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

  • 2 July 2026

    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.

    8 min read
    comparing donuts and apples
  • 14 January 2026

    What is regular investing?

    Setting up regular investments is a great way to automate your investing journey. Here we explain how it works, its benefits and the checks you should make to stay on track.

    6 min read
    Woman on laptop with calendar
  • 3 July 2026

    Seven gifting mistakes that could cost your loved ones

    The government is collecting more in death taxes than ever before, and the inheritance tax (IHT) take has more than doubled in a decade thanks to rising asset values and frozen allowances. This, together with the April 2027 changes that will bring unused pensions into the value of estates, has led to many more people considering using gifts to...

    8 min read
    family walking in woods
  • 2 July 2026

    ISA tax

    Pay no income tax on the interest or dividends you receive on an ISA. Any profits from investments are free of Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

    3 min read
    Couple on sofa with documents
  • 23 June 2026

    Investing in foreign shares or fund? The tax on dividends explained

    UK residents are taxed on their income and gains, and this will include dividends from international shares. While your AJ Bell ISA and SIPP wrappers shelter your investments from UK income and capital gains tax, there may still be other tax considerations related to foreign investments, even if they’re held in these wrappers.

    This article will...

    5 min read
    Notes of different currencies
  • 16 June 2026

    How is my pension taxed on withdrawal?

    When you save for retirement using a pension, part of your withdrawal is tax-free, but what about the rest of it? This article looks at the taxes that apply when you access your pension.

    6 min read
    Elderly couple on the beach
  • 11 June 2026

    Consolidating pensions

    Having multiple pensions can mean it’s difficult to get an overall picture of your retirement savings. Discover how to consolidate pensions here.

    4 min read
    Open book of pages
  • 11 June 2026

    Why many people don’t receive the full state pension

    The full new state pension is quoted as a flat rate £241.30 per week, or just over £12,500 a year, giving the impression that all pensioners with 35 or more qualifying years now get this. In practice, and over 10 years since the new system was introduced, many don’t.

    The picture is more complex, mainly due to transitional rules introduced when the...

    5 min read
    Shares magazine
    Couple checking finances