Four in five clients see financial advice as ‘value for money’

Retirement, relax and dog with couple on sofa while watching tv, movies or streaming service. Happy, love and pet with old man and elderly woman in living room at home for lifestyle together

82% of advised investors believe they get good value from financial advice, up 10% from last year  96% of advised clients value their adviser’s accessibility, especially during market volatility  Long-term market confidence is higher among advised investors, showing the benefits of expert financial guidance  People with a financial adviser are more optimistic about their financial […]

Home Finance – In the news

Love, kitchen and senior couple relax with cup of coffee, tea or hot drink while bonding and connect at home. Family, peace and elderly man and woman enjoy quality time, retirement and life together

Older borrowers are increasingly taking out ultra-long mortgages, with a 156% rise in the last five years  Half of UK homes saw price increases in 2024, there’s a clear north-south divide in property values  Rent costs for tenants under 45 hit a record £56.2bn due to rising mortgage rates  Retiring with a mortgage  With a […]

Why life insurance matters 

50% of salaried employees and 33% of non-salaried workers lack life insurance  Life insurance covers expenses like mortgages, bills and education costs should the worse happen  Policies can start as low as a few pounds a month, offering affordable protection and peace of mind  Taking out life insurance is a crucial step in protecting what […]

HNWIs face gaps in retirement and succession planning

HNWIs face gaps in retirement and succession planning

Research shows a third of European HNWIs are yet to make a financial plan for retirement  80% of survey respondents plan to pass wealth to their children, but only 34% have a plan in place  Over half of respondents are focused on growing their wealth through investing in equities  and/or real estate  Many high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) […]

Flooding puts 6.3 million homes at risk

Flooding puts 6.3 million homes at risk

6.3 million homes face flooding threats, but the dangers are expected to rise significantly due to climate change  4.6 million properties are at risk of surface water flooding, a 43% increase since 2018  Taking proactive steps, including insurance, is key to protecting against flood damage  A recent report from the Environment Agency has revealed that […]

Economic Review May 2025

A composite / hypothetical computer photoshop image of the city of London above the clouds including possible future development.

GDP unexpectedly rose by 0.7% in Q1 2025, driven by services, production and investment growth  The Bank of England cut interest rates despite inflation jumping to a 15-month high at 3.5%  The UK labour market shows weakness as payrolls drop and unemployment edges up to 4.5% UK growth beats expectations  First quarter gross domestic product […]

Wealth – In the news

Excited Children Arriving Home With Parents

Research highlights key differences in wealth transfer preferences and family financial priorities between men and women  Top financial priorities for 2025 include enjoying life (34%), building emergency savings (30%) and pension saving (11%)  AI now accounts for 42.5% of financial fraud attempts, with cases rising 80% over the past three years  Women put children first […]

Equity Release – cause for optimism

Portrait of a happy senior couple sitting on sofa at home

Over 15,000 active customers and £622m in lending recorded in Q4 2024, up from £525m in Q4 2023  A 3.3% increase in UK house prices contributed to larger loan sizes and improved product availability.   A 27% rise in returning customers using further advances shows growing confidence in equity release  Looking at The Equity Release Council’s […]

Residential Property Review – May 2025

Knight Frank raises its UK house price growth forecast to 3.5% for 2025 amid rate cut optimism  March saw a surge in transactions as buyers rushed to beat the Stamp Duty changes  Buy-to-let investors increasingly target northern regions for affordability and rental yield advantages  Improving rate outlook boosts UK forecasts  Knight Frank has raised its […]

Commercial Property Market Review – May 2025

Q1 2025 West End investments hit £1.71bn, driven by three major transactions despite fewer deals  UK commercial property demand is rebounding, with offices and industrials gaining, while retail lags behind  The Big Six cities, especially Manchester and Leeds, show strong office market recovery and occupier demand West End investment rebounds   London’s West End commercial property […]