After months of speculation and rumour, chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered the Autumn Budget for 2025. In this update, we’ll explain the key changes and what they mean for you. Last year, in her maiden Budget, the chancellor sought to balance the public finances with tax rises to cover a reported £22 billion black hole. This year, Reeves arguably faced an even more difficult landscape. In turn, she has announced an estimated £26 billion of tax rises by 2029/30. The chancellor had to start her speech, however, by acknowledging the “deeply disappointing” and “serious error” of the Budget announcements being released early by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). It’s also notable how many predictions ultimately proved to be wide... Read More

Working in the financial services sector, I come across the idea of networking a lot. Indeed, it’s almost impossible to attend or get invited to an industry event that does not tout itself as a great “networking opportunity”. Often, the agenda for the day will include time given over for just that, usually over coffee or drinks. I can see the benefits of this. I’ve met some incredibly interesting and supportive people in this industry who I’m always keen to learn from and exchange ideas with. A recent invite to such an event set me thinking about networking more generally, beyond just financial planning. Building and nurturing your own network – or “surface space” as it is sometimes referred to... Read More

When building your wealth for retirement, it’s tempting to focus solely on the price tag of investments. However, in doing so, you may overlook a crucial insight: the true cost of owning assets extends far beyond the initial purchase price. To my mind, sound financial planning involves accumulating assets that provide sustainable, growing retirement income. While the monetary cost is obvious, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Hidden expenses can significantly impact your wellbeing and financial success, yet they’re frequently overlooked in investment decisions. In this article, I’ll explore these often-neglected aspects of asset ownership. My goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of what it truly means to own an asset, equipping you to make informed decisions about... Read More

Financial planning is very much about ensuring that you can enjoy a long and happy retirement free from money worries. Alongside building sufficient wealth to provide you with an income after you stop earning, it’s also important to consider other factors that will affect your post-retirement lifestyle. Many articles on this topic tend to cover the same points when it comes to living a successful and fruitful life. These will include staying active, finding hobbies, and keeping fit. While those are certainly very valid – and I’d recommend them myself – I always think that there’s a psychological side to retirement that can often be just as important as the physical aspects. To that end, here are six ways you... Read More

Retirement as we know it is barely 150 years old. Otto von Bismarck introduced the world’s first State Pension in Germany in 1889, setting the retirement age at 70, a milestone that only a tiny minority of the population actually reached. The concept was simple: work until you could no longer physically do so, and then society would care for you in your final years. That world no longer exists. The forces reshaping how we live, and work are so fundamental that the retirement of the future is unlikely to resemble the retirement of the past. The question isn’t whether retirement will change, but how quickly we can adapt our thinking to match this new reality. For the first time... Read More