Just a few months after delivering his first Budget as Chancellor, Rishi Sunak delivered a Summer Statement, dubbed a ‘mini-Budget’ on Wednesday 8th July 2020. Back in March, some of the measures announced in the Budget focused on supporting people and businesses as the Covid-19 pandemic was taking hold. Five months later, the focus has now shifted to recovery as lockdown and social distancing restrictions ease. Rishi began by saying the government had taken decisive action to protect the economy earlier this year but acknowledged people were now worried about unemployment rates rising and economic uncertainty. This is against a backdrop of a global economic downturn, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting the deepest recession since records began. With... Read More

Over the last three months, life for many of us has changed beyond recognition. Perhaps you have suddenly found yourself working from home, homeschooling your children, or trying to keep your business afloat? There are many things that we’re looking forward to when things return to something approaching normal. From a restaurant meal to spending time with friends and extended family, you’re probably already making some plans for the months ahead. There will also be many things that we have learned about ourselves during lockdown that we want to retain. And, there will be many things that we’ve had the opportunity to do that we’ll be reluctant to give up. Here are seven life lessons we can learn from lockdown.... Read More

When I meet couples to talk about their finances, I often find that one of the parties is much more engaged than the other. In relationships, it’s often one party that deals with the finances, while the other one shies away because they are not interested or, more often, because they find it hard to talk about. It’s not just my clients who sometimes struggle. Research from M&S Bank has revealed that only 17% of people in a relationship regularly talk about finances with their partner. More than one in 10 are apprehensive about discussing debts, do not share how much they earn or know details of their partner’s wages. Psychologist Emma Kenny says: “The findings show that money can... Read More

When the government revised their action plan to tackle the coronavirus crisis, one of the new slogans Boris Johnson unveiled was ‘control the virus’. This message came in for some criticism, with many questioning just exactly how an individual was supposed to ‘control’ an invisible, global disease. When I first heard the new slogan, it got me thinking about what it is in life we can actually control. When planning for your own financial future there are a range of factors that sit well within your control, and steps you can take to ensure your financial independence. So, if I may paraphrase the government’s advice for a moment, here are five ways you can ‘stay alert, control your finances, and... Read More

It’s certainly been quite the few weeks! Whether you have been working from home, acting as a stand-in teacher, or even struggling with the virus yourself, it’s certainly been a period none of us are ever going to forget. On top of health and economic concerns, turmoil in global stock markets may also have led you to worry about your future. Do I need to make changes to my portfolio? Are my investments going to be enough? Can I still retire when I plan to? It’s fair to say that times are stressful enough without having to worry about your money as well. One simple solution is: don’t. Of course, it’s not that simple. However, to help you, here is... Read More