Insights
Guidance worth reading
Articles, guides and commentary on pensions, retirement, inheritance tax, investments and broader financial planning.
£3.84 trillion of UK property wealth is held by those aged 62 to 80
Homeowners aged 62-80 hold £3.84 trillion in UK property. With frozen IHT thresholds, more families than ever are now in scope. What to know.
Read the article →5 decisions to make before you retire
Retirement is about more than a date. Five decisions worth making before you retire: knowing your costs, your income, how to take it, how much risk to run, and how tax fits in.
Read the article →Active vs passive investing: which is right for UK savers?
Active vs passive investing explained for UK savers: how each works, cost differences, when each makes sense, and how most investors should combine them.
Read the article →AIM portfolios and Business Relief for UK inheritance tax planning
How AIM portfolios and Business Relief work for UK inheritance tax: qualifying companies, the 2-year holding period and Finance Act 2026.
Read the article →Bank of England holds rates again
The Bank of England held the base rate at 3.75% on 30 April 2026. What it means for mortgages, savings and longer-term financial plans.
Read the article →Britain's retirement savings gap: what it means for you
Around 15 million people in the UK are under-saving for retirement. What the data shows and how to close the gap with a financial plan.
Read the article →Business owners, pensions and the 2027 changes
Business owners face the 2027 pension changes alongside questions of business value, exit timing and the use of Business Relief.
Read the article →Buy-to-let in 2026: is it still worth it after tax changes?
UK buy-to-let analysis 2026: how Section 24, Stamp Duty surcharges, CGT and the IHT changes affect returns for individual landlords.
Read the article →Carry forward pension contributions: using unused allowance
UK pension carry forward rules explained: how to use up to 3 years of unused annual allowance, eligibility, the taper and worked examples.
Read the article →Cash ISA allowance cut from 2027: what to do about it
How the April 2027 Cash ISA cut works: £12,000 allowance for under-65s, £20,000 for over-65s, the 2pp rise on savings tax, and the LISA reform plan.
Read the article →Director's pension contributions: how UK SME owners can save tax
How UK SME owner-directors can use employer pension contributions to save corporation tax and NI. A practical planning guide.
Read the article →Divorce and your financial plan: pensions and property
UK guide to financial planning around divorce: how pensions are split, the matrimonial home and protecting your financial position.
Read the article →Do I need estate planning if I am not wealthy?
Why UK estate planning matters for everyone, not just the wealthy. Wills, intestacy, IHT, pension nominations and Lasting Power of Attorney.
Read the article →Equity release in 2026: when it makes sense and when it doesn't
UK equity release explained: lifetime mortgages vs home reversion, current rates, when it makes sense, when it doesn't, and alternatives to consider first.
Read the article →Family wealth transfer after the 2027 changes
From April 2027 pension wealth falls inside the estate for IHT. What this means for families thinking about wealth transfer.
Read the article →Finance Act 2026: what the inheritance tax changes mean for you
A practical guide to the Finance Act 2026 inheritance tax changes: frozen nil-rate bands, Business Relief and pension IHT from 2027.
Read the article →FOMO, overconfidence and why young investors still need advice
Young investors are confident and capable, but research shows higher susceptibility to FOMO and overconfidence. Why advice still matters.
Read the article →Have you thought about how dementia could affect you or the people you love?
Many people worry about dementia, but almost half haven't planned for possible care costs. The practical steps you can take now to give you and your family more choice later.
Read the article →How do you help the people you love – without harming your retirement?
Supporting family is one of the most natural things in the world. How to make your generosity work for everyone, without compromising your own retirement, pension or inheritance tax planning.
Read the article →How does the UK pension tax-free lump sum work?
How the UK pension tax-free lump sum works: 25% of a DC pot up to £268,275, access from age 55 (rising to 57 in 2028), MPAA implications and risks.
Read the article →How pensions are taxed after death, before and after April 2027
How income tax and inheritance tax on inherited pensions interact, before and after April 2027.
Read the article →How to assess your attitude to investment risk: a practical UK guide
How UK investors assess attitude to investment risk: capacity for loss, risk tolerance and time horizon explained by Aetas Wealth.
Read the article →How to prepare for retirement in the UK: a 10, 5 and 1-year guide
A practical UK retirement preparation guide. What to do 10 years out, 5 years out and in the final 12 months before you retire.
Read the article →How to start investing in the UK: a step-by-step guide
Set goals, understand time horizon and risk, choose between ISAs, pensions and GIAs. A plain-English step-by-step guide for first-time UK investors.
Read the article →I've just inherited money. What should I do with it?
UK guide to managing an inheritance: tax position, immediate steps, ISA and pension priorities and longer-term investment decisions.
Read the article →Inheritance Tax is rising, and more families are being affected
IHT receipts are forecast to reach £8.7 billion. Frozen allowances and rising asset values mean more families are now in scope, often unknowingly.
Read the article →Later life care planning: understanding your options
A guide to later life care planning: the key options, funding routes and conversations to have before a crisis forces the decision.
Read the article →Market Commentary July 2026
Our review of markets in June 2026: central banks shift from easing to vigilance on energy-driven inflation, the US-Iran ceasefire, SpaceX's record IPO, and what it means for long-term investors.
Read the article →Market Commentary June 2026
June 2026 market commentary: UK politics, US equity highs, ECB rate pressures and what recent volatility means for your portfolio.
Read the article →Market Commentary: April 2026
March 2026 was defined by a single event. Our review of the markets, central banks, and what it means for long-term investors.
Read the article →Market Commentary: May 2026
A two-week ceasefire pushed the S&P 500 above 7,000 for the first time. Our review of the month and what it means for long-term investors.
Read the article →Pension changes ahead: a useful time to review your plans
Six pension and tax changes are coming over the next few years. None require immediate action, but each is a good reason to step back and review.
Read the article →Pensions and inheritance tax from April 2027: how to plan
The April 2027 change pulling unused UK pensions into IHT explained, with a worked example showing the 64% effective rate and who is affected.
Read the article →Retiring abroad: pensions, tax and healthcare for UK residents
UK guide to retiring abroad: how your pension is taxed, healthcare arrangements, residency rules and key financial planning steps.
Read the article →Selling your UK business: financial planning before and after
UK business sale planning: Business Asset Disposal Relief, CGT, pension contributions and financial planning in the year before and after.
Read the article →Should I pay my child's university fees? A 2026 guide for UK parents
Should UK parents fund university fees or let children take a Plan 5 loan? A clear guide to repayment thresholds, Junior ISAs and how to weigh it up.
Read the article →The Great Wealth Transfer: what it means for UK families
An estimated $74 trillion will pass between generations by 2050. How UK families can plan for wealth transfer, inheritance tax, and legacy.
Read the article →The mansion tax and your estate: the deferred charge
The proposed High Value Council Tax Surcharge could create a deferred estate liability. What families with high-value homes should know.
Read the article →The order you draw your assets in retirement may need to change
Conventional wisdom said to leave the pension untouched and draw other assets first. From April 2027 that order may no longer be tax-efficient.
Read the article →The spousal exemption survives 2027, but defers more than it removes
The spousal exemption continues to apply to pensions after April 2027. What it does, what it does not, and what couples should consider.
Read the article →UK Capital Gains Tax planning: rates, allowances and key strategies
UK Capital Gains Tax planning explained: the 18%/24% rates, the £3,000 exempt amount, spousal transfers, bed and ISA, and key deadlines.
Read the article →UK end of tax year planning checklist before 5 April
A practical checklist of UK end of tax year planning steps before 5 April: ISA allowances, pension contributions, capital gains and inheritance tax.
Read the article →UK Lasting Power of Attorney: what it is and why it matters
UK Lasting Power of Attorney explained: the two types, how to set one up, what happens without one, and why every adult over 30 should have one in place.
Read the article →UK salary sacrifice pension cap from 2029: what changes
How the 2025 Budget salary sacrifice cap works: £2,000/year NI relief limit from April 2029, who is affected, and how to plan ahead.
Read the article →UK tax-efficient giving: Gift Aid, payroll and legacies
UK tax-efficient giving guide: Gift Aid, higher-rate relief, Payroll Giving, gifts of shares and legacy charitable gifts.
Read the article →What is cash flow planning in UK financial planning?
What cash flow planning is, the questions it answers, how it works, and why it has become more important. A clear guide for UK financial planning.
Read the article →What is changing for pensions in 2027
A plain-English summary of the Finance Act 2026 pension inheritance tax changes taking effect on 6 April 2027.
Read the article →What the new pension laws mean for your retirement pot
The Pension Schemes Act received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. Up to £29,000 of extra benefit for the average worker. What it means for you.
Read the article →What young investors actually want from a financial adviser
92% of Gen Z investors already use some form of financial advice. What they actually want from an adviser and how expectations differ.
Read the article →Why financial wellbeing has become a business issue for UK SMEs
Financial stress in your workforce affects productivity and retention. Why financial wellbeing is now a business performance issue for UK SMEs.
Read the article →Why your pension needs regular reviews
UK pensions need ongoing care, not set-and-forget. When to review, how often, what to check, and the warning signs your pension isn't fit for purpose.
Read the article →Young investor portfolios: crypto, ETFs and values-based investing
Young investors hold broader portfolios than any previous generation. What CFA Institute research shows about crypto, ETFs and values.
Read the article →Your ISA strategy for 2026: how the new rules change your approach
UK ISA rules change in April 2027, the Cash ISA allowance for under-65s drops to £12,000. How to think about your ISA strategy this tax year.
Read the article →Guides
In-depth explainers
Approaching retirement: the decisions that define your retirement.
A plain-English guide to financial planning for people approaching retirement. Pension consolidation, income planning and Finance Act 2026.
Read the guide →Business owner financial planning: decisions that matter
A plain-English guide to financial planning for business owners. Pension strategy, IHT, Business Relief and extraction planning.
Read the guide →Business Relief vs gifting for inheritance tax
Business Relief vs gifting, two of the main tools for reducing inheritance tax exposure. A plain-English comparison from Aetas Wealth.
Read the guide →Financial adviser vs wealth manager, what is the difference?
What is the difference between a financial adviser and a wealth manager? A plain-English guide from Aetas Wealth.
Read the guide →Financial planning in your 30s and 40s: what the apps do not tell you.
Financial planning in your 30s and 40s. Pensions, ISAs, investments, protection and what app-based platforms do not cover.
Read the guide →Financial planning vs investment management, what is the difference?
Financial planning vs investment management: how the two relate and when you need one, the other, or both.
Read the guide →In retirement planning: the decisions that define your retirement.
A plain-English guide to financial planning in retirement. Drawdown, estate planning, care costs and the Finance Act 2026 changes.
Read the guide →Inheritance tax planning options explained
Inheritance tax planning options explained. Nil-rate band, gifting, trusts, Business Relief and Agricultural Property Relief.
Read the guide →Mid-life financial planning: decisions that define retirement
A plain-English guide to financial planning in your 40s, 50s and 60s. Pensions, retirement income and the Finance Act 2026 changes.
Read the guide →Pension drawdown vs annuity options explained
Pension drawdown vs annuity: a plain-English guide to flexi-access drawdown, lifetime annuities and hybrid approaches.
Read the guide →Starting your financial plan: what young professionals need
How to start a financial plan as a young professional. Workplace pensions, ISAs, first investments and protection planning.
Read the guide →Why cash flow modelling matters in financial planning
Why cash flow modelling matters in financial planning and how Aetas Wealth uses it to help clients see their financial future.
Read the guide →