Retirement option to be scrapped in overhaul of Lifetime ISA Personal Finance The government is set to scrap the option to save for retirement in its replacement for the Lifetime ISA. The new savings product will only be available for first time buyers and will no longer pay the government’s 25 per cent bonus on a monthly basis, as part of the Treasury’s bid to simplify the [...]
A complete guide to ISAs Personal Finance For UK investors, few acronyms carry as much weight as “ISA.” The Individual Savings Account remains the bedrock of personal financial planning in Britain, a tax-efficient sanctuary for your wealth amid ever-increasing taxes. As we move into the new tax year, the importance of maximising this allowance has never been greater. According to the IFS, [...]
House prices hit record high but overall growth slows Business UK house prices reached a record high in November, however overall growth slowed to the weakest rate since 2024 according to the latest data from Halifax’s house price index. Prices were broadly unchanged last month, edging up £138, bringing the average house price to £299,892, a new record high. This follows a 0.5 per cent [...]
How will the Budget impact your personal finances? November 27, 2025 It’s the day after Rachel Reeves’ crunch Budget, and while the Office of Budget Responsibility leak may be the main talking point, after months of speculation we finally know how personal finances will be impacted. As expected, Reeves extended income tax freezes and introduced a range of smaller taxes, in moves that are expected to [...]
It’s not just LISAs: Stamp duty land tax is a London problem too November 25, 2025 Getting on the property ladder is getting harder and harder for young people. Dwindling housing supply coupled with growing demand for property has left sellers receiving offers significantly above the asking price, with squeezed buyers turning to family members to fund ballooning deposits. But the costs do not end when the keys are handed over. [...]
The London LISA problem November 19, 2025 ISAs are set for a starring role in next week’s Budget as Chancellor Rachel Reeves searches for ways to kickstart economic growth. The Treasury is reportedly mulling a slash to the cash ISA ceiling from £20,000 to £10,000 to stop Brits hoarding cash, and encourage investment into domestic stocks. Dividends are also potentially in the [...]
Autumn Budget: Rachel Reeves told to scrap ‘not fit for purpose’ Lifetime ISA September 12, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that the Lifetime ISA (LISA) is “not fit for purpose and must be reformed” in the Autumn Budget. Tom Goddard, a senior associate at audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, has argued that the LISA “must be reformed to not conflict with shared ownership schemes”. The LISA [...]
Reeves told Lifetime ISAs rules are ‘nonsensical’ and costing savers June 30, 2025 Lifetime ISAs require deep reform, as strict rules on cash withdrawals mean customers are left with less money than they initially deposited, leading Britons to make worse investment decisions, while the government sets aside too much spending for bonuses, senior MPs have told Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Reeves is a fortnight away from her flagship Mansion [...]
Self-employed? Don’t forget to set up a pension May 12, 2025 Self-employment comes with the benefits of being your own boss – you can set your own hours, workload and work from wherever you’d like. However, it also comes with the paperwork that your boss would otherwise handle. While the focus can quickly shift to taxes, it’s crucial not to forget to set up your own [...]
Four tax reliefs to make the most of before 5 April March 14, 2025 Savers and investors have just a few weeks left to take advantage of their tax reliefs before the financial year ends on 5 April. Using these tax reliefs helps make the most of an uncertain political environment around wealth, with some tax allowances slashed in the 2024/25 year. These are four of the top tax [...]