Tips
Is Now the Time to Fix Your Mortgage Rate in 2025? Here’s What You Need to Know
By Samuel Mather-Holgate In a year of economic uncertainty, many homeowners and buyers are asking the same question: should I fix my mortgage rate now, or wait? With interest rates held at 4.25% and speculation swirling about when they’ll fall again, it’s not an easy decision. Add in global tensions, rising oil prices, and inflationary…
Read MoreBank of England Interest Rate Decision: What It Means for Your Money in 2025
By Samuel Mather-Holgate On Thursday 19 June, the Bank of England (BoE) will make one of its most closely watched decisions of the year — whether to change interest rates or hold steady at 4.25%. And while the headline decision is likely to be “no change”, that doesn’t mean this moment lacks importance. In fact,…
Read MoreIs the Triple Lock Sustainable – And What Does It Mean for Your Retirement?
By Samuel Mather-Holgate The Triple Lock has long been seen as the gold standard of pension protection — a guarantee that the State Pension will rise each year to help pensioners keep pace with the cost of living. But as the UK faces growing pressure to manage public finances, many are asking: Is the Triple…
Read MoreFinancial Advice for UK Expats Living in Mallorca
By Samuel Mather-Holgate Still have UK pensions, ISAs, or other investments? Just because you’ve moved to Mallorca doesn’t mean your financial planning should stop at the border. At Mather & Murray Financial, we help UK expats living in Spain — especially here in beautiful Mallorca — stay on track with their financial goals. Why UK…
Read MoreCash ISA vs Stocks & Shares ISA in 2025: Where Should Your Money Be?
By Samuel Mather-Holgate With higher interest rates and market volatility dominating the financial headlines, many people are asking a familiar question with new urgency:Should I put my money in a Cash ISA or a Stocks & Shares ISA in 2025? Both types of ISAs allow you to grow your money free from income tax, capital…
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…
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