About the expert

Charlene Young is AJ Bell’s Senior Pensions and Savings Expert. She joined AJ Bell in 2014 from a wealth management firm where she worked with private clients and small businesses as a financial planner.

Charlene has over 15 years’ experience in financial services, holding Chartered Financial Planner status and Chartered membership of the Personal Finance Society (PFS). She's also an associate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has a degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol.

She's a core member of our team who create content and information to help you invest - from how to map out your financial goals and which accounts can help you on your investing journey, to making sense of the more intricate parts of the tax and pension rules.

Pensions are Charlene's thing, and her goal is to make them less daunting and complicated for everyone. She does this by writing articles for our website and investor newsletters, as well as recording podcasts, videos and webinars for our website, apps and social media channels. She’s been instrumental in the delivery of AJ Bell’s 'Learn' area – a hub of educational content for those newer to investing.

You’ll also see Charlene representing AJ Bell at our investor events and providing comments for national press and adviser publications. She’s a director of AJ Bell’s pension trustee companies.

Latest articles from Charlene Young

  • 25 April 2025

    SIPP vs ISA

    Stocks and shares ISAs and Self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) can be ideal wrappers for holding investments in shares and funds. Learn about SIPPs vs ISAs here.

    7 min read
    comparing donuts and apples

  • 13 April 2026

    Investing in retirement - six things you need to know

    As you move into your 50s, 60s and beyond, your relationship with investing will naturally change. You may be thinking more about accessing your pension and generating an income or making sure you don’t outlive your pensions and other savings in later life.

    While there’s plenty of change ahead - and hopefully some exciting plans - your investment...

    6 min read
    Checklist

  • 7 April 2026

    What five years of tax freeze has cost you

    On 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 freeze

    Chancellor...

    4 min read
    Man with no money left

  • 6 April 2026

    ISA rules

    With several different types of ISA available, it’s important that you know the rules that apply to each one. Learn more about ISA rules and how they might impact you.

    5 min read
    Mallet on a stack of books

  • 6 April 2026

    Five tips to trim your ISA costs

    ISAs are a great way to shelter your wealth from the taxman, but the impact of higher charges can compound over time. See our top tips on how to cut your ISA charges.

    5 min read
    Trimming hedges

  • 6 April 2026

    ISA allowances

    The ISA allowance is how much you can put in your individual savings accounts per year. Find out how the £20,000 limit works and what happens if you exceed it.

    7 min read
    Slice of cake

  • 20 February 2026

    Student loan changes could cost graduates £250 a year

    In the 2025 Budget chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a plan to freeze the threshold at which around four million graduates start paying off their student loan.

    How much will these changes cost? The precise impact will depend on each individual and their own earnings, as well as future inflation over the next three years. But our estimates show...

    8 min read
    Students being shown information