement planning. If you haven’t heard of them, you’re not [...]
Home repossessions rise as higher interest rates bite borrowers February 10, 2025 The number of homeowners with mortgages facing repossession rose in the fourth quarter of 2024 as buyers struggled with higher interest rates. UK Finance figures show that repossessions rose 12 per cent in the last three months of 2024 compared to the previous year and were up 54 per cent yearly. Overall, 1,030 residential houses [...]
UK private medical insurance sign-ups near-record high amid NHS backlog February 7, 2025 Nearly one in eight Britons now have medical insurance, a near-record high, as delays to NHS care drive customers to go private. The number of people with private medical insurance rose to a record high of 4.68M by the end of 2023, according to the latest figures from healthcare analysts LaingBuisson. But a total of [...]
Five simple ways to improve your personal finances in 2025 February 5, 2025 City AM has partnered with City Pay it Forward, a grassroots organisation, seeking to make a positive impact in our community, to provide five important but simple tips to improve your personal finances.
SIPP pensioners are the most confident in a comfortable retirement February 5, 2025 Workers with a self-invested personal pension (Sipp) are the most confident their savings will pay for their retirement, research shows. Around 20 per cent of the over-55s have a Sipp, according to behavioural finance firm Oxford Risk. This group is the most comfortable that their pension will keep them comfortable in retirement. But those approaching [...]