Geopolitical tensions, trade disputes and energy shocks can quickly affect markets
Diversification enables investors to avoid putting too much of their financial future at risk. Investing always involves uncertainty, but the geopolitical backdrop has become increasingly difficult to predict. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, tensions between major economies and changing trade policies can affect energy prices, inflation, currencies, company profits and financial markets around the world.
Month: September 2026
Autumn Budget 2026 tax watch
With the main taxes ruled out, attention is shifting to other revenue generators
As Chancellor John Healey delivers his first Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026, the government faces a difficult balancing act. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise the main rates of Income Tax, National Insurance or VAT. However, the government also faces significant spending pressures and limited scope under its fiscal rules.
Safeguarding your retirement wealth
From cold calls to fake investments, recognise the warning signs of pension scams
Imagine losing your entire pension pot in the blink of an eye. Years of hard-earned savings could vanish after a seemingly convincing investment opportunity turns out to be a scam. Pension fraudsters can be persuasive, using professional-looking websites, testimonials and promises of high or guaranteed returns to win your trust.
Protecting your loved ones with a Will
Providing greater control over your assets and protection for those who matter
A Will can help you put your financial affairs in order, plan your inheritance and ensure your wishes are known. Despite this, many people delay making one, often assuming it can be dealt with later. Without a Will, the law determines how your estate is distributed.
Five questions to ask yourself before retirement
Are you doing enough today to give yourself the freedom and choices you want tomorrow?
Retirement should be something to look forward to, not a source of financial anxiety. For many people, retirement can seem comfortably distant until, suddenly, it is not. Years of working, saving and paying into pensions can create the sense that everything will somehow fall into place.