The chancellor, John Healey, has delivered the 2026 Autumn Budget. It included wide-ranging changes that will affect people of every age and from all walks of life.  Healey upheld many of Rachel Reeves’ commitments, including a pledge not to increase taxes on “working people” and a commitment to meeting the Labour Party’s self-imposed fiscal rules. He also introduced a wide range of new measures, while rowing back on a key policy introduced by the former chancellor: the proposed reduction in the annual Cash ISA (Individual Savings Account) contribution limit from £20,000 to £12,000. In this update, you’ll learn more about the key announcements that will affect both household and business finances. Many of Reeves’ tax measures are being upheld Healey... Read More

If work demands and stress are wearing you down, retirement could seem like a very attractive option. However, stopping work altogether could be an expensive way to fix the wrong problem. Before you decide to retire, distinguish between escaping your current work situation and not wanting to work at all. Start with two questions: Do I want to retire? Or… Do I want my working life to be different? The distinction matters, especially if your finances cannot yet support the retirement lifestyle you have anticipated. Before you make a permanent change to your working life, you should explore what is really driving your desire for change. Ask yourself what you want to change In my conversations with clients who find... Read More

Imagine you’ve just retired. You’ve booked one of the dream trips on your bucket list, but what will you do on an ordinary Tuesday when you’re at home? A safari, a trek to Machu Picchu, or a few weeks exploring Italy can give you plenty to look forward to in retirement. But a three-week holiday still leaves another 49 weeks in the year. That’s why it helps to have two retirement bucket lists: one for the big adventures, and another for the everyday pleasures that make life enjoyable once work stops setting the timetable. You may be approaching retirement with a list of exciting things you want to do, but perhaps less of a plan for what everyday life will... Read More

Like many successful professionals, your 40s and 50s are likely to be your peak earning years. By this stage, you have probably established your career, built a family, and are starting to get a clearer idea of what the future might look like. Inevitably, this can also be the point when you start thinking more seriously about your long-term finances. Retirement may still feel far off. You could have another 15 or 20 years of work ahead of you, and there are likely to be plenty of other priorities competing for your attention, such as: Paying off the mortgage Supporting your children Helping ageing parents. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore retirement planning. Your 40s and 50s are a... Read More

You may have spent years saving and planning for when you can afford to stop working and how you will generate income from your pensions and investments. Finances are clearly a crucial part of the picture. You need to know that your money can support the lifestyle you want for the rest of your life. But how much time have you spent thinking about what retirement will actually look like? Retirement is not just about money Having enough money to retire comfortably obviously matters, but financial security is only part of the story. There is a reason people sometimes describe retirement as having a “seven-day weekend”. It sounds appealing, but seven days of unstructured time can be very different from... Read More