About the expert

Charlene 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
  • 12 October 2026

    Can you rely on the 4% rule in retirement?

    The 4% rule offers an answer to one of retirement’s hardest questions: how much can I safely spend? But markets don’t move in straight lines and it’s likely that the plans you have for your retirement won’t either. Could being prepared to vary your income help your pension last longer?

    One of the biggest challenges when moving from saving for...

    6 min read
    Shares magazine
    Couple riding bike
  • 24 September 2026

    Contributing to your pension

    One of the biggest perks of pensions is earning tax relief on what you pay in. How much tax relief you get is based on your earnings and how much tax you pay. So how much can you contribute to your pension?

    6 min read
    Woman calculating next to a piggy bank
  • 21 September 2026

    What happens to my ISA when I die?

    If you die, the money and investments held in your Stocks and shares ISA will be passed onto your beneficiaries. Find out what happens to your ISA on death.

    6 min read
    Pen writing a will
  • 18 September 2026

    Unclaimed Child Trust Funds hit £1.9 billion as Junior ISAs grow

    It was another incredibly strong year for the Junior ISA, with more parents opening accounts and more money being paid in. What’s even more positive is that a growing number of them are coming round to the idea of investing this money, rather than saving it.

    The average new subscription in the 2024/25 tax year was £1,570, which was a 17% increase...

    4 min read
    A family sitting on grass
  • 17 September 2026

    SIPP withdrawal rules

    You now have greater flexibility than ever when deciding how to take your pension. Withdraw 25% of your SIPP fund tax-free or explore alternative options here.

    6 min read
    Pensioner blowing out his birthday candles
  • 16 September 2026

    SIPP allowances

    Our article should help you to understand pension allowances, contributions and tax relief. Learn how much you could pay into your SIPP each year.

    4 min read
    Spilled jar of pound coins
  • 14 September 2026

    40% taxpayers urged to claim pension perk as HMRC acts on net pay anomaly

    HMRC is finally reaching out to lower earners to correct the net pay anomaly and there has, understandably, been a lot of focus on ensuring the lowest paid aren’t missing out on crucial pension tax perks. But they are not the only pension savers who risk being short-changed if they mistakenly assume pension tax incentives are taken care of...

    7 min read
    HMRC building