Market update – December 2025

Speculation over the possibility that the US stock market is in an AI-fuelled bubble has continued during the final quarter of 2025. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned of market “complacency”, noting that concentration risk is now “substantially higher than during the dotcom bubble”. The 43-day US government shutdown eventually Read the full article…

Posted in Financial News |

Autumn Budget 2025

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, delivered her second Autumn Budget on 26th November. After months of speculation, the actual changes announced were more widespread than dramatic, but did include an extension of the freeze in income tax thresholds to April 2031. Other changes included a reduction in the Read the full article…

Posted in Financial News |

Christmas opening hours

Freedom Financial Planning will be closed from 5.30pm Tuesday 16th December and will re-open at 9.30am on Monday 5th January. Throughout 2025 I have continued to provide independent financial advice that is honest, practical and straightforward. I look forward to helping my clients continue to work towards their financial goals Read the full article…

Posted in Freedom News |

State pension for 2026/27 tax year

The UK state pension is expected to increase by 4.8% from 6th April 2026, taking the flat-rate state pension to £241.30 per week (up from the previous £230.25 per week). This equates to just under £12,550 per year or around £1,045 per month. The increase will be confirmed in the Read the full article…

Posted in Financial News |

Market update – September 2025

As expected, the Federal Reserve (Fed) reduced US interest rates by 25 basis points to a range of 4% to 4.25% at the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC’s) September meeting, taking the key federal funds rate to their lowest level since December 2022. This was the Fed’s first rate cut Read the full article…

Posted in Financial News |