UK housing market – rising borrowing costs and wider geopolitical uncertainty weigh heavily on market sentiment Prime property markets – buyers and sellers significantly less confident than they were at the end of Q4 Affordable towns – finding a budget-friendly home might mean casting the net a little wider RICS Market Survey The latest UK […]
Author Archives: matthew
Commercial Property Review – April 2026
UK Commercial real estate – Q1 capital values remained flat and 1.4% quarterly total returns driven by income returns New business rates – new rateable values hit over two million non-domestic English properties from 1 April Retail and hotel – experiential retail transforms the sector and UK hotel investment exceeds £1bn in Q1 Commercial market […]
Investor confidence 2026
74% of advised investors plan to increase contributions this year Emotional reactions to markets are more common among non-advised investors Professional guidance improves discipline and long-term investing outcomes How confident do you feel as an investor? There are so many factors that can impact confidence, from level of knowledge and experience to market movements and […]
Dividend Tax – what’s changing?
Ordinary and upper Dividend Tax rates rise by two percentage points Dividend Allowance remains £500 per tax year outside ISAs Reviewing your combination of salary, dividends and pension can improve efficiency From April 2026, changes to Dividend Tax kick in. While most of the Chancellor’s tax announcements from her November Budget will commence towards the […]
Economic green shoots of spring?
Global growth is projected at 3.3% in 2026 amid cautious optimism Trade cooperation and AI investment are key economic drivers Policymakers must balance inflation control with long-term resilience After a long, cold winter, there are tentative signs that spring is arriving. With hope in the air – what lies ahead for the global economy? Uncertainty […]
Dividend outlook – growth expectations for 2026
UK dividends are projected to reach £88.8bn, up 1.5% year-on-year Underlying growth suggests resilience despite macroeconomic headwinds Global payouts are expected to rise 2.9% to $2.47trn Following growth of 1.3% in the fourth quarter and total headline payouts of £87.5bn in 2025, UK dividend expectations for the year ahead are positive, according to the latest […]
Are your family ready for the largest intergenerational transfer in history?
Up to 70% of family wealth can be lost by the second generation without structured planning IHT changes and pension reforms could accelerate gifting and estate restructuring decisions Open communication and professional guidance improve long-term wealth preservation outcomes The world is on the brink of an unprecedented transfer of wealth. A notable World Wealth Report¹, […]
Build momentum from day one – new tax year planning
Using your ISA allowance early increases potential tax-free growth opportunities Pension contributions attract relief and may reduce higher-rate tax exposure Early planning helps optimise capital gains and Inheritance Tax allowances A new tax year feels a bit like spring cleaning for your finances – a fresh start, new allowances and a chance to put good […]
News in Review
The latest figures from Nationwide show that UK house prices grew by an annual rise of 2.2% As the Middle East conflict strains the UK-US relationship, urgent plans are underway to strengthen EU economic ties An estimated 2.7 million workers received a pay rise last week, as the national minimum wage increased “Housing market activity […]
Economic Review March 2026
Office for Budget Responsibility warned the Middle East conflict will impact both global and UK economies significantly Last month, Bank of England policymakers unanimously voted to maintain interest rates at their current level of 3.75% Office for National Statistics figures indicate pay growth is slowest for five years and consumer confidence dipped Middle East conflict […]
