Equity release update

Data suggests that confidence is growing among new and existing equity release customers.  Equity release customers rose by 12% in Q2 of this year, with total lending increasing by 15% to £578m1. There was also a quarterly and annual increase in the average loan size, which indicates that customer confidence is being restored.  More taking …

Which pension personality are you?

A recent study1 has identified several distinct pension personality types, each with its own strengths and challenges. Which one resonates with you?  Procrastination Pete and Paula are the most common type, often overwhelmed by the complexities of pensions. This group is likely to make poor decisions, such as hastily withdrawing a 25% tax-free lump sum …

HNWIs on the rise – and their needs are changing

A new report1 suggests the wealth of ‘high-net-worth-individuals’ (HNWIs) – grew by 4.7% in 2023, with the HNWI population increasing by 5.1% to 22.8 million globally.  What’s behind the increase?  Global economic uncertainty, higher interest rates and rising political tensions led to significant declines in HNWI wealth (3.6%) and population (3.3%) in 2022. However, the …

In the news

Northern cities surge in mortgage searches   As buyers consider more affordable housing options beyond the capital, the six major Northern cities of Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle have witnessed a significant increase in purchase mortgage searches and now account for almost 11% of all mortgage search activity, up by two-thirds on last year1. …

The new Renters’ Rights Bill – what does it mean? 

The Labour government has designed a Renters’ Rights Bill, aiming to improve the rights and protections for tenants.    Changes have already been made to improve rights in Scotland and Wales, so the proposed Bill will be applicable to renters in England, with some elements stretching to Wales.  No more no-fault evictions   The Bill will include …

Uptick in IHT receipts – what lies ahead?

Data1 has shown that Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts have continued their ascent, with £2.8bn received in the April to July period this year. This figure is a substantial £0.2bn increase on the same period in the previous tax year (2023/24).  Frozen thresholds continue to take their toll as IHT, once a tax reserved purely for …

Navigating a multi-retirement reality

Over the years, a number of notable trends, such as increased longevity and individuals taking on greater responsibility for their pension provision, have clearly altered the retirement landscape significantly. Now, new trends look set to further change the face of retirement, adding complexity to the retirement planning process and making early planning ever more essential.  …