Consumer confidence drops as inflation fears mount April 25, 2025 Brits’ confidence about their own finances, as well as those of the Treasury, has dipped as geopolitical uncertainty mounts. GfK’s long-running confidence index dropped by four points to -23 in April, driven by an eight-point drop in how Brits see the economy and a four-point drop in how Brits see their own finances. The findings [...]
Why investors should keep calm and ignore the noise – even when markets are volatile April 8, 2025 Camilla Esmund, senior manager, interactive investor – the UK’s second largest investment platform for retail investors This is not financial advice and is for educational purposes only —– To quote Kobe Bryant: “Never get bored of the basics.” It’s a phrase that resonates with many areas of our lives. We’re now into the new financial [...]
How could the government reform ISAs? April 4, 2025 The Labour government confirmed plans to make changes to the ISA system at its recent Spring Statement, in a bid to promote a culture of retail investment in the UK. City figures have welcomed the prospect of ISA reforms, which appear likely to be introduced at the next fiscal statement in the Autumn. It remains [...]
Cash ISA: What are the alternatives? April 3, 2025 Rumours are growing over expected reforms to Cash ISAs, as the Treasury searches for ways to boost its coffers. Under the current ISA regime, savers can place up to £20,000 per tax year in a Cash ISA without paying any tax on the interest they earn. This threshold could be reduced to £4,000 under Labour’s [...]
How to maximise your pension before the end of the tax year April 2, 2025 As the end of the tax year approaches on April 5, savers have a few days to maximise their pension contributions tax allowance. Private pension contributions are tax-free up to a limit, under a regime that applies to workplace pensions, personal pensions (such as SIPPs) and overseas pension schemes that qualify for UK tax relief. [...]
How to get your personal finances in order before the end of the tax year April 1, 2025 As we enter the final week of the 2024-25 tax year, the good news is that investors still have time to maximise their tax-free allowances to protect their wealth from HMRC. The not-so-good news is that many savers and investors don’t seem to be aware of this, and the clock is now ticking.
The cheapest Stocks and Shares ISA providers March 28, 2025 According to Kepler Trust Intelligence, AJ Bell is the best 'all-rounder' ISA provider, even though competitor Trading 212 took the label of the cheapest provider.
Spring Statement 2025: City praises potential ISA reforms March 26, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in the Spring Statement that reforms to Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are on the horizon, a statement that has been welcomed by the investment industry in the City of London. “The government is looking at options for reforms to Individual Savings Accounts that get the balance right between cash and equities [...]
Three of the top robo-advisers for Stocks and Shares ISAs March 26, 2025 Robo-advisers are growing in popularity as a way for hands-off investors to have their portfolio managed at lower costs. These financial robots are aimed at ISA and non-ISA investment customers, though not all robo-adviser firms offer a full range of ISA options. A robo-adviser uses algorithms that analyse investors’ answers to pre-set questions, then suggests [...]
Cash ISA savers missing out on billions with low-interest accounts March 25, 2025 According to Paragon Bank research, millions of savers keep money in Cash ISA accounts paying two per cent or less. Figures from Paragon reveal that £54bn is held in such low-interest Cash ISAs. Cash ISAs remain hugely popular with savers as a low-risk option for their money, with any interest earned free of tax. Around [...]