24 August 2026

Turning 55 before 2028? Pension access questions answered

Changes to the minimum age you can access a pension are due in April 2028, pushing the number up from 55 to 57.

The question of what happens to people born between April 1971 and April 1973, who would previously have had access from a younger age, is still to be confirmed but we’ve now had draft regulations which give an indication of the current...

24 August 2026

What should pension savers consider before taking their tax-free cash?

With the Budget fast approaching, the rumour mill is, as usual, going into overdrive over whether there will be changes to pensions tax incentives from October.

Those who have built up larger pension pots must feel somewhat caught in the headlights. But trying to make decisions based on policy rumours becomes a guessing game.

Whether and when to...

13 August 2026

HMRC’s two-tier IHT plan risks unfairly penalising pensions

From April 2027, unused pensions will be brought under the umbrella of inheritance tax (IHT), as well as their current tax policy of possibly facing income tax upon withdrawal. Now, HMRC is introducing more details on how this pension inheritance tax would be approached.

Under the plans, inheritance could be subject to a two-tier tax system, where...

15 July 2026

What a new prime minister could mean for your money

Former mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham is set to become prime minister on 20 July, the seventh person to hold the position in the past decade.

After several weeks of limbo we're about to get a glimpse at what a Burnham premiership could mean for the nation’s finances. Currently, there's more we don’t know than that which we do, but there have been...

25 June 2026

What we know about the ‘first time buyer ISA’

The treasury has published a consultation that gives us the broad shape of the new ‘first time buyer ISA' but leaves us guessing on some of the most important aspects. There is still no detail on the level of government bonus, subscription limits or property price cap, making it difficult to judge whether this new product will be a meaningful...

25 June 2026

Five pension inheritance tax issues families should plan for now

From 6 April 2027, unused pensions will be included in calculations for inheritance tax (IHT). As well as introducing new complexities for people who planned to keep excess savings in their pension to pass on to loved ones, the new regime also creates extra challenges for those dealing with the estate after someone dies.

Personal representatives...

4 June 2026

Salary sacrifice changes: what they could mean for you

HMRC estimates more than 2.8 million people could cut their pension contributions once the salary sacrifice cap is introduced in April 2029. Though this is guesswork and the Office for Budgetary Responsibility has warned that the behavioural impact of the new cap on pension saving is highly uncertain.

This is not a simple case of higher earners...