Latest articles by Laura Miller
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More than five million taxpayers overpay with wrong tax codes – how to check yours is right
HMRC overcharged taxpayers £3.5 billion in income tax the latest data shows, with tax coding errors largely to blame. Accountants say it is “essential” people check their tax codes to avoid being hit with higher bills.
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'Lockdown wills’ at increased risk of legal challenge
Pressures caused by the pandemic led some people to rush their wills. Now, lawyers are saying problems are surfacing that could make them invalid
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What is a trust – and should you use it to avoid inheritance tax?
Trusts are surging in popularity as a way to avoid inheritance tax, according to new government figures and financial advisers on the frontline of estate planning. We look at what trusts are and if they are right for you.
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Pension Schemes Bill: what’s changing and what it means for you
The government’s latest reforms to pensions are designed to make saving for retirement easier and better value for money – but will they leave you better off?
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Taxpayers told to check capital gains tax return or risk penalty after rate changes
With the self-assessment deadline just three weeks away, taxpayers who need to report capital gains should take extra care to avoid a penalty after recent changes, accountants have warned. Here’s how.
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Act now to avoid inheritance tax on your pension with this one simple change
A quick and easy paperwork change could avoid your children paying inheritance tax on your pension if you act now. Here’s how.
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Millions of parents are missing out on up to £720 a year in extra pension cash – are you affected?
A mum who narrowly missed out on the pension boost said she “never knew the government rule existed” and wants other parents to use it
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How to secure a lasting legacy as you pass your money
For many, transferring wealth is more about values than money. We look at how to create a legacy that sticks.
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Where can I get pension advice?
A popular directory of pension advice professionals has closed, leaving those seeking help with their retirement unsure of where to go. We look at the options
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Zoopla: house price growth stalled in 2025 but forecasts for 1.5% higher next year
Sales soared this year with more than a million deals done but buyers drove hard bargains keeping a lid on prices. A small bounceback in valuations is predicted for 2026, depending on where you live.
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What does an interest rate cut mean for my pension?
Interest rates have been cut from 4% to 3.75%. For pension savers and retirees the effects of the drop will depend on the type of retirement pot they have, but could be significant.
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What are my retirement income options?
We’re all told to save into a pension, but there’s widespread confusion about how to take an income from our savings and investments at retirement, a new study has found. We look at your retirement income options.
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A quarter of a million more pensioners in poverty after state pension age rises – will it go higher?
When the state pension age rose to 66, the percentage of 65-year-olds in income poverty more than doubled, new research suggests
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FCA launches scam checker tool after 800,000 suspected to have lost money to fraudsters
Savers and investors can use the tool to check if a firm is the 'real deal' and is actually authorised to provide the services it is offering
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Making financial gifts to loved ones? Write it down or risk giving an IHT bill too
Giving gifts can be a way to pass on wealth and reduce the inheritance tax bill on your estate but do it wrong and you could leave family and friends more than they bargained for.
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Pension tax relief – why the taxman could owe you money
Millions of pounds in pension tax relief is going unclaimed. If you haven't yet completed your tax return ahead of the 31 January deadline, don't forget to claim any tax relief you’re owed.
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How to boost your pension pot
Retirees are at risk of falling short by 10 years or more. Here’s how you can boost your pension pot to plug the shortfall
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How Avios points work: how to collect and spend them
Avios points offer worthwhile rewards for the savvy traveller but the cost of using them is on the rise. We explain how to collect, keep track of, and make the most of your Avios points
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The new 4% rule – how much should retirees really draw from their pension in 2026?
Brits retiring in 2026 could be withdrawing too much from their pension pots if they stick to an old rule about ‘safe’ limits – with the risk of running out of money in retirement
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Leaving it too late to gift inheritances costs some of Britain’s wealthiest families £3m each
Even average Brits are being landed with huge and unexpected inheritance tax bills because of a little understood rule around gifting, new figures show
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Later life ‘brain fog’ could cost you £30,000 – and your investments may be the reason
Wealthier households are likely to lose more of their money when cognitive decline sets in, a new report finds, with exposure to the stock markets a potential cause
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FCA to lift pause on car finance complaints in May 2026
The FCA will lift the pause on car finance complaints on 31 May 2026. It is important that complaints are now dealt with promptly, the regulator said
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Will taxes rise further in the 2025 Autumn Budget?
Tax hikes in the Autumn Budget are now widely expected as the only way for the chancellor to balance the Treasury’s books but questions remain over what – and who – Rachel Reeves will target
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Low risk ways to cut your inheritance tax bill before a potential Budget crackdown
More tightening of the rules around inheritance tax – especially around gifting – could potentially be coming in the Budget. Making safe, smart use of the gifting allowances as they currently stand may be a good idea.
