Silicon Valley Bank, the 16th largest bank in the US, was shut down by the country’s regulators last week, and we’ve now learned that HSBC has moved to buy the UK arm of the collapsed institution. Since the bank specialises in lending to technology companies, the rescue by HSBC will be a huge relief to …
Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has delivered his Budget, in which he unveiled big changes to pensions and childcare as part of an effort to tempt people back into work. Here’s our summary of the main announcements: Pensions The lifetime allowance – currently £1,073,100 – to be abolished The tax-free annual allowance for …
Typically, a person who receives a state pension will have made 35 years’ worth of National Insurance contributions.* But there will always be people who haven’t and will therefore miss out. You might have been off work for several years because you had children or caring responsibilities. Or perhaps you lived overseas, or were recovering …
Introduction The defining story of this month has been the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS. Not only has this led to many asking if a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis is around the corner, it’s raised questions over what levers central banks can pull as they …
Early retirement – retiring any time before the state pension age of 66 – is the dream for many. The pandemic focused many people’s minds; making them think about what they want out of life – and for many in a position to make big changes, early retirement was the big one. The House of …
The headlines have been full of grim economic news for a while. From talk of imminent recession and staff shortages to higher interest rates and industrial disputes, there’s been plenty of reasons for worry and alarm, not least among business leaders. So it’s interesting to note that, according to the S&P Global CIPS Flash UK …
The end of the tax year is fast approaching and time is running out. So in the weeks ahead of the April 5th deadline, what steps should you be taking to make the most of your money and reduce your tax bill? Here are just a few areas you could look at. Use your ISA …
Introduction Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had a huge impact on the global economy, pushing up commodity prices, inflation and living costs around the world. Last month saw the first anniversary of the invasion, and amid the renewed displays of solidarity from leaders in the UK, the US and the European Union, was …
Money worries can have a devastating impact on a person’s life, causing untold stress and heartache day after day. So it’s really important that you’re not left feeling as if your finances are like a runaway juggernaut: out of control. Otherwise, you leave yourself vulnerable to a host of further financial problems, from growing debt …
Investments go up as well as down. It’s one of the most basic principles of investing that we’re told early on in the process. So why do so many of us panic when conditions in the market are less than ideal? In a climate of high inflation, soaring energy prices, war in Europe and looming …
