28 May 2026
A new financial world for Gen Z: what they (and their parents) need to knowI recently learned that my mum purchased her first home (with no assistance) at age 24. My largest purchase by age 24 was a MacBook. This partly comes down to some financially questionable decisions by me: I moved to London touting a degree in journalism. My mum lived in a rural area on the east coast of the US as an engineer.
But young people that...
21 May 2026
‘Me’flation: Watch out for these rising pricesThe Bank of England announced that prices rose by 2.8% in the past year to the end of April as measured by the consumer price index, which was down from the 3.3% increase to the end of March. But that might not line up with how inflation has felt for you in the past year, and there’s a good chance your instincts are right.
Inflation readings...
19 May 2026
Are you wealthier than 90% of Brits?AJ Bell analysis of HMRC data shows that to be among the top 20% highest earning taxpayers, you need to make £49,900, and to be in the top 10% you need to make £67,400. There will be people on these kinds of incomes who don’t consider themselves wealthy, but it doesn’t matter what you think: it’s what the government thinks that counts when it comes...
15 May 2026
Investors snap up gilts as Westminster drama shakes bond marketSince the start of this year, there has been a growing sense that Keir Starmer’s leadership of the country and the Labour Party is fading, with last week’s disastrous local election results potentially spelling the end of his premiership.
This intense speculation has led to uncertainty about the future of the country under a new leader, which has...
13 May 2026
Six steps to protect your money during financial and political turbulenceThe drama engulfing Westminster this week is just the latest in a long line of crises that have been unfolding rapidly and unpredictably across the world for months. At times of volatility and uncertainty, it can be difficult to know what to do. Fortunately, there are six steps you can take in any period of upheaval to protect your finances.
1. Don...
1 May 2026
Finfluencer or fraud? Navigating investment content on social mediaJust like nearly every other topic in the world, investing has made its way onto social media. Influencers share their own portfolios, tell you how they made their first £100,000, or their most recent stock picks.
While some of this can be helpful information, it’s a part of social media that is fraught with scams and unreliable information. And...
24 April 2026
What inflation means for your pocketThe consumer price index was up by 3.3% year-on-year in March, compared to 3% in February, as the UK begins to see the effects of the US-Iran war in prices.
At this stage, inflation is fairly lumpy, with the pain felt most keenly at the pumps and for those using oil to heat their homes. However, over the coming months we can expect it to spread to...
24 April 2026
Discover 10 smart ways to limit your tax billThe amount you pay in tax on your earnings, savings and investments over the past year has increased significantly, absorbing a hefty portion of your wealth. With dividend tax rising this month, and key thresholds still frozen for years, it’s worth considering how to keep the taxman from tucking into even more in the years to come.
Income taxThe...
21 April 2026
How much cash should I hold before investing?If you’ve read any tips or checklists to help your get started with investing, you’ll have seen sorting a cash buffer or emergency fund mentioned.
Having a decent chunk of money readily available in an easy access account is a vital part of any financial plan. But there’s a balance to be had between holding too much cash, which might mean you never...
21 April 2026
Will you earn more investing all at once or monthly?Taking your money out of a savings account to put into the market might feel like standing on the edge of a high dive.
So, it makes sense that many investors choose to wade in, by investing just a bit each month, before building up the courage for a full plunge.
The idea of ‘a little bit often’ feels intuitive because it’s the way we approach many...
17 April 2026
Building a rounded portfolioWhen an investor is first setting up their portfolio, they are usually asking themselves some basic questions, like how much risk they are comfortable taking and what goal they are trying to achieve.
For example, if you are uncomfortable seeing the value of your investments move up and down a lot, then you are probably on the risk averse part of...
17 April 2026
What you can do as numbers paying dividend tax doubleDividend tax increases have had a significant impact on investors over the past few years, with pensioners and average earners hit particularly hard. In the coming year this is likely to intensify thanks to the latest dividend tax hike.
A Freedom of Information request from AJ Bell revealed the number of people expected to pay dividend tax in the...
17 April 2026
Why gilts could offer a tax-efficient savings solutionFrozen tax thresholds and the looming cut to the Cash ISA allowance mean it’s getting harder to keep your savings interest out of the clutches of the taxman. So it’s no wonder more people are looking for tax-efficient alternatives. The recent movement in gilt prices has been a useful reminder that gilts could be the missing piece of the puzzle that...
16 April 2026
How to create a budget that you can actually stick toI have never been thrifty. I love having dinner at restaurants where the menu is stocked with phrases like ‘natural wine’ and ‘cultured butter’. I tend to expand my wardrobe before every holiday and I've recently rediscovered my love for pumpkin spice lattes, which come in at about £5 a pop. I also live in London, which has its fair share of costs...
10 April 2026
Investment scams are rising fast – here’s how to fight backBeing regularly confronted with scams of one form or another has become an unfortunate feature of modern life. This applies in investing just as much as anywhere else.
Data from the City of London police shows victims of investment fraud lost an average of £1,675 every minute in 2025 with 34,673 people reporting fraud of this nature, up 31% from...
9 April 2026
Why investing in an ISA early could have made you £25,000 richerWith April comes the start of a new ISA season and research by AJ Bell found that those who get started using their renewed £20,000 allowance tend to benefit more than those who delay putting their money to work.
It's not just about being organised with your life admin, it’s also about giving your ISA more time to work its magic.
The research by AJ...
8 April 2026
Lottery spending versus investingIf you are one of the millions of people who spend regularly on lotteries or prize draws, you might have wondered at some point what that money could have grown to if it was invested instead.
By our calculations, after 20 years, you might have enough cash to put down a deposit on a house, pay for student fees or accumulate a significant supplement...
7 April 2026
What five years of tax freeze has cost youOn 6 April, it will be five years since income tax thresholds were frozen at 2021 levels. Since then, the personal allowance of £12,570 and the higher rate threshold of £50,270 have been stuck at the same level. By the time thresholds rise in April 2031 the income tax system will have been in deepfreeze for a decade.
Tax threshold freezeChancellor...
2 April 2026
Three tips to start the new tax year on the right footThe new tax year begins on 6 April, and while it may not bring the same fanfare as your New Year’s Eve blowout, it deserves a note in the diary nonetheless. The start of the new tax year is an excellent time to take on some financial goals, but don’t worry: they are much more easily achieved than the gym goals you took on in January.
These tips...
1 April 2026
Why have bonds not protected investors during the Middle East crisis?Bonds have historically provided shelter and ballast to portfolios during times of market uncertainty because of their stable fixed income.
That has not happened over the last month because the shock to stock markets has come from rising energy prices. Something which is likely to lead to higher inflation.
The worry is that central banks might be...
31 March 2026
How to afford your pension (without neglecting other expenses)Most of us know that we should be saving into our pension. But when there are more immediate costs, it can easily stay at the back of the queue.
Early in your career, it might not feel like there’s enough money coming into your account. Starting salaries in the UK for those who went to university typically range from £25,000 to £33,000, according...
25 March 2026
How rate expectations have changed and what it means for your moneyBefore the Iran conflict began, the market expectation was that rates would gently ease in 2026. But those assumptions have been thrown out of the water since the beginning of March.
What’s now expected by the market and what does this shift in the trajectory of rates mean for your money?
How much have expectations for rate hikes moved?The chart...
25 March 2026
You might not be as diversified as you thinkIf you’ve been keeping an eye on your investments in the past few weeks, you may have experienced a nasty shock. Despite all the work you’ve put into creating a diversified portfolio, the market turmoil of March may have put a dent in your investments.
This isn’t a reason to panic. Even well diversified portfolios aren’t immune to falls in the...
24 March 2026
How to use the X-Ray tool to keep your investments on trackStaying on top of your investments is important if you want to make a success out of putting your money to work in the financial markets.
A useful tool created for this purpose is the Morningstar Portfolio X-Ray, which is available to AJ Bell customers.
To find your own X-Ray portfolio report simply log in to your account and look for four icons...
20 March 2026
The pay rise sting: how crossing income thresholds can cost youThe UK tax system is very taxing, and lots of people celebrating a pay rise may later find that the pay boost has a sting in the tail. Once people hit different earnings thresholds they are met with tax cliff edges, allowances being slashed and tax rates jumping – as well as valuable benefits being chopped.
The situation has become so complex that...
