magazine archive
magazine archive
Personal Finance
The little-known rule that could boost grandparents’ state pension
Thursday 20 Apr 2023Grandparents could be missing out on thousands more pounds in their state pension when they retire because they aren’t aware of a little-known rule. Grandparents, and other family, who care for children for free could claim National Insurance credits that will help to boost their state pension...
Want to spring clean your portfolio? Here are six areas to consider
Thursday 13 Apr 2023HOW TO SPRING CLEAN YOUR PORTFOLIO If you’re flitting around the house this April, brandishing a feather duster and a mop, spare a thought for your investments, which may need a bit of sprucing up too. Even the most considered portfolios still need regular reviews, in order to keep them on track...
Understanding buy now, pay later, how it works and the reasons to be wary
Thursday 06 Apr 2023If you’ve bought something online recently you will no doubt have been bombarded with different ways to pay at the checkout, including at least one BNPL (buy now, pay later) option. A few years ago, BNPL providers were relatively rare, but they boomed during the pandemic, when online shopping also...
Why it can pay to invest in an ISA as early as possible each tax year
Thursday 30 Mar 2023It’s that time of year when people rush to make the most of their annual ISA allowance before the tax year ends on 5 April. Many people leave this task right until to the last minute. After all, there’s nothing like a deadline to stimulate action. However, a rarer breed of investors will be...
Will Jeremy Hunt's childcare plan really make a difference for parents?
Thursday 23 Mar 2023Jeremy Hunt unveiled a new plan to help parents with childcare costs at the Budget, but lots will be disappointed to miss out as the full scheme won’t be in place until late 2025. The chancellor said that parents will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare a week, per child, from the time...
Building a £1 million tax-efficient portfolio for your children
Thursday 09 Mar 2023Parents who have lots of spare money each year can build up a hefty portfolio for their children by the age of 18 by maximising the tax-efficient accounts available to them. Parents of three children can use a combination of starting early, generous contributions, pensions tax relief and investment...
How tax changes will make ISAs even more valuable to investors
Thursday 02 Mar 2023ISAs are now in their 24th year of existence and very much part of the furniture for many savers and investors. Indeed, they can become so familiar that it’s easy to lose sight of the tax benefits that makes these accounts so attractive in the first place. We also sit on the cusp of a raft of tax...
Beware: there is a sneaky tax rule that eats into your child’s savings
Thursday 23 Feb 2023Parents who diligently put money away in savings accounts for their children wouldn’t expect to be hit with a tax bill, but a little-known rule means that taxman could take some of the interest from your child’s savings. This tax rule means that once your child earns £100 or more in interest on...
What is Britcoin, will it replace cash and is it a good idea?
Thursday 16 Feb 2023The Government has announced it is moving forward with the development of a digital pound, which has been widely dubbed ‘Britcoin’. A final decision on whether to launch the digital currency has not been taken yet, and if it does come to pass, it will happen towards the end of this decade. In the...
Eight big tips to beat the taxman this April
Thursday 09 Feb 2023Tax year end is less than two months away, which means it’s time to get your financial affairs in order and make sure you’re making the most of all your allowances and not unnecessarily handing over money to the taxman. Here’s our checklist of eight things to do before 5 April to make sure your...