A Significant Shift in ISA Subscription Trends Recent HMRC figures for the 2023/24 tax year reveal a notable trend: cash ISA subscriptions rose at a much faster pace than stocks and shares ISAs — around 224% more by the end of the decade. With cash ISAs attracting the...
Public Unawareness of Pension Changes A new survey has revealed a high level of public unawareness of impending pension changes and the need to plan. While there is plenty of media attention on what surprises might emerge in the November Budget, new research has...
The Ingredients for the Next State Pension Increase The ingredients to determine next April’s increase in the State pension are now clear and suggest a problem deferred until the 2026 Budget. Source: DWP, HMRC How the State Pension ‘Triple Lock’ Works The basis for...
Gilts Back in the Spotlight As the Autumn Budget approaches, government bonds are coming back into the spotlight. Why Are They Called Gilts? In what can seem like an effort to confuse, government bonds are often referred to as gilts. There are two good reasons for the...
Should You Take a Lump Sum Before the Autumn Budget? If you’re considering drawing a lump sum from your pension before the Autumn Budget, you’re not alone. Many savers are weighing up their options amid ongoing speculation about possible changes to the tax-free...
A Costly Oversight in Stamp Duty Land Tax In early September, former Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner resigned after discovering she had underpaid £40,000 in Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on the purchase of her flat in Hove. Her situation serves...
A Shift in the Government’s Approach to Investment The UK government has signalled a major change in its stance on investment and risk. In a recent Mansion House speech, Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasised the need to encourage investment rather than excessive saving....
As Summer Fades, an Autumn Budget Looms… As the warmth of summer holidays gives way to autumn, attention shifts once again to the Autumn Budget and the speculation that surrounds it. A Familiar Story of Deficits and Reversals From 2024 to 2025 In July 2024, Rachel...
Two Views of the State Pension: The Future of the Triple Lock The long-term future of the State Pension triple lock has been called into question by two respected groups of economists, raising concerns about its sustainability. What is the Triple Lock? How It Works...
The Chartwell Financial Services team recently enjoyed a busy day in Edinburgh, visiting the Aberdeen HQ. Travelling together by train, the whole team had the opportunity to tour the Aberdeen offices, meet the account managers and call handlers they work with daily,...
Recent HMRC data reveals that company cars are enjoying a revival, with a significant rise in electric vehicle (EV) adoption leading the charge. The Comeback of Company Cars A Rebound After Years of Decline Between 2015/16 and 2020/21, company car ownership fell by...
With changes to Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) expected in the Autumn Budget, one variant has come under heavy criticism from the Treasury Select Committee: the Lifetime ISA (LISA). The Origins of the Lifetime ISA A Product of George Osborne’s Final Budget The...
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