Active, passive, or robot? Choosing your ISA management style Personal Finance Deciding to open a Stocks and Shares ISA is only the first step. The more critical decision—and the one that will determine your fees, stress levels, and potential returns—is how that money is managed. There are several distinct management styles, ranging from AI-driven algorithms to traditional human expertise. Understanding the difference between robo, self-managed, discretionary, [...]
Budget: Blow to investors and startups ‘hidden’ in small print Economics A blow to investors and early-stage businesses has been revealed in the small print of Rachel Reeves‘ Budget. The tax relief available on venture capital trusts has been slashed, according to the full Budget document released by the Treasury following Reeves’s speech in the House of Commons. While the venture capital trusts’ annual and lifetime [...]
Reeves plans stamp duty holiday in Budget to boost London listings Business Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce a stamp duty holiday for new listings on the London Stock Exchange in Wednesday’s Budget as the government ramps up efforts to revive the index. The move will wipe out the 0.5 per cent stamp duty tax investors are forced to pay upon buying shares that are newly [...]
Autumn Budget: What does the income tax U-turn mean for your salary? November 14, 2025 In a major U-turn, Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ is understood to have ripped up plans to hike income tax in the looming Autumn Budget. Reeves was poised to hitch up income tax by 2p at the end of the month, whilst cutting national insurance – for lower earners – by the same amount. While the decision [...]
Income tax raid tops Brits’ list of Budget fears October 27, 2025 Brits are more fearful of an income tax raid at the Budget than a rise in VAT or stricter rules on inheritance, a survey has found, with mounting speculation now weighing on people up and down the country. Rachel Reeves has signalled that she will raise taxes next month despite saying last year she would [...]
Goodbye Nutmeg, hello Clove: New investing service lands £10m funding October 14, 2025 As the London fintech world bids goodbye to investing app Nutmeg, a new spice-themed alternative is about to rise up from the ashes. Investing startup Clove, a new venture from serial entrepreneur Christian Owens, has emerged from stealth after landing a bumper £10m funding round. The pre-seed round featured a host of prominent investors including [...]
Lloyds banking group acquires remaining stake in Schroders personal wealth October 9, 2025 Lloyds Banking Group has completed the full acquisition of Schroders’ personal wealth arm, six years after the establishment of the unit. Lloyds acquired the remaining 49.9 per cent of Schroders Personal Wealth (SPW) from the asset manager, handing the bank sole control of the business. Lloyds noted the acquisition will support the group’s “ambition to [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown co-founder to step down from board October 8, 2025 The billionaire co-founder of Hargreaves Lansdown is stepping down as board director of the personal investment business months after its £5.4bn acquisition by private equity firms, marking an end to his involvement in the business. Peter Hargreaves, who created the UK’s largest DIY investment site with co-founder Stephen Lansdown in 1981, will be handing his [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown and Schroders agree investment tie-up September 8, 2025 Hargreaves Lansdown and Schroders Capital have sealed a tie-up to open up private assets opportunities to thousands more investors. The partnership will offer access to private investments, known as long-term asset funds (LTAFs), to Hargreaves Lansdown’s customers via self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs). The new style pensions will allow retail investors to invest in private assets [...]
No more interest rate cuts expected as inflation runs ‘miles above target’ August 20, 2025 No further interest rate cuts are expected to be made this year after inflation in the year to July was higher than economists forecast. Markets had priced in a 50 per cent chance of an interest rate cut being made at the Bank of England’s November meeting before fresh price growth data was published on [...]