Posts by Sam
Annuities Are Back: Why More Retirees Are Locking In Guaranteed Income for Life
By Samuel Mather-Holgate Annuities — once considered unfashionable in the post-pension-freedom era — are firmly back in favour. According to the BBC’s Money Box programme, annuity sales have surged by 83% since 2020, a remarkable turnaround for a retirement product many had written off. So, what’s driving the revival? And more importantly, should you be…
Read MoreTrump’s Reckless Tariff Strategy: Markets in Meltdown
By Samuel Mather-Holgate The financial markets have had a rough ride recently, and if you’re watching the news or checking your portfolio, you’ve probably felt the impact. One of the key drivers of this turbulence? The escalation of trade tariffs under former President Trump’s renewed economic influence, which is sending ripples—and in some cases, shockwaves—through…
Read MoreFinancial Lessons We Learn from Mum – And How to Pass Them On
By Samuel Mather-Holgate For many of us, our first experience of money came from Mum. Whether it was being handed a few coins for sweets, learning how to budget pocket money, or hearing the phrase “money doesn’t grow on trees” (more times than we can count), mums have been quietly shaping our financial habits for…
Read MoreThe Biggest Retirement Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
By Samuel Mather-Holgate Are You Making These Common Retirement Planning Mistakes? Retirement should be a time to enjoy life without money worries—but for many people, that’s not the reality. The earlier you start planning for retirement, the better your outcomes will be. But even if you’ve already started saving, it’s easy to fall into common…
Read MoreSwindon Property Market Update 2025: A Resilient Market with Strong Growth Potential
A personal opinion piece by Samuel Mather-Holgate Swindon’s property market has made an impressive start to 2025, with house prices rising by 2.2% over the past year, surpassing the national average of 1.9%. This consistent growth has placed Swindon among the top five best-performing areas in the South West, reinforcing its reputation as one of…
Read MoreWhat Happens to Your Money When You Die? The Essentials of Wills and Estate Planning
By Samuel Mather-Holgate Why Do So Many People Avoid Making a Will? Let’s be honest—no one likes thinking about death. It feels far off, complicated, and maybe even expensive to sort out. But the reality is that not having a will can cause serious problems for your loved ones. A shocking 54% of UK adults…
Read MoreMarket Volatility & Trump’s Tariffs: What Investors Need to Know
By Samuel Mather-Holgate Understanding the Recent Market Turbulence Global financial markets have faced increased volatility following the announcement of new U.S. tariffs. The United States has imposed: A 20% tariff on goods from China A 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada These measures have caused immediate market reactions, including: Weaker equities and currency…
Read MoreInternational Women’s Day 2025: #AccelerateAction for Women in Financial Services
By Helen Quayle, Independent Financial Adviser for Mather & Murray Financial- International Women’s Day is on 8th March 2025: It gives me a real buzz when people reach out to me for my thoughts about women in financial services in the lead-up to International Women’s Day (IWD). It makes me realise that I must be…
Read MoreTax Year-End Planning: What You Need to Consider Before 6th April
By Samuel Mather-Holgate As we approach the end of the 2024/25 tax year on 5th April, time is running out to make the most of your tax allowances and reliefs. This is a critical period for both individuals and business owners to ensure they have maximised tax-efficient savings, used their allowances effectively, and prepared for…
Read MoreTen Reasons to Boost Your Pension Before April 2025
By Samuel Mather-Holgate As the tax year draws to a close, there’s no better time to review your pension contributions and ensure you’re taking full advantage of the tax breaks and allowances available. Even with upcoming changes to inheritance tax (IHT) on pension death benefits, pensions remain one of the most tax-efficient ways to save…
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