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

  • 5 March 2026

    Want to keep your investments safe from conflict? Where to look

    When frightening headlines start dominating the news, some investors' first instinct is to think of how they can capitalise on it. Others want to stay far away. If you’re in the latter camp, the past week might have been quite worrying.

    More important than the market concerns is the ongoing loss of lives. For those who have been affected in the...

    6 min read
    Twin lighthouses
  • 4 March 2026

    How to speak with your family about inheritance

    Money is something that sits in that uncomfortable zone of being a huge part of life and the topic no one wants to discuss outright. A study by the Money and Pensions Service found that just 52% of Brits are comfortable speaking to their family about finances.

    Often, when the conversations do happen, it can be in vague terms that make it difficult...

    7 min read
    Happy senior parents meeting young couple inside the house
  • 26 February 2026

    Can you afford the house you want?

    Buying a home is the biggest purchase that most of us will make, and it has a massive impact on day-to-day life. For many, a first home will be the place they plan to start a family or enjoy the first years of married life. It doesn’t stop there: finding bigger homes or downsizing later in life are just as much the start of a new chapter.

    We want...

    5 min read
    Looking in an estate agent's window
  • 24 February 2026

    Will you earn more investing all at once or monthly?

    Taking your money out of a savings account to put into the market might feel like standing on the edge of a high dive.

    So, it makes sense that many investors choose to wade in, by investing just a bit each month, before building up the courage for a full plunge.

    The idea of ‘a little bit often’ feels intuitive because it’s the way we approach many...

    4 min read
    A man and woman looking at figures on a computer screen
  • 19 February 2026

    Should you be investing more in your pension or ISA?

    As much as we may want to invest, for most of us, there’s only so much money left over each month to put in the market. This means needing to pick and choose what we invest for, and how to make those investments. Fortunately, the UK offers two tax-efficient wrappers for investments through pensions and ISAs which can be a good starting point for...

    6 min read
    Lady with baby investing on a computer
  • 18 February 2026

    When to call it quits on an investment

    If you were invested in an index fund last year, there’s a good chance that your investment made money. In the past year, the MSCI World returned 12.8%, the FTSE returned 25.8% and, despite it’s early wobble, the S&P 500 returned 8.4% (all in pounds sterling and based on data from FE Fundinfo).

    But this success might leave some investors with a...

    6 min read
    Man on phone at laptop
  • 18 February 2026

    How I invest: taking responsibility for managing the pension pot

    For the past few decades, Ian’s life has been a whirl of raising two children with his wife and trekking up the corporate ladder to become a chief technology officer, while fitting in a few nice holidays along the way.

    But now, he’s taking some well-deserved rest. Ian is in his late 50s and both of his children have flown the nest to start...

    6 min read
    Shares magazine
    A man standing on a pile of money
  • 13 February 2026

    Investors are cooling on money market funds: where are they heading now?

    So far this year, AJ Bell DIY investors are a bit more adventurous than in 2025, with less interest in money market funds than was seen last year, and more interest in UK and global funds.

    However, two areas that investors seem to be cooling on are funds focused on tech and North America. Some of this movement is likely due to geopolitical nerves...

    4 min read
    An image of American currency with ice cubes