A third of people don’t know how much they need to contribute to their pensions every year to create a comfortable retirement, according to a MoneyAge article (11 November 2025). Striking the right balance with pension contributions is important. Contribute too little, and you could leave yourself short in retirement. If you contribute as much as possible to your pension now, you might miss other goals or place pressure on your day-to-day budget. So, asking “how much should I be paying into my pension each year?” is sensible. You might have read answers to this question that apply a general rule to everybody, such as a certain percentage of your income or a target amount you should have at a... Read More

In the Autumn Budget 2025, the chancellor announced that Inheritance Tax (IHT) thresholds would remain frozen for a further year, until 2031. Upcoming changes will also see unused pensions included in an estate for IHT purposes for the first time from April 2027. These measures could see estates facing a larger IHT liability, or coming into the scope of IHT when they may previously have been exempt. Research has suggested that families concerned about being caught in the IHT net are taking steps to mitigate their bills. According to MoneyAge (6 October 2025), 23% of people are planning to give away money to reduce their IHT bill, with 8% saying they would even give away their home. While gifting can... Read More

There are times when you may make mistakes without realising it. These mistakes could be due to blind spots, such as habits, assumptions, or risks that go unnoticed, and could affect your financial decisions. Making mistakes is a part of life. However, because hidden mistakes often go unidentified, they may be repeated. Over time, the compounding effect of small mistakes could lead to a much larger negative impact. Imagine you’ve started your first job and, to increase your day-to-day budget, you opt out of your workplace pension. The first month of missed contributions might have little effect on the income you can expect in retirement. However, if you continue to skip pension contributions, you could find that your retirement is... Read More

With the year drawing to a close, you might be thinking about what you can look forward to in 2026. If you love to explore new destinations and tick off bucket list experiences, Lonely Planet has put together a list of the best experiences of 2026. Whether you want to relax, get active, or learn more about a different culture, these seven experiences could be perfect for your next adventure. 1. Stay in a train carriage in Kruger National Park Going on safari features on many bucket lists, and in South Africa, this unusual accommodation could make it even more memorable. Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s largest game reserves, with the “big five” – lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants,... Read More

The last 12 months have been interesting for investors, with the market experiencing volatility. Read on to discover valuable insights from 2025. 1. Many markets have performed well despite volatility If you simply read the headlines from 2025, you might think the markets performed poorly. Worries about high inflation, trade tariffs, and sluggish economic growth have dominated the media. Yet in many cases, the overall trend has been upward. The FTSE 100 is an index of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange by market capitalisation. On 2 January 2025, the FTSE 100 was at 8,260 points. During 2025, there were dips, but on 21 November 2025, it stood at 9,539 points. It’s impossible to guarantee market... Read More