Having signalled an end to austerity in the Budget of October 2018, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond struck a slightly more restrained tone in the Spring Statement of March 2019. Although he hailed the better-than-expected borrowing forecasts from the…

Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are tax-efficient vehicles that allow you to save and invest without having to pay income tax or capital gains tax. They can be a good way for people to start saving or to add to their…

“Brexit Day” – 29 March 2019 – came and went, but the UK remained in the EU. The UK was forced to seek an extension to the Article 50 process as Prime Minister Theresa May failed to get her Brexit…

"To err is human" said the poet Alexander Pope; however, in investment, errors can be expensive. Sometimes, it’s only hindsight that helps us realise where we went wrong – so what are the most obvious hazards? Investors face many potential…

Emerging markets continue to develop in size and importance, and their contribution to the global economy is increasingly significant.  At present, China is the second-largest economy in the world, superseded only by the US. However, by 2050, China is forecast…

It has long been recognised that medical advances, combined with a greater understanding of the impact of our lifestyle choices upon our health, have led to an increase in life expectancy. Looking ahead, future generations are, on average, likely to…

Inheritance tax (IHT) is charged on your taxable estate at 40%. Before you look to offset IHT, however, it is important to establish what is likely to accumulate as a potential liability. For most people, the key contributor to their…

In a move that surprised almost nobody, Bank of England (BoE) policymakers raised interest rates for the first time in over a decade at its November meeting. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by seven votes to two in favour…