Switch Your Money On

The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. It’s important because many of the most valuable savings and investing benefits are tied to this annual cycle, including ISA allowances and pension tax relief. When the tax year ends, those allowances reset – and the majority of unused allowances don’t roll over. In this episode, Helen and Clare highlight some of the trends we are currently seeing to help inform what people do in this new tax year.We’ll discuss some of the changes to allowances and tax rates that are taking place or coming up in the near future, and look back on how some of these have changed in recent years.This podcast isn’t personal advice. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, seek financial advice. Pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we find you looking ahead to a restful Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, there will be some amongst you that are still looking to make the most of your annual investment allowance. In this episode, Matt and Emma share three funds and three shares that you may want to consider as part of a balanced portfolio.And if you’re not ready to invest right now, either because of uncertainty in the current market conditions, or because you’re just not sure, well there’s still time to at least use those allowances by putting cash in, and making a decision later on what to invest in. But don’t wait too long because, as we always say, time in the market is always better than timing the market.This podcast was recorded on March 30 2026 and all information was correct at the time of recording.Nothing in this podcast is personal advice – you should seek advice if you’re unsure what’s right for you. Investments rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than you invest. And past performance is not a guide to the future.For more investment ideas, visit our website at News & Insights Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With inheritance tax receipts set to deliver another record-breaking payday for the Treasury, it’s a tax that fills miles of column inches, but only actually affects 1 in 20 of estates. So with more people concerned about the tax than ever have to pay it, we delve into some of the myths, facts and misunderstandings around IHT.We talk about the rules around gifting while you’re still alive, life insurance, the importance of wills, and how inheritance will be divided in the absence of one.This podcast isn’t personal advice. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, seek financial advice. Pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The conflict in Iran continues to drive volatility in markets, driven mostly by the price of oil. Despite our base case assumption that the war will last weeks, not years, markets are trying to weigh up whether there will be high inflation, a slowdown in economic growth, or in extreme circumstances recession.It remains the case, that if you hold a well-balanced portfolio, aligned to your long-term goals, then the best thing to do right now is, generally, nothing.But what if you don’t already have diversification built into your portfolio? We’ve been looking at what types of investments add resilience, in times of market shock.This podcast was recorded on March 16 2026 and all information was correct at the time of recording.Nothing in this podcast is personal advice – you should seek advice if you’re unsure what’s right for you. Investments rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than you invest. And past performance is not a guide to the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Benjamin Franklin famously said there’s only two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. But although tax is a part of life, it doesn’t have to be something that just happens to you. With smart planning, you can avoid some costly traps.When your income goes up, you need to step up your planning too. With tax thresholds having been frozen in the UK since 2021/22, the number of people paying the higher rate of tax has risen by 2.65m since that time.We talk about some of the taxation pitfalls, and ways that you can maximise your pensions and ISA allowances to make the most of your earnings.This podcast isn’t personal advice. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, seek financial advice. Pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma and Matt explore the unfolding situation in the Middle East, in particular, how markets are responding, and what investors can do in times of global uncertainty.Volatility is something we have come to anticipate as par for the course under a Trump presidency. In most cases, the sensible investment strategy is to sit tight and stick to your plan. Well diversified portfolios, with exposure to different asset classes, geographies and styles will provide the best defence against uncertainty.They also reflect on this week’s Spring Statement - and why the markets viewed it as a non-event.This podcast was recorded on March 4 2026 and all information was correct at the time of recording.Nothing in this podcast is personal advice – you should seek advice if you’re unsure what’s right for you. Investments rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than you invest. And past performance is not a guide to the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you’ve just sat through 40 consecutive days of rain, you’d be forgiven for dreaming of a knock on the door from a millionaire maker, so you could take off to sunnier climes.In this episode, Helen and Clare imagine what they would do with an unexpected windfall - and look at what you have told us you would do. You’re a pleasingly sensible bunch, with the majority of you saying you’d put that windfall towards savings and investments.But what else should you be thinking about? From care costs, to pensions, and whether you should lock money away for the long-term, Clare and Helen dig into the different things you should be thinking about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma is joined by Senior Equity Analyst Matt Britzman for our investments episode where they delve into results season amongst the big tech players and ask whether AI really does replace everything. Big tech means big numbers, with an estimated $611bn of spend on AI this year alone. But is the capital expenditure overblown?The team explore whether AI is even right to be seen as the big disruptor, given how well-integrated it is into existing software providers. And they discuss if companies are able to adapt quickly enough to the implementation of AI tools.This podcast isn’t personal advice, if unsure of a course of action for your circumstances, please ask for advice. Investments fall as well as rise in value so you could get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a guide to the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.