About the expert

Hannah joined AJ Bell in 2025 as an investment writer. She was previously a journalist at Portfolio Adviser Magazine, reporting on multi-asset, fixed income and equity funds, as well as macroeconomic impacts and regulatory changes within the industry.

Hannah earned a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin before beginning her career in London. Before joining the finance industry, she covered state politics in Texas and worked as a sports reporter.

Latest articles from Hannah Williford

  • 9 April 2026

    Sitting on losses? Why cashing out typically isn’t the right move

    Markets have felt like wild ride so far this year. But, when we look at the returns for many of the main markets since the start of 2026 then, by the standards of someone who follows markets for a living, the picture doesn’t look so dramatic.

    The MSCI World dropped by 1.7% from the start of the year to the end of March, making for a negative first...

    6 min read
    Financial markets screen
  • 6 April 2026

    What can I use a Lifetime ISA for?

    Discover how a Lifetime ISA can be used to save for your first home or retirement, the benefits of each, and how to invest strategically for your specific goals.

    7 min read
    Couple buying a house
  • 6 April 2026

    Investing goals

    Planning your financial future can be overwhelming. Discover four popular financial goals and how to create clear objectives and timelines.

    12 min read
    Investing goals planning
  • 2 April 2026

    The markets still winning amid the 2026 selloff

    While some market crises seem to be limited to a single country or region, others are happy to rope everyone in. In the past month, it’s become increasingly clear that the war in Iran is a crisis that’s not leaving anyone out. Jumps in energy prices caused by the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have investors scrambling to determine what...

    8 min read
    Strait of Hormuz
  • 2 April 2026

    Three tips to start the new tax year on the right foot

    The 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...

    6 min read
    Calendar
  • 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...

    7 min read
    Woman on laptop
  • 20 March 2026

    Not ready to invest yet? You can still make use of your ISA

    It’s perfectly normal to be nervous about putting money into the markets during uncertain times, such as the conflict in the Middle East, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking advantage of the generous ISA allowance.

    Investors have the option to put money in their Stocks and shares ISA or Lifetime ISA now and invest another day. By topping up...

    5 min read
    Man using mobile phone
  • 19 March 2026

    US exodus: AJ Bell investors bring their holdings home

    In the past year, AJ Bell investors have changed course: instead of putting their money across the pond in the US market, they’ve been bringing their funds home.

    While last year saw DIY investors withdraw large amounts of money from the North American funds sector, AJ Bell data also showed notable withdrawals from UK All Companies sector funds...

    5 min read
    Leaving America
  • 18 March 2026

    What is ‘stagflation’ and why is it a worry?

    ‘Stagflation’ is a term that makes regular rounds on the news and can be a point of real concern for the markets.

    It refers to an economic condition when inflation is rising, but gross domestic product (GDP) and employment levels are flat or shrinking. This means that while goods and services are getting increasingly more expensive, the country is...

    5 min read
    What is ‘stagflation’ and why is it a worry?