Investing
4 June 2026
After years of underperformance, smaller companies, known as small caps, had a stellar start to the year. Yet with values still relatively low, could it be worth investors taking a closer look?
4 minutesRetirement
3 June 2026
The amount of money needed for people to achieve a good standard of living in retirement has risen significantly in the last year.
3 minutesInvesting
22 May 2026
How does an offset mortgage work and is it right for you? Our guide explains more.
4 minutesInvesting
21 May 2026
Bonds are back in the headlines, with political uncertainty driving fresh volatility in what is usually seen as a steadier part of the market. But why does this matter for investors? We answer some of the key questions.
4 minutesInvesting, Protecting
19 May 2026
This week (18 to 24 May) marks Dementia Action Week, an annual awareness campaign led by the charity Alzheimer’s Society, which aims to bring people and organisations together to act on dementia.
5 minutesInvesting
15 May 2026
Many parents worry that their children will struggle to find their financial feet in the current environment. Concerns include the flagging jobs market and inadequate retirement savings. Meanwhile, high house prices make it increasingly difficult to take the first step onto the property ladder. These are all factors driving fears that younger generations will face a tougher financial future.
4 minutesInvesting
14 May 2026
Households are feeling less resilient and finances have worsened over the past 12 months, against a backdrop of continued cost of living pressures and global turmoil. These are the findings of St. James's Place’s fifth Financial Health Report, published today, 13 May.
4 minutesInvesting
8 May 2026
The American dream is beginning to look more tarnished. The US-Iran war, combined with volatile and unpredictable behaviour by the US president and his administration, have taken the shine off. Meanwhile the divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ is growing ever larger. We look at what this might mean for investments in the region.
4 minutesInvesting
7 May 2026
A quarter of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman – making it one of the most important trade routes globally.
4 minutesInvesting
6 May 2026
The Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026. It brought in new rules and requirements for private landlords in England, including the banning of no-fault evictions and fixed term tenancies. There are also new regulations around increases to rent.
3 minutesInvesting
1 May 2026
The Bank of England (BoE) held the base rate at 3.75% this week. But market expectations are now that the base rate will rise during 2026. This is because inflation is likely to go up due to increased oil prices caused by the prolonged conflict in Iran.
5 minutesInvesting
30 April 2026
The Bank of England (BoE) held the base rate at 3.75% on Thursday (30 April). It is the third successive ‘hold’ vote by the BoE’s monetary policy committee (MPC), and it means rates have been stable at this level since December 2025. But with inflation likely to spike in the coming months due to sustained turmoil in the Middle East, the BoE’s balancing act is becoming more difficult.
3 minutes