Latest articles by Ruth Emery
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Should you overpay your mortgage or invest?
Homeowners in the fortunate position of having spare cash may be weighing up if they should use it to reduce their mortgage debt or invest it. We explain which one might work best for you
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How to avoid inheritance tax by giving your money away
Inheritance tax is one we don’t like to think about – but by carrying out some estate planning there are ways to beat the tax by passing money to your family while you’re still alive. We explain how the rules work.
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Are regular savings accounts worth it?
A 7% interest rate is eye-catching, but how much can you save in a regular saver account and how does the interest rate work exactly?
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10 years of pension freedoms: what choices have pension savers made?
Since April 2015, older savers have been able to take money directly from their pension, rather than buying an annuity. We look at the impact of pension freedoms - and how savers have spent their cash
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Heathrow closures: How to claim compensation for travel delays
A fire near Heathrow has forced the airport to close, resulting in over 1,300 flights either delayed or cancelled. What compensation can you get if your flight is cancelled or delayed?
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Hargreaves Lansdown takeover: what it means for your money
Britain’s biggest investment platform has agreed a £5.4 billion takeover. What does it mean for shareholders and customers?
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Could Labour introduce a 2% wealth tax?
As the chancellor puts the final touches to next week’s Spring Statement, there are growing calls for a 2% wealth tax to be introduced. Campaigners say it would tackle economic inequality and raise billions of pounds in revenue
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Who will miss out on the state pension triple lock?
Not all pensioners have their state pensions increased each year in line with the triple lock. We explain who misses out
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Annuity rates hit 16-year high - is now a good time to buy an annuity?
Annuity incomes have reached their highest level since December 2008, while sales of the pension product are also soaring. Should you buy an annuity?
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Six reasons not to top up your state pension
A deadline to buy National Insurance credits and top up your state pension is fast approaching. Here’s why it may not be worth it for some people
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Spring Statement: what could Rachel Reeves say about pensions?
The chancellor will deliver her Spring Statement on 26 March. We look at whether there will be any announcements on pensions that could affect savers or retirees
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How much state pension will I get?
Advice There are several things that determine how much state pension you'll get when you hit retirement age. Here's how to work out your entitlement
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Couples urged to apply for the marriage allowance before end of tax year
News Married couples and civil partners could save up to £252 a year in tax by claiming the allowance - and receive a backdated lump-sum payment worth more than £1,000.
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RICS: UK housing market starts to lose momentum
The latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reveals that housing market activity is slowing due to the upcoming stamp duty hike, as well as “international economic uncertainties”
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Average pension pot by age
How does your pension pot compare to your peers? We delve into the data and reveal the average pension pot for different age groups
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Best investing apps
Looking for an easy-to-use app to help you start investing, keep track of your portfolio or make trades on the go? We round up the best investing apps
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ISA guide: everything you need to know for the 2024/25 tax year
In our ISA guide, we explain everything you need to know about ISAs: how they work, how much you can pay in, what investments you can hold, and how to transfer one.
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The investment platforms that pay less than 2% interest on cash holdings
Do you know how much interest the cash balance in your investment portfolio, ISA or pension earns? We lift the lid on the best and worst interest-payers - and explain what you can do about it
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Are you eligible for a £25 cold weather payment?
Millions of people are eligible for cold weather payments from the Department for Work and Pensions. With the scheme finishing for this winter on 31 March, we explain who qualifies and how to check if a payment is due
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Why you should write a will — and how to do it for free
Most of us haven’t written a will. But it's one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your loved ones
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Nationwide to pull its £175 switching bonus - act now to get offer
The building society is withdrawing its bank switching offer at the end of the month, after gaining thousands of customers last year. We explain how to qualify for the current account switching bonus
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Are you missing out on Pension Credit? How to claim the benefit worth up to £4,300
News The number of Pension Credit claims has soared by 81% - however, thousands of eligible households are still failing to apply. We explain who qualifies for Pension Credit and how to apply
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Heat pumps: how to reduce the cost of installation
Tips Half of homes should have heat pumps within 15 years, according to the government's climate advisers. We look at how much a heat pump costs, how the £7,500 government grant works, and other discounts available
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Zoopla: price gap between houses and flats reaches 30-year high
The average house value is now 67% higher than the average value of a flat, property portal Zoopla has found
