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.
7 November 2025
The most popular passive investments this yearPassive investing has grown in popularity in recent years due to its strong performance, ease in diversification and (typically) lower fees than active options.
These funds track a specific stock index, such as the FTSE 100 or S&P 500. You can usually choose to invest in passive funds either through an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or a more...
6 November 2025
These investments could help pay your energy billsI am a miser when it comes to putting on the heating. My family has a long-standing tradition of telling each other to ‘layer up’ and leaving the oven open after cooking to make the most of the electricity spent.
But last winter, when my flat became known in my social circles as ‘the igloo’, I realised I may have gone too far. I kicked on my unit...
3 November 2025
You might be investing in a company you hate - what can you do?Passive investing has surged in popularity over the past decade, as investors are attracted by the lower costs and, often, better performance.
The method makes sense for many people. It facilitates exposure to a large number of holdings and is a hands-off way to make your money work for you. However, because there are so many investments in a fund...
30 October 2025
Will Gen Z pensions need millions to fund retirement?How much money you need to save in your pension is an age-old question, and notoriously hard to answer.
Even those that are at retirement age aren’t able to perfectly estimate what they’ll need. There could be unexpected health issues, home expenses, or market volatility that you weren’t able to anticipate.
These numbers get even more vague when we...
23 October 2025
Can you prepare your finances for the Budget?The upcoming Budget has left many people feeling antsy about their finances, and fearful of impending taxes. As the day draws closer, investors are making decisions based on rumours in a process rivalling the Traitor's roundtable.
It’s an understandable phenomenon, even if we don’t have Alan Carr pulling the strings. No one wants to be blindsided...
17 October 2025
Is it time to market-proof your portfolio?Investing can be an exciting process, and just as easily, a nerve-racking one.
Lately, the news has been rife with concerns about markets, causing some investors to feel antsy about their holdings. Unfortunately, volatility is just part of having money in the market. If you were guaranteed to make profits all the time, everyone would be doing it!
S...
16 October 2025
How AI can (and can’t) help you investAI is becoming a staple in many of our routines, whether it's creating an itinerary for a weekend away or concocting a recipe from leftovers in the fridge. And now, according to a survey run by AJ Bell through Opinium, about a third of people have used AI to help make financial decisions or get financial information.
The stakes are a lot higher...
15 October 2025
What to do when you’re laid off – right as you’re nearing retirementThe last years of your career aren’t something that’s usually associated with uncertainty. In many cases, you’ll have been at the company for years and bring a wealth of knowledge that has earned you status as a senior member of staff.
But often, a senior status comes with a fatter pay cheque. And in the event of a round of layoffs, this might push...
2 October 2025
Do you need to file for self-assessment? Put these deadlines in your diaryThe first in a string of deadlines for self-assessment tax returns falls on 5 October and this and the key dates which follow it are important. Knowing which ones apply to you can help you avoid a big fine in the future.
Some filing self-assessments may have completed the process much earlier this year, but it can be an easy thing to put off until...
2 October 2025
Do I pay tax on the state pension?Even though you receive the state pension from the government, it still is classified as taxable income. The full state pension is currently £230.25 a week, equivalent to £11,973 a year. This is based on 35 full qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. What you'll get will depend on your own record, and the number of qualifying years...
