Author Archives: ross@planrfp.co.uk

Do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist? The “blue dot theory” could suggest that humans are hard-wired to be pessimists, after psychologists discovered that once our brains are primed to see something (such as a blue dot), we see it everywhere, even when it’s not really there. Read on to learn more about […]

When you’re buying a property, Stamp Duty can be a significant expense that you need to consider. So, read on to find out when the tax is paid and how to calculate a potential bill.  According to data published in IFA Magazine in June 2025, the government collected £14.1 billion in Stamp Duty in the […]

In April 2028, the age you can usually access your pension, known as the “normal minimum pension age” (NMPA), will rise from 55 to 57. So, if you hope to retire at 55, you might need to update your retirement plan.  Even if your planned retirement date seems far away, creating a plan now could […]

Passing on your wealth to loved ones could transform their lives and mean they have more opportunities in the future. However, to get the most out of the “great wealth transfer”, younger generations need to be prepared to manage their inheritance.  According to September 2024 data from Vanguard, it’s estimated $18.3 trillion (£13.45 trillion) in […]

Retirement can be a tricky time to manage your finances. Often, it represents a huge change as your regular income might stop and, instead, you start to deplete your assets. So, it’s natural that emotions might influence some of the decisions you make if you let them, but it could be harmful.  Here are three […]

This guest blog was written by Chris Budd, who wrote the original Financial Wellbeing Book as well as The Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellbeing. He founded the Institute for Financial Wellbeing and has written more than 100 episodes of the Financial Wellbeing Podcast.  Thinking about the future can be a source of both wellbeing and […]

Around 15% of homeowners are considering downsizing during the next five years, according to a MoneyAge article from April 2025. If you’re thinking about moving to a smaller home and still have a mortgage, here’s what you need to know. There are plenty of reasons why you might want to downsize now or in the […]

According to a Citywire report, forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) suggest the amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) paid to HMRC will have increased by 11.6% in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24.  This will mean that the total amount of IHT paid in the 2024/25 financial year will have reached a record high of […]

If you’ve been keeping up with the news recently, you’ll likely know that global economic growth is under increasing pressure.  In February 2025, the Bank of England halved its forecast for UK growth this year from 1.5% to just 0.75%, the BBC reports.  Meanwhile, the Guardian reveals that US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) shrank by […]

Achieving “financial freedom” is an aspiration many people have. Yet, it can mean different things to each person and is influenced by other lifestyle goals, so defining how to measure it for you could help you turn it into a reality.  Securing financial freedom so you can retire with confidence is a common goal. A […]