• The National Living Wage is set to rise to £11.44 from April 2024. The new rate will also be extended to 21 & 22 year olds for the first time.
• £7 million over the next three years for educational programmes to ensure more support for schools and universities to understand, recognise and tackle racism.
• Working age benefits will rise by 6.7% from April 2024.
• Local housing allowance will be raised and £120m will be provided to prevent homelessness.
• The Pensions Triple Lock and Pension Credit will be protected and rise in April 2024 by 8.5...

Life can be full of surprises. You can’t be prepared for everything. You may have some insurance to support you financially if the unexpected happens, but have you considered how private medical insurance might offer you and your family the peace of mind you need if your health takes a turn for the worst?

A growing trend
According to data published by The Telegraph, close to half a million people have taken out private medical insurance over the past year, as NHS waiting lists hit record levels this autumn. According to government statist...

Traditionally, the value of financial advice has been measured by monetary results of investment performance and returns. Today, the cost of living crisis is causing many to re-evaluate the benefits of financial advice.

These days, financial planning is about more than simply looking after your money and protecting your wealth. As well as helping you see results in pounds and pence growth, we can also help ensure you are prepared to meet the challenges you may face in life.

Used as a trusted and impartial sounding board, we can hel...

It’s been a difficult year for investors so far. Inflation and political uncertainty have led to market volatility. Market volatility can be scary, especially if the value of your investments drops, but it’s important not to let fear guide your decision about whether to stay invested in your portfolio.

Here are three reassuring reasons for staying invested in the stock market during uncertain times.

01 The best financial decisions are not based on emotion

Emotions can play a big role in your financial decision making if you aren’t vigilan...

Should I get an interest-only mortgage?

If you’re about to come off a fixed rate mortgage, then you could be forgiven for wondering what’s in store for you.

Until relatively recently, interest rates have been at near-historic lows for over a decade. In the last two years, though, they’ve rocketed. Higher interest rates, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis and high inflation levels not seen in almost 40 years, has created uncertainty for those whose fixed-rate deal is about to end.

Homeowners are keen to keep their repayments manageab...

Having ready cash on hand is an essential part of any successful financial plan. When investing, it’s important to hold an emergency fund. This readily available cash will mean you’re prepared to protect yourself against the unexpected and also plays a vital role in maintaining your financial wellbeing.

It’s generally advised to keep between three and six months of household expenditure in an easy access account – more if you work in a particularly volatile sector.

If you’re approaching retirement, you may want to keep even more of yo...

Whilst the Bank of England base rate remains the same, interest rates are still the highest they have been in 15 years. So if you are one of the thousands coming to the end of your fixed rate deal over the next few months it’s very likely you’ll see your payments increase as a result of higher mortgage rates but it’s a common misunderstanding that the Bank of England base rate is directly linked to the mortgage rates on offer. There are many factors that determine mortgage rate pricing.

Lots of factors determine mortgage pricing – not jus...