21 September 2026

Women hold less than men in ISAs despite more women paying in

Women held nearly £3,000 less than men in their ISA on average according to HMRC’s latest data.

The average man’s ISA was worth £39,370 in 2023/24, compared to £36,371 for women, leaving a gap of £2,999. This isn’t a lack of effort on women’s part, rather they’re hampered by their reliance on Cash ISAs.

Women are pulling out all the stops to build...

18 September 2026

Alzheimer’s and dementia: the financial risks, how to prevent them

The sheer number of people facing Alzheimer’s and dementia means there’s every chance that you’ll come into contact with it during your life – either as a sufferer, a carer, or a family member of someone with it. It can be incredibly distressing for everyone involved, but it can also have profound financial implications.

In the early stages, even...

11 September 2026

What my dad’s care taught me about planning for later life

Andy Burnham has pledged to fix the social care system. It’s clearly a personal mission, driven by his own experiences, but he’s not the first prime minister to make that promise. When my dad first needed care in 2018, it was a year after Theresa May had announced plans for reform, and a year before Boris Johnson promised to solve the issue once...

5 September 2026

£306 billion earns no interest: you need a savings plan

Saving is hard work. With prices rising on all sides, we’re going all-out to squirrel cash away to protect us from the unexpected and build towards the things we really want in life. So, when we’re putting a shift in, it’s disappointing if our savings aren’t working as hard on our behalf.

The ONS’ household saving ratio – the percentage of total...

4 September 2026

Thinking of acting before the Autumn Budget? Read this first

Budget speculation season is easing into its stride, with Andy Burnham coming under increasing pressure to discuss possible tax hikes. Anything other than flat-out denial is being seen as a potential sign of higher taxes.

As the weeks wear on, we can expect more of this, and there’s an increasing danger that people feel they need to take steps...

29 August 2026

Mid-life career woes are widespread, but women get hit hardest

The jobs market is especially tough at the moment for graduates with the advent of AI changing the workforce, but unfortunately it's not necessarily easier for those who are already several years or even decades into their careers.

Almost half of women (47%) said they found it harder to get a job in mid-life, compared to earlier in life, while 40%...

27 August 2026

Strategies parents are using to pay for private school

More than half a million families will be hit with a huge bill before school term starts in September. The first term’s fees for private school are due, and they can be eye-watering. If your children or grandchildren are among them, it’s worth considering the best ways to cover the cost.

Often parents will try to pay out of their income, which can...

20 August 2026

Self-employed? How to avoid a retirement savings shock

Self-employed people are so busy running their own businesses that they could be sleepwalking into a pension nightmare. Only around a fifth of them pay into a pension and even when they do, they pay in less than their employed counterparts.

On top of that, there’s no employer contribution to make up the difference. It’s no wonder that so many self...

19 August 2026

What to know before giving a gift with strings attached

As inheritance tax (IHT) changes loom large, more people will be considering giving gifts during their lifetime to cut their tax bill. However, different gifting methods offer varying degrees of flexibility.

If the individual making the gift is not really ready to let it go, or they’re worried about what their family might do with the money, they...