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
Just Group has completed a c. £150m pensioner buy-in with the MGN Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), sponsored by Reach plc (“the Sponsor”). The MGN Pension Scheme provides pensions for former employees of Mirror Group Newspapers. Posted on Thursday Jun 12
ExactVAL provides life insurers with actuarial valuations and cashflow analysis of defined benefit pension schemes. Acquisition deepens Broadstone’s offering to life insurers in the competitive bulk purchase annuity market Posted on Thursday Jun 12
Schroders' Global Investor Insights Survey spans nearly 1000 institutional investors and wealth managers globally, encompassing US $67 trillion in assets. Four in five investors (80%) are somewhat or significantly more likely to increase their use of actively managed investment strategies in the year ahead. Trade tariffs were selected by nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) as the biggest macroeconomic concern. 'Portfolio resilience' was the overwhelming top priority for portfolios for the next 18 months, selected by more than half of all surveyed (55%). Of the investors who prioritised portfolio resilience, 82% said they are increasingly looking to harness active management. Posted on Thursday Jun 12
Shares in private companies will be traded on the PISCES platform. It will open the door to more opportunities for investors, facilitating their access to growth companies. As companies choose to stay private for longer, there is demand for investors to trade private company shares more easily and efficiently in an organised marketplace. Companies can set the floor and ceiling of share prices and have a say over who can buy their shares. Posted on Wednesday Jun 11
Insurance Europe has published its response to the European Commission’s call for evidence on revising the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). European (re)insurers support a review of the SFDR that improves clarity and consistency, while keeping its role as a transparency tool - not turning it into a product labelling system. Posted on Wednesday Jun 11
A new type of private stock market will be launched later this year after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced the final rules for its Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES). Posted on Tuesday Jun 10
Research from HSBC Life (UK) for its new report, The Three I’s of Investable Capital 2025, reveals 80% of clients are now concerned about intergenerational planning – up from 75% in 2022 – with 39% saying it is highly important compared with 34% previously in 2022. Posted on Tuesday Jun 3
The £22 million transaction covers around 200 members. The trustees were advised by Hymans Robertson and Squire Patton Boggs. This is Royal London’s tenth buy-in deal and second transaction working with Capital Cranfield Posted on Friday May 30
In London, that proportion has grown from 17% to 28% over the same period. Over a fifth (22%) of those with the opportunity to move or buy mortgage products in the last three years did not compare rates. Posted on Friday May 30
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