Latest articles by Sam Walker
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AJ Bell cuts fee on ready-made pension – how does it compare to the rest of the market?AJ Bell has lowered the annual charge on its ready-made personal pension, which it first launched in 2024, making it one of the cheapest products of its kind on the market fee-wise.
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Are you missing out on Pension Credit? How to claim the benefit worth £4,500 a yearHundreds of thousands of eligible households are still failing to apply for Pension Credit. We explain who qualifies for the benefit and how to apply.
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‘A wealth tax would be devastating for UK businesses’Richard Harpin, who sold HomeServe for £4 billion, has urged Labour to avoid further tax rises and instead reward risk-takers to help the UK thrive.
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How HMRC recovers the Winter Fuel PaymentPensioners with annual income over £35,000 have to pay the Winter Fuel Payment back to HMRC. How does HMRC recover the payment?
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What’s happening with UK house prices? Latest property forecasts for 2026The UK housing market continues to struggle as higher mortgage rates brought on by the Middle East conflict pinch buyers.
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Bank of England confirms the four animals to feature on new banknotesHundreds of thousands of people have had their say on which animals should feature on the next series of banknotes printed by the Bank of England.
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‘What I’ve learnt from my first year of having solar panels’Having solar panels installed for free has been a massive financial help to me and my partner and the environmental impact it’s had is great too, but there are some drawbacks.
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The big buy-to-let exodus – is it worth being a landlord anymore?Life has become harder for landlords following a series of legislative and regulatory changes, but there are still opportunities for those willing to stick it out.
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Are we in a new space race?From solar farms to nuclear batteries and satellite systems, there’s plenty going on in space to excite investors, says Mark Boggett from Seraphim Space
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NS&I boosts rates on eight savings accounts – are they best buys?The Treasury-backed bank has increased rates on some of its fixed-rate savings accounts. Are they a good place to lock your money away?
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The common ‘misconception’ about the inheritance tax seven-year ruleLarger gifts made less than seven years before your death may be liable for inheritance tax under the seven-year rule – but how that rule is applied is less well-known.
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Why you might have more to live on in retirement than you thinkFinancial experts say reluctance among older people to spend money in later life is hampering their ability to enjoy retirement. How can you get over money-based anxieties in your golden years?
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Lloyds: House price affordability hits 11-year highRising earnings and stagnant house prices should be making life easier for homebuyers, but rising mortgage rates are causing headaches.
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Premium Bonds saver wins £1 million jackpot with bond bought in July – who else scooped the top prize?More than 6.5 million Premium Bonds prizes will be distributed to winners in the October draw. Have you won tax-free cash?
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Should you unlock your property wealth to fund retirement?Equity release is one way of funding later life if you’re facing a retirement shortfall – but there are drawbacks to consider and alternatives which may work better.
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10 ways to cut your capital gains tax billCapital gains tax can eat into your profits – and reductions to the tax-free allowance in recent years have left investors more at risk of the levy.
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Could ageing infrastructure offer investors opportunities?A rise in the need to power major economies is opening up opportunities for investors, according to the manager of an investment trust.
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Could an increase in capital gains tax help tackle the cost of living?Capital gains tax rate hikes are reportedly on the table ahead of the Autumn Budget. While some experts believe it could provide funds for the Treasury, others say it could cost the government money.
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Monzo launches credit card that auto-invests cashback – is it any good?Monzo’s latest credit card is unique, but there are other cashback cards on the market that could be better-suited to you.
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These 21 investment trusts have raised dividends for 20 years or moreOne investment trust has hit the 60-year mark for annual dividend increases, while another joins the ‘dividend heroes’ list for the first time.
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Thousands of families hit with inheritance tax bills on gifts – how to reduce your liabilityThousands of families have been hit with an inheritance tax bill in the last four years after making larger gifts – but there are other ways to reduce an IHT liability.
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State pension set to rise by 3.9% – how much could you get?The UK state pension is set to rise by 3.9% per year from April 2027 after new wages data was published by the Office for National Statistics, but thousands more retirees face a higher income tax bill.
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How SIPP platform fees and unclaimed tax relief could cost you tens of thousands in retirementMore than five million people hold Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) with a total of £567 billion inside, according to the Financial Conduct Authority. How can savers get the best value for money when choosing one?
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UK economy unexpectedly grows in July – was AI responsible?The director of economic statistics at the ONS said a strong showing from computer programming within the services sector helped drive growth.
