News and Views


Keeping you up to date with what matters.

29 Mar 2021
Advice Matters

Advice Matters

In the current climate, we understand that you may be feeling worried about your work, your finances and what the future holds.   Research carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that, since the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), over 25 million people have experienced ‘high’ levels of anxiety[1].   Professional financial advice…

Continue Reading
18 Mar 2021
Pension Options

Pension Options

One thing retirement is not, is an age. Not anymore anyway. Gone are the days of being told to stop working one day and pick up your state pension the next. Today you have new pension freedoms to decide when and how you retire.   Pension freedoms in 2015 fundamentally changed the rules for cashing…

Continue Reading
15 Mar 2021
Protecting vulnerable consumers is a key focus for the FCA

Protecting vulnerable consumers is a key focus for the FCA

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warns that there are now “27.7 million adults in the UK with characteristics of vulnerability.”  Examples of vulnerability include poor health, such as cognitive impairment, life events, such as bereavement or new caring responsibilities, low resilience to cope with financial or emotional upsets and low capability, such as poor literacy…

Continue Reading
4 Mar 2021
UK Government Budget 2021

UK Government Budget 2021

On some counts this Budget was Rishi Sunak’s 15th major announcement since his first Budget, just under a year ago.  During this period, the pandemic has dominated the Chancellor’s actions and this was true of his latest Budget.  To no small degree the framework for Mr Sunak’s latest appearance at the despatch box had been…

Continue Reading

Coronavirus (Covid-19)

In line with current UK Government restrictions regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic, our offices remain closed. Our colleagues are working from home and continue to provide services and maintain regular communications with all our clients. Should you wish to speak with us, please continue to use the main telephone number of 01382 797600 and your call…

Continue Reading
1 Mar 2021
ISA Deadline 5 April 2021: use it, or lose it

ISA Deadline 5 April 2021: use it, or lose it

If you hold a Cash Individual Savings Account (ISA) you may be dissatisfied with the low rates of interest you receive, which could make it difficult to grow your money even at a rate that keeps pace with inflation. A Stocks & Shares ISAs offers the possibility of higher returns than Cash ISAs, but only…

Continue Reading
10 Dec 2020
Life in 2020

Life in 2020

As the year draws to a close, I thought I would put my thoughts to paper once again. The strange parallel is that the last time I wrote a blog it was a beautiful spring day at the start of the pandemic, and now here we are several months later.  Almost unbelievably, the restrictions are…

Continue Reading

UK Government Spending Review 2020

Late November should have seen the Chancellor announce his Autumn Budget and a comprehensive spending review covering the next three financial years. Like many other plans, the uncertainty created by the pandemic has put both on hold. In their place was a Financial Statement, primarily addressing a one-year spending review, with a nod to the…

Continue Reading
24 Sep 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

In line with current UK Government restrictions regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic, our offices remain closed. Our colleagues are working from home and continue to provide services and maintain regular communications with all our clients. Should you wish to speak with us, please continue to use the main telephone number of 01382 797600 and your call…

Continue Reading

AJ Bell:

Account Login