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...

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...

16 February 2026

Bonds are flying under the radar: are passive or active funds best for exposure?

Equity markets have kept investors on their toes in the last year. Between a stream of tariff announcements, policy shifts, and AI speculation, there have been more than enough factors to keep track of.

While equity markets often take the spotlight, bonds have been chugging along in the background with their own share of changes. So, what do...

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...

12 February 2026

Applying for a mortgage? What to consider

Buying a home is an equally exciting and exhausting process. By the time you get to sorting out your...

11 February 2026

Will you be impacted by the state pension age increase?

The state pension is the bedrock upon which millions of Brits build their retirement plans. However, the sands are shifting, with a long-trailed hike in the state pension age to 67 kicking off from April this year and completing in 2028.

In the short term, that is a recipe for confusion – many of those affected during the transition will inevitably...

11 February 2026

How simplifying your portfolio can save you cash

A golden rule of investing is not having everything in one basket so you’re not caught out if something goes wrong with one of your holdings. But a less discussed point is how to do it and how doing it effectively can really save you money.

Ultimately when it comes to diversification what matters is not how many funds you hold, but their underlying...

5 February 2026

How to sell shares and what to watch for

If you invest through a platform, the process of selling shares is relatively simple. You can log into your account, see the quoted price, and click through to sell. But, to ensure the transaction is as efficient as possible, and that you’re making a smart choice, here’s what to keep in mind.

Knowing when to sell

Realistically, no one knows the...

4 February 2026

Just three steps could save you hundreds of pounds in 2026

After many spent January penny pinching, February brings a bit of good news for bank accounts: most people will not pay council tax payment this month or next month, which might make achieving regular investing goals a bit easier.

For most (but not all) people, council tax payments are split across 10 months, with no charge in February or March...

30 January 2026

You might be closer to achieving your pension plan than you think

When it comes time to hang up the boots, it’s common to face anxiety about our savings being enough for the retirement we imagined.

Preparing for retirement, we often think about how much we plan to spend, whether that’s continuing a similar lifestyle to your current one or abandoning the UK winters for sea-side sun. Depending on the plans, this...