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Tax charges on pension savers surge 22%

Private pension statistics from HM Revenue & Customs last week showed that both the number of charges against the pensions annual allowance (AA) and the value of contributions in excess of the AA, reported via self-assessment (SA), increased significantly between 2023/24 and 2024/25:
Posted on Monday Aug 3

Touching records on both sides of the pond

Richard Hunter, Head of Markets at interactive investor, commented “US markets ended a rollercoaster month on a high, as investors looked through rising bond yields and persistent AI spending concerns.
Posted on Monday Aug 3

Aviva completes £300m buy-in with Elementis Group Pension

Aviva has completed a £300 million bulk purchase annuity buy-in with the Trustee of Elementis Group Pension Scheme, securing the benefits of 4,500 members. The transaction covers defined benefit liabilities and enables a subset of members to access additional voluntary contributions as a primary source of tax-free cash through Aviva’s integrated DB&C Master Trust solution.
Posted on Monday Aug 3

IHT impacting higher proportion of families

HMRC's latest Inheritance Tax liabilities statistics show that 4.72% of UK deaths resulted in an Inheritance Tax (IHT) charge in 2023/24. It marks an increase compared with 4.62% in 2022/23.
Posted on Monday Aug 3

Inheritance tax liabilities hit record ahead of IHT reforms

In 2023/24 we paid a record £7.03 billion in inheritance tax. This is up £0.33 billion (5%) in a year – partly because of frozen tax thresholds and rising asset values. 4.72% of UK deaths led to an IHT bill – up 0.10 percentage points in a year. This is the highest level since the all-time peak of 5.96% in 2006-07. There were 30,400 IHT-paying estates – a decrease of 3.6% in a year.
Posted on Thursday Jul 30

Six reasons the FTSE 100 has hit a record high

The FTSE 100 reached a new all-time high as its low technology weighting insulated it from the global semiconductor sell-off. Energy, mining, and banking heavyweights have turned higher oil prices, firm commodity markets and an elevated interest rate into relative strengths. Cheaper valuations and higher dividends are helping UK shares stand out as investors look to diversify away from concentrated technology exposure
Posted on Thursday Jul 30

Royal London secure £208m BPA transaction with Hickson Group

Transaction secures the benefits of over 1,250 members. Third largest external BPA transaction completed by Royal London to date. Demonstrates continued strength in the mid-sized bulk annuity market
Posted on Thursday Jul 30

Aviva completes £180m full buy-in with Aston Martin Lagonda

Aviva has completed a £180 million bulk purchase annuity buy-in with the Trustee of the Aston Martin Lagonda Pension Scheme, securing the benefits of around 540 pensioners and 1,050 deferred members. The Scheme is sponsored by Aston Martin, the luxury high-performance car manufacturer.
Posted on Wednesday Jul 29

Tensions flare in Middle East and AI sell off continues

Middle East tensions reignite as hopes of diplomatic breakthrough fade. Oil prices edge higher, reviving concerns about inflation and interest rates. FTSE 100 stays resilient, with energy stocks gaining ground. AI sell-off deepens as investors reassess chip valuations and competition. Fed meeting in focus with markets watching for September rate hike signals. Greggs profits rise 20% as value offering continues to tempt cash-conscious consumers.
Posted on Wednesday Jul 29

Scots could save £46k in income tax by living in England

Rathbones has warned that without reform of Scotland’s income tax regime, higher and more complex taxes will drive out high earners. Higher rates of top income tax in Scotland are driving high earners to consider commuting to well paid jobs from England, according to Rathbones Group, the largest wealth management firm in both the UK and Scotland.
Posted on Tuesday Jul 28

AI jitters hit chip stocks but FTSE 100 proves resilient

AI-powered market enthusiasm is being tested as chip stocks slide amid concerns over competition, valuations and the next phase of the AI infrastructure boom. The FTSE 100 is proving more resilient thanks to its lack of heavyweight technology exposure.
Posted on Tuesday Jul 28

HMRC collects £1.36bn from IHT probes in last five years

£247 million in Inheritance Tax (IHT) recovered by HMRC in 2024/2025 aloneAmount collected from investigations falls by £38mIHT threshold frozen at £325,000 since 2009, will remain unchanged until at least 2031
Posted on Monday Jul 27

Savers turn to gifting as an IHT fix as pension changes loom

New research from HL shows that nearly a quarter of people said they would gift their pension tax-free cash to loved ones to reduce their inheritance tax liability. Just over a fifth said they would draw an income from their pension and use allowances to gift to loved ones. The same number said they would use different assets such as ISAs to gift to loved ones to reduce the value of their estate. But a fifth said they would spend assets other than their pension to reduce the value of their estate. More than a quarter said they would access financial advice before deciding.
Posted on Monday Jul 27

Oil prices drop as France and Spain count cost of wildfires

Footsie on front foot in early trade as hopes grow that Iran talks could resume, pushing oil prices lower and easing fears of a prolonged energy shock. AstraZeneca shares rise after stronger-than-expected second quarter results. UK borrowing costs retreat slightly, but investors remain cautious as the Burnham administration faces major spending challenges. Wildfires sweeping through France and Spain threaten tourism, agriculture and public finances, while accelerating the case for climate resilience investment. Shein’s profit slump highlights growing pressure on ultra-low-cost fashion models as governments tighten rules on low-value imports.
Posted on Monday Jul 27

Mapfre to acquire the Safety Insurance Group for $1.54bn

Mapfre S.A. ("Mapfre") today announced that Mapfre U.S.A. Corporation (“Mapfre USA”) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Safety Insurance Group, Inc. ("Safety"), a leading property and casualty insurer with a leading position in Massachusetts and a presence in a number of states throughout the Northeast.
Posted on Friday Jul 24

FTSE100 slips, energy fears and AI spending sparks caution

Oil prices surge above $97, heading towards $100 a barrel as Middle East tensions escalate, with fresh fears over disruption to key energy routes including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. easyJet shares rise despite a sharp profit fall, as investors focus on resilient demand, the growth of easyJet Holidays and the potential for further takeover interest. No Burnham bounce for pub operators with Wetherspoon and Mitchells & Butlers facing margin pressure from higher costs, changing consumer habits and renewed oil price concerns. Wall Street is set to open lower as Alphabet’s AI spending plans reignite debate over whether the huge investment required to power the AI revolution will deliver returns quickly enough.
Posted on Thursday Jul 23

Standard Life completes £260m buy-in with ReAssure

Standard Life has completed a £260 million bulk purchase annuity (BPA) transaction with residual risk cover with the ReAssure Staff Pension Scheme, securing the benefits of around 2,750 members.
Posted on Thursday Jul 23

Global mutual insurance hits record $1.61tn in premiums

Mutual and cooperative insurers generated a record USD 1.61 trillion in premium income in 2024 and maintained a 26.1% share of the global insurance market, according to the latest Global Mutual Market Share (MMS) report published today by the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF).
Posted on Wednesday Jul 22

Future beneficiaries banking on ‘essential’ inheritance

43% of people say an inheritance is essential to their financial security, but most (60%) don’t know how much they will get. 20% don’t plan to discuss their plans with their children. 13% would challenge a will if they felt it was unfair
Posted on Wednesday Jul 22

Comments on Inflation boost for the new PM

Standard Life and Schroders comment on UK CPI falling from 2.8% to 2.6% in June, providing welcome relief for households and a favourable economic boost for Andy Burnham’s new administration. However, the slowdown may be temporary with inflation at risk of increasing as a result of higher energy bills, global uncertainty, and the new government’s future spending decisions.

Posted on Wednesday Jul 22

Inflation cools but escalation in Middle East and Black Sea

UK inflation eased to 2.6% in June, helped by lower transport and fuel costs. Core inflation remained at 2.6%, highlighting persistent underlying price pressures. Services inflation eased only slightly and remains stickier than expected. Renewed conflict in the Middle East has sent Brent crude higher to around $93 a barrel, raising the risk of higher fuel and freight costs. The Bank of England is still expected to hold rates steady this month, but policymakers will be watching geopolitical risks closely. A £2 cap on bus fares is the latest reveal in the Burnham administration's cost of living package, but may end up being offset by higher energy prices.
Posted on Wednesday Jul 22

CGT and IHT up again as both hit record year

HMRC’s latest Capital Gains Tax (CGT) data shows receipts of £192m for June 2026, compared to the £144m recorded in June 2025. This follows Receipts of £168 million in May 2026. The figures come after a record year for CGT receipts, which reached £22.2 billion in 2025/26, significantly surpassing the previous record of £16.9 billion in 2022/23 and the £13.7 billion recorded in 2024/25. At the Autumn Budget 2025, the OBR revised up its forecast for CGT receipts to £27.3 billion by 2029-30. Inheritance Tax receipts jump to £871m in June and remain elevated after fifth consecutive record year

Posted on Tuesday Jul 21

Comments on IFS Retirement Savings Consortium Report

Hymans Robertson and Standard Life comment on the IFS retirement savings consortium report
Posted on Tuesday Jul 21

Burnhams VAT carrot begs a bigger question: who pays for it

Commenting, Charlotte Kennedy, Chartered Financial Planner at Rathbones, one of the UK's leading wealth and asset management groups, says: “Andy Burnham has started his premiership with a carrot: scrapping VAT on domestic electricity bills from October. But the saving will vary from household to household, depending on factors including energy use, tariffs, property type, energy efficiency and household size.
Posted on Tuesday Jul 21

M&G completes £760m BPA Transaction for Smiths Group

M&G plc (“M&G”) today announces it has completed a £760 million Bulk Purchase Annuity (BPA) with the Smiths Industries Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), sponsored by FTSE 100 engineering firm Smiths Group. The transaction, which was completed in July 2026, secures the benefits of over 10,000 members and their dependants. This is the Scheme’s fifth and final buy-in, following four earlier pensioner buy-ins with two other insurers, and covers all remaining members including pensioners and deferred members.
Posted on Tuesday Jul 21