Author Archives: Emma

Stock market performance for the year to date has been dominated by the potential impact of US trade tariffs. US markets had initially risen following Donald Trump’s inauguration, buoyed by his “America First” policy programme. These gains were short-lived, as US markets then declined sharply during February. Investors remain worried Read the full article…

The deadline of 5 April 2025 is fast approaching to pay voluntary national insurance (NI) contributions on gaps in your NI record between 2006 and 2018. Topping up can potentially make a huge difference to the amount you receive in state pension, and in some cases, partial years can be Read the full article…

2024 was dominated by geopolitical uncertainty, as over 80 countries, between them holding roughly half of the world’s population, voted in pivotal national elections. Meanwhile, interest rates remained at elevated levels for longer than expected due to inflation proving stickier than forecast, leading to increased market volatility. News and investor Read the full article…

The increase to the state pension from 6th April 2025 has been confirmed as 4.1%, taking the flat-rate state pension to £230.30 per week (up from the previous £221.20 per week). This equates to just over £12,000 per year or £1,000 per month. The increase was confirmed in the Autumn Read the full article…

The Autumn Budget was delivered by the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, on 30th October. The headline announcement was an increase in the main rate of employer National Insurance contributions from 13.8% to 15% and a reduction in the earnings threshold for employers from £9,100 to £5,000 (both Read the full article…