James Heppe-Smith
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Annuities in 2026: How They Work and Whether They’re Finally Worth It (UK)
Read more: Annuities in 2026: How They Work and Whether They’re Finally Worth It (UK)After years out in the cold, annuities are back: UK rates hit 18-year highs in 2026, letting a healthy 65-year-old turn a £100,000 pension into around £7,800 of guaranteed income for life. But an annuity is a permanent decision with real trade-offs against drawdown. Here is how annuities work in 2026, the types that matter,…
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The 22% ISA Cash Charge After the 2026 Budget: Where It Stands
Read more: The 22% ISA Cash Charge After the 2026 Budget: Where It StandsA flat 22% charge on interest from uninvested cash inside a stocks and shares ISA was written into regulations for 6 April 2027 to protect the £12,000 cash ISA cap. The 28 October 2026 Budget dropped the cap and said nothing about the charge. What the rule says, the money market fund exception, and where…
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UK Bond Consolidated Tape 2026: What the New Real-Time Tape Means for Investors
Read more: UK Bond Consolidated Tape 2026: What the New Real-Time Tape Means for InvestorsOn 22 June 2026 the FCA switched on the UK’s first real-time consolidated tape for bonds. Here is what it is, why it took so long, and what it changes for ordinary gilt and bond-fund investors.
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First Time Buyer ISA 2026: What the LISA Replacement Means for Savers
Read more: First Time Buyer ISA 2026: What the LISA Replacement Means for SaversThe First Time Buyer ISA replaces the Lifetime ISA for new savers from April 2029, with a 25% bonus paid when you buy, no age limit and no withdrawal charge. Here is the final design, what stays the same, and what it means if you already hold a LISA.
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When to Claim Social Security: 62 vs 67 vs 70 (2026 Break-Even Guide)
Read more: When to Claim Social Security: 62 vs 67 vs 70 (2026 Break-Even Guide)Claim Social Security at 62 and you lock in a permanently smaller check; wait until 70 and every year of delay adds about 8%. The right age is not the same for everyone. Here is the 2026 break-even math, how delayed retirement credits and the earnings test actually work, what your decision means for a…
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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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- Bank of England raises Bank Rate to 4%: what it means for mortgages, savings and annuities
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- UK Budget 2026: what it changes for savers, investors and pensioners
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