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 [...]
Consumer confidence ticks up but ‘little evidence’ of recovery March 21, 2025 Consumer confidence rose by one point in March as Brits became more pessimistic about their own finances but more optimistic about the UK’s. The overall effect was to push confidence up to -19 in March, from -20 in February and -21 in March last year. The index remained below its long-term average. “If consumer confidence [...]
Should I consolidate my pension pots? March 19, 2025 The UK is reckoning with a proliferation of small pension pots, which is increasing costs for providers and making retirement planning challenging for savers. The cheapest Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) providers According to research from the Institute of Fiscal Studies, in 2024 there were 12.1m defined contribution (DC) pension pots which held less than £1,000 [...]
Talking Finance: Five questions you should ask yourself before investing March 17, 2025 In this episode of Talking Finance, Marianna Hunt, a volunteer at City Pay it Forward, explains the five questions everyone should ask themselves before they start investing.
Lessons in investing from ISA millionaires March 17, 2025 interactive investor is the UK’s second largest investment platform for private investors. Last week, we celebrated International Women’s Day, so I thought it was apt to dedicate this week’s column to dispelling some of the myths surrounding the way women invest their money so that we can empower and inspire more women to invest – [...]