Liberty news

Pensions & IHT: the ‘double tax’ trap

21/10/2026 / St. James's Place News

For years, pensions have offered a valuable tax advantage alongside retirement income, enabling people to pass on wealth to the next generation. But from April 2027, changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules could mean some families face a significantly larger tax bill than they expected. In some cases, beneficiaries may face both IHT and income tax on inherited pensions – this is known as the ‘double tax trap.’

The missing years: caring, career pauses & long-term planning

20/10/2026 / St. James's Place News

Figures show women are substantially more likely than men to take a career break during their working life. Whether it’s maternity leave, caring for young children, or looking after elderly family members, the responsibilities that lead to time out of paid work are more likely to impact women.

Latest news

The Budget lowdown – the topline announcements

This Budget arrived under unusual circumstances. Outside Westminster, around 10,000 farmers were protesting, highlighting deeper economic discontent across multiple sectors. Against this backdrop, the government leaned heavily on the language of growth, promising support for scale-ups, startups, and innovative businesses entering new markets.

Autumn Budget: What small business owners need to know

This Budget arrived under unusual circumstances. Outside Westminster, around 10,000 farmers were protesting, highlighting deeper economic discontent across multiple sectors. Against this backdrop, the government leaned heavily on the language of growth, promising support for scale-ups, startups, and innovative businesses entering new markets.

Budget 2025: Beware of the rumours

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to unveil her second Budget next month, there’s plenty of speculation about what could be announced. Yet experience shows us that making decisions based on unfounded rumours can often lead to unintended consequences.

Are we living in a bubble?

Financial bubbles form when asset prices disconnect from fundamentals and jump to unsustainable levels. They have been part of the investment landscape since financial markets were first regulated. What characteristics do bubbles share and why are they so difficult to avoid.

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