James Heppe-Smith
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OBBBA permanently raised the federal estate exemption to $15M: US estate planning after the July 2025 law
Read more: OBBBA permanently raised the federal estate exemption to $15M: US estate planning after the July 2025 lawThe One Big Beautiful Bill Act (July 2025) permanently raised the US federal estate and gift tax exemption to $15 million per person, or $30 million per married couple, with no sunset. State estate tax in roughly 12 jurisdictions still bites. Here is what changed, who benefits most, and where planning work still matters in…
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Dividend Tax Rates Have Gone Up: What the New 2026/27 Rates Mean for Investors Holding Shares Outside an ISA
Read more: Dividend Tax Rates Have Gone Up: What the New 2026/27 Rates Mean for Investors Holding Shares Outside an ISAFrom 6 April 2026, dividend tax rates rose by 2pp in the basic and higher rate bands. From April 2027, savings income tax rates rise too. What the new numbers actually mean for investors holding dividend-paying shares in a General Investment Account, and how the gap between in-ISA and out-of-ISA returns has widened.
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FCA Bereavement Review 2026: What It Means for Grieving Families with Investments
Read more: FCA Bereavement Review 2026: What It Means for Grieving Families with InvestmentsThe FCA is reviewing how investment platforms handle bereavement after 53% of customers reported poor service. What’s in scope and what to ask for now.
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I-bonds rise to 4.26% for May-October 2026: the US sibling to UK Premium Bonds
Read more: I-bonds rise to 4.26% for May-October 2026: the US sibling to UK Premium BondsThe US Treasury raised the Series I Savings Bond composite rate to 4.26% for the May to October 2026 window, with the fixed-rate component holding at 0.90% locked for the bond’s 30-year life. We compare I-bonds against the best high-yield savings accounts, CDs, T-bills and TIPS, and set out who actually benefits at the current…
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The Renters’ Rights Act is now live: what UK landlords must do before 31 May 2026 to avoid a £7,000 fine
Read more: The Renters’ Rights Act is now live: what UK landlords must do before 31 May 2026 to avoid a £7,000 fineThe Renters’ Rights Act came into full force on 1 May 2026. By 31 May, UK landlords must send every existing tenant the government’s official Information Sheet or face a £7,000 civil penalty per tenancy. The article covers the Information Sheet duty, Section 21 abolition, the new periodic-tenancy default, the rent-in-advance cap, and the practical…
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FCA, BoE and Treasury First Joint Warning on AI Cyber Attacks: What UK Savers Need to Know
Read more: FCA, BoE and Treasury First Joint Warning on AI Cyber Attacks: What UK Savers Need to KnowOn 15 May 2026 the FCA, BoE and Treasury issued their first joint statement on AI cyber risk. What UK banks must now do — and what it means for you as a saver.
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Same month, opposite direction: UK inflation fell to 2.8% while US inflation hit 3.8% in April 2026
Read more: Same month, opposite direction: UK inflation fell to 2.8% while US inflation hit 3.8% in April 2026UK inflation fell to 2.8% in April 2026 while US inflation hit 3.8% the same month, opposite directions and opposite policy implications. We unpack the divergence, the Bank of England’s 18 June decision, the Federal Reserve’s 16-17 June outlook, and what it means for mortgages, savings and pension drawdown on both sides of the Atlantic.
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Premium Bonds rise to 3.8% from July: are they finally worth it again?
Read more: Premium Bonds rise to 3.8% from July: are they finally worth it again?NS&I has raised the Premium Bonds prize fund rate to 3.8% from the July 2026 draw, the first rise in nearly three years, alongside four other accounts including the Direct ISA at 3.80% AER. We compare the new rate against the best easy-access savings, cash ISAs and NS&I’s own shelf, and explain who actually benefits.
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July 2026 Energy Price Cap: Ofgem Confirms £1,862, +13.5%. What it Means and Whether to Fix Now
Read more: July 2026 Energy Price Cap: Ofgem Confirms £1,862, +13.5%. What it Means and Whether to Fix NowOfgem confirmed the July 2026 energy price cap at £1,862 per year, a 13.5% rise on April’s £1,641. Why the cap landed where it did, what changes for your bill, and the fixed-rate tariffs already pricing below it.
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Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: Who Must Sign Up Now, What Happens If You Don’t, and What the Penalty-Free Year Really Means
Read more: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: Who Must Sign Up Now, What Happens If You Don’t, and What the Penalty-Free Year Really MeansMTD for Income Tax is now in force. Sole traders and landlords with qualifying income above £50,000 must keep digital records and submit quarterly updates, with the first deadline on 7 August 2026. The threshold drops to £30,000 in 2027 and £20,000 in 2028. Here is exactly who is in scope, how the soft-landing year…
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