17 June 2026

Frozen thresholds drag 7 million into income tax net and 5,000 into IHT

Income tax thresholds have been frozen to the spot since April 2021, and inheritance tax bands since April 2020 – both were three prime ministers ago. These tax rules are set to stay until 2031 – and it’s anyone’s guess how many PMs may come and go in the interim. The number of additional taxpayers created by both freezes is impossible to ignore...

16 June 2026

13 things you should know about inheritance tax

Inheritance tax is positively Byzantine in its complexity, so while most people have got to grips with some of the basics, there will be a myriad of rules they have no idea at all about.

Some of these will be niche areas that only the most dedicated of tax nerds will delve into. It’s why it can be incredibly helpful to have a professional to guide...

15 June 2026

What an Andy Burnham win in crunch by-election could mean for your finances

On 18 June all eyes will be on the Makerfield byelection where mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham faces one of the biggest steps in his potential route to Number 10.

Standing to become an MP has allowed him to be grilled on what he might do if he eventually became prime minister, although we don't have much specific detail yet.

He has been...

12 June 2026

Are your emergency savings keeping up with household spending?

Life is getting more expensive. Inflation may have slowed from the horrendous highs of the post-pandemic period, but we’re still feeling the squeeze. The cost of keeping a roof over our heads rose significantly, with rent and mortgages both up 14%, as rents climbed and homeowners continued to move off cheaper fixed rate mortgages.

The pain of...

9 June 2026

The FIRE alternative early retirement plan

The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement promotes extreme planning for early retirement in your 30, 40s or 50s, achieved via severe cost-cutting, adopting a frugal lifestyle, and saving up to 70% of what you earn. The aim is to build up a pot worth 25 times your annual expenses, and then withdraw it at 4% a year, so it lasts for...

3 June 2026

Five money problems that are nice to have (and how to solve them)

Sharing some problems will always inspire a symphony of the world’s smallest violins. With so many people struggling with job losses or rising prices, it’s hardly surprising that you might not be keen to share your worries that you’re earning too much money or have too much in savings.

However, just because something is a nice problem to have, it...

19 May 2026

Are you wealthier than 90% of Brits?

AJ Bell analysis of HMRC data shows that to be among the top 20% highest earning taxpayers, you need to make £49,900, and to be in the top 10% you need to make £67,400. There will be people on these kinds of incomes who don’t consider themselves wealthy, but it doesn’t matter what you think: it’s what the government thinks that counts when it comes...

13 May 2026

Six steps to protect your money during financial and political turbulence

The drama engulfing Westminster this week is just the latest in a long line of crises that have been unfolding rapidly and unpredictably across the world for months. At times of volatility and uncertainty, it can be difficult to know what to do. Fortunately, there are six steps you can take in any period of upheaval to protect your finances.

1. Don...

6 May 2026

Different generations' financial goals and how to achieve them

New research by AJ Bell explores the top financial goals at each stage in life and found that for Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X, the top three financial goals are retirement savings, money for travel and building an emergency fund.

Among those aged 61 and under, the older you are, the more likely you are to prioritise retirement savings (31% for Gen...