Technology has always played a supporting role in good financial planning, but only when it genuinely improves accuracy, clarity, and service. One of the most valuable tools we have introduced recently is the Plaud AI device, which helps us both during meetings and long after they’ve finished. We initially spotted it on Indiegogo, a crowdfunding…
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Inheritance Tax (IHT) has long been regarded as a concern for a relatively small number of wealthy families. However, recent figures suggest that this perception is increasingly out of date – and the years ahead are likely to see IHT become an even more prominent part of mainstream financial planning. The latest data from HM…
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When most people think about critical illness, they imagine it as something that happens much later in life, perhaps in their 60s, 70s or beyond. It’s a comforting assumption, but one that simply doesn’t reflect reality. Recent claims data paints a very different picture. Across a wide range of serious conditions, the average age at…
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The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released data on sickness absence in the UK labour market which showed 148.9 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in 2024. The figure equates to 4.4 days lost per worker and is a 9% year-on-year decrease. In 2023 the number stood at 163.8m. Despite…
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Alasdair joined Foresight in October 2024 as one of our Client Managers, working with Damiene Mitchell in Michael Barnes’ Team. Alasdair brings over eight years’ experience in financial services to the team, having previously worked in paraplanning and administration roles at other practices. Alasdair has developed a detailed, behind-the-scenes understanding of how high-quality financial advice is…
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For many people, writing a Will feels like the final step in getting their affairs in order. Once it’s signed, witnessed and safely filed away, there’s a sense of relief that the “estate planning” box has been ticked. In reality, a Will is only one piece of the puzzle, and on its own, it often…
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Holding cash feels reassuring. It doesn’t rise and fall with markets, it’s readily accessible, and in uncertain times it can feel like a safe harbour. For many people, having money in the bank provides peace of mind, and that has real value. However, while cash plays an important role in any financial plan, holding too…
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The question of how much money people need to earn to be happy in the UK is deceptively complex. While income undeniably matters, happiness is shaped just as much by security, lifestyle, relationships, and expectations as by the number on a payslip. Research and real-world experience consistently suggest that beyond a certain point, more money…
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Many people think of financial planning as a fixed route: decide where you want to go, draw up a plan, and follow it until the end. In reality, good financial planning works much more like a sat-nav. When you start a journey, a map can show you the roads, but it can’t react when traffic…
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Digital assets have finally grown up. From 2nd December 2025, the new Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 has confirmed something many people already suspected: assets that exist purely online – such as cryptocurrency and NFTs – can legally be owned as personal property. While the Act itself is short, its impact is big, particularly for…
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