We’re a year on from Rachel Reeves becoming Chancellor. Political difficulties in cutting spending put tax back in the frame. 6 ways to get ahead of any potential tax rises in the autumn Budget. Posted on Monday Jun 30
Millions more people could get help navigating their financial lives with support on pensions and investments, under proposals announced today by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Posted on Monday Jun 30
Buy-in deal is for £44 million and covers around 500 members. The trustees were advised by Barnett Waddingham and Eversheds Sutherland, Royal London was advised by Mayer Brown Posted on Friday Jun 27
Pension Insurance Corporation plc (“PIC”), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension schemes, has concluded simultaneous buy-ins with three schemes sponsored by Baker Hughes (“the Company”): the Baker Hughes (UK) Pension Plan, the Brush Group Pension Scheme, and the Pipeline Integrity International (PII) Group Pension Scheme. The buy-ins cover liabilities of £900 million and secure the pensions of over 3,000 pensioners and dependants, and nearly 4,000 deferred members. Posted on Thursday Jun 26
Following the Government’s announcement of its consultation on climate-related transition plan requirements, Claire Jones, Partner & Head of Responsible Investment at LCP, shares her thoughts below. Posted on Thursday Jun 26
The Pyramid Stage is up, and the fringe events are beginning - but for the last time in two years, as Glastonbury has announced that 2026 will be a fallow year. While disappointing for music fans, next year is a chance for the Somerset fields (and around 210,000 festival lovers) to rest and recover – and Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, suggests considering a similar approach to your finances. Posted on Wednesday Jun 25
Households can bring in over £16,000 in tax-free income using these tax breaks. Couples where one is a non-taxpayer can benefit from full marriage allowance and £5,000 tax-free interest on cash savings. Rent-a-room and trading allowance offer up to £8,500 tax-free income. Tax-free childcare remains underused, despite 20% subsidy available to working parents Posted on Wednesday Jun 25
Equity markets largely trade higher as fragile ceasefire holds. More nervousness creeping in amid reports Iran retains significant nuclear capability. Brent Crude prices edge up amid the uncertainty and industry data indicating tighter supplies in the market. NATO summit in The Hague is set to wrap up with big pledges on increasing defence funding. Posted on Wednesday Jun 25
Adding 1p on basic rate income tax could raise £6.9 billion more in 2026/7, £8.25 billion in 2027/8 year and £8.2 billion in 2028/9. Adding 1p on higher rate income tax could raise £1.6 billion more in 2026/7, £2.15 billion in 2027/28 and £2.1 billion in 2028/9. Raising the main rate of Class 1 National Insurance for employees by 1p could raise £5.35 billion in 2026/7, £5.3 billion in 2027/8 and £5.4 billion in 2028/9. Raising the standard rate of VAT by one percentage point could raise £8.8 billion in 2026/7, £9.2 billion in 2027/8 and £9.55 billion in 2028/9. Posted on Tuesday Jun 24
54% envision deal activity to increase despite a record slow start for 2025, suggesting a wave of deals once markets stabilise. Yet 65% of HR teams feel less than fully prepared to handle their deal portfolio. 78% said identifying key talent with special skill sets below executive level is highest due diligence priority. 65% also believe Gen AI will impact deal making process in the next two years. But most dealmakers are in “wait and see” mode rather than being early adopters. Posted on Tuesday Jun 24
NS&I have reduced the Premium Bonds prize fund rate to 3.60% from 3.80% from the August 2025 draw. The odds remain unchanged at 22,000 to 1 Posted on Tuesday Jun 24
Patrick Thomson, Head of Research Analysis and Policy, Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement, comments on the government’s Industrial Strategy Posted on Monday Jun 23
This morning’s HMRC update shows that Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts recorded a total of £701 million in May 2025. That brings the total IHT collected in the first two months of the 2025/26 financial year to £1.48 billion, an increase of just under £100 million (£97 million) compared to the same period in 2024/25 (£1.38 billion). Posted on Friday Jun 20
This morning’s HMRC update shows that Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts totalled £1.48 billion through April and May – the first two months of the 2025/26 financial year. Posted on Friday Jun 20
Hymans Robertson, Mercer, XPS Group, Standard Life, Schroders and LCP comment on today’s base rate as rates held at 4.25%, announced today by the Bank of England Posted on Thursday Jun 19
It’s not hard to find reasons to be negative about the UK’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM). Companies seem to be leaving on a daily basis, former market giants are struggling and IPOs are scarcer than tax breaks on budget day. But birthdays deserve a bit of celebration, so here are five reasons to be positive about the future of AIM according to Nicholas Hyett, Investment Manager at Wealth Club. Posted on Thursday Jun 19
James Bilson, Fixed Income Strategist, Schroders Global Unconstrained Fixed Income, shares his latest outlook for global bonds and the team's asset allocation views. Let’s keep this brief. Our outlook is little changed from our latest update a month ago. Posted on Thursday Jun 19
Standard Life and Hargreaves Lansdown comment as CPI inflation fell slightly to 3.4% in May. It had been published at 3.5% in April, but this included a miscalculation of the impact of new car tax rates. With the correct calculation, this would have been 3.4%. On a monthly basis, it was up 0.2% (0.3% a year earlier). Core CPI (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) was 3.5% (down from 3.8% in April) and services inflation was 4.7% (5.4% in April). Posted on Wednesday Jun 18
Investors in risk-off mood as Iran-Israel conflict looks set to intensify. Major indices look set to trade flat after falls on Tuesday. UK CPI inflation doesn’t budge in May, remaining at 3.4%. Oil prices remain at four-month highs, causing fresh inflationary risks. Fed and Bank of England policymakers look set to keep rates on hold. Posted on Wednesday Jun 18
Just Group has completed a £7m buy-in with The McGregor Construction (Highlands) Limited Pension Plan (the “Scheme”). The buy-in was completed in April 2025 and secures the benefits of 66 pensioner and 8 deferred members at PPF+ levels. Posted on Monday Jun 16
AIM celebrates its 30th anniversary on 19 June 2025. Eleven companies from the first six months of AIM’s existence in 1995 are still on the UK market today. Three of these companies are now on the Main Market, one of which is in the FTSE 100. Investors could have made significant returns with one of the ‘early bird’ AIM stocks. Reasons why AIM has not been an outright failure Posted on Friday Jun 13
Half (50%) of Fiduciary Managers adjusted equity exposure following ‘Liberation Day’. One-third (33%) downgraded their equity outlook in response to Trump tariffs. One-third (33%) say IG credit is now more attractive. Strategic allocations and hedging targets are largely unchanged, but may need review if volatility persists Posted on Friday Jun 13
Israeli jets hit Iranian targets including nuclear enrichment facility. FTSE futures point down after record close. US stocks set to reverse yesterday’s gains. Odds shorten on September US rate cut after benign inflation print. Gold at seven-week high over $3,400 per oz. Brent crude surges to around $76 per barrel. Posted on Friday Jun 13
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