James Heppe-Smith
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State Pension Top-Ups 2026: The Voluntary National Insurance Guide
Read more: State Pension Top-Ups 2026: The Voluntary National Insurance GuideFilling a gap in your National Insurance record can be one of the highest-return moves in UK personal finance: roughly £957 to buy a year that adds about £358 to your State Pension every year for life. But it is not right for everyone, and you must check your forecast before you pay a penny.…
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UK debt interest hit a record £11.7bn in May 2026: what it means for gilts, savers and your pension
Read more: UK debt interest hit a record £11.7bn in May 2026: what it means for gilts, savers and your pensionUK government debt interest hit a record £11.7bn in May 2026, up about 54% on a year earlier. Here is what record debt interest and 26-year-high gilt yields mean for your savings, annuity, bond funds and mortgage.
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Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) 2026: Age 73/75 Rules, Tables and the Penalty
Read more: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) 2026: Age 73/75 Rules, Tables and the PenaltyRequired minimum distributions are the IRS’s way of finally taxing the retirement savings you have deferred for decades, and SECURE 2.0 changed the rules. Here is who must take an RMD in 2026, the age 73 and 75 thresholds, how to calculate the amount, the costly first-year timing trap that catches new retirees, and the…
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Lifetime ISA Complete Guide 2026: Bonus, Penalty and LISA vs Pension
Read more: Lifetime ISA Complete Guide 2026: Bonus, Penalty and LISA vs PensionThe Lifetime ISA hands you a 25% government bonus, up to £1,000 a year, towards a first home or retirement. But the 25% withdrawal penalty is harsher than it first looks, the £450,000 property cap has not moved since 2017, and for many savers a pension still wins. Here is exactly how the LISA works…
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Inherited IRA Rules 2026: The SECURE Act 10-Year Rule Explained
Read more: Inherited IRA Rules 2026: The SECURE Act 10-Year Rule ExplainedIf you have inherited an IRA, the rules changed dramatically under the SECURE Act. Most non-spouse beneficiaries must now empty the account within 10 years, and since 2025 many also face annual required withdrawals along the way. Here is exactly who the 10-year rule applies to, who is exempt, how Roth IRAs differ, and how…
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Triple Tax-Advantaged Accounts: The Complete US Guide (HSA, and What Else Counts)
Read more: Triple Tax-Advantaged Accounts: The Complete US Guide (HSA, and What Else Counts)The HSA is the only mainstream US account with three layers of tax protection. Why Roth IRAs, traditional 401(k)s, and 529 plans don’t count, what the 2026 HSA contribution limits are, and the investment-HSA strategy that turns it into a stealth retirement account.
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OBBBA in 2026: the SALT cap is now $40,000 and your 529 can pay $20,000 of K-12 tuition
Read more: OBBBA in 2026: the SALT cap is now $40,000 and your 529 can pay $20,000 of K-12 tuitionTwo OBBBA provisions took effect 1 January 2026 and are reshaping US tax planning for the 2026 return. The SALT deduction cap jumps from $10,000 to $40,000 for filers below $500,500 MAGI. The 529 K-12 limit doubles to $20,000 per student and now covers tutoring, books, and credential programs.
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529 to Roth IRA: The 15-Year Rule Explained (2026)
Read more: 529 to Roth IRA: The 15-Year Rule Explained (2026)The most-asked question on the new 529-to-Roth IRA rollover route: how does the 15-year rule actually work? A focused FAQ covering the 15-year clock, the 5-year contribution exclusion, the $35,000 lifetime cap, the beneficiary-change uncertainty, and a worked planning example for 2026.
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How Much Could £1,000 Invested Actually Earn? Worked Returns for UK Beginners 2026
Read more: How Much Could £1,000 Invested Actually Earn? Worked Returns for UK Beginners 2026Not a strategies piece; a worked returns piece. Cash ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP, REIT, peer-to-peer compared with real numbers over 1, 5, 10, and 25 years. The compounding table, the SIPP top-up maths, and what the historical record actually says about a global equity index fund.
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From rate cuts to a rate hike: what May’s jobs report and Warsh’s first FOMC mean for US savers, borrowers and retirees
Read more: From rate cuts to a rate hike: what May’s jobs report and Warsh’s first FOMC mean for US savers, borrowers and retireesMay’s +172,000 jobs report flipped the market from pricing Federal Reserve rate cuts to pricing a hike. Here is what Kevin Warsh’s first FOMC meeting on 16-17 June means for US savers, borrowers, and retirees, and why the Fed’s balance sheet matters as much as the rate.
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Latest news
- State Pension Top-Ups 2026: The Voluntary National Insurance Guide
- UK debt interest hit a record £11.7bn in May 2026: what it means for gilts, savers and your pension
- Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) 2026: Age 73/75 Rules, Tables and the Penalty
- Lifetime ISA Complete Guide 2026: Bonus, Penalty and LISA vs Pension
- Inherited IRA Rules 2026: The SECURE Act 10-Year Rule Explained
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