Latest News

House prices fall 0.3% month-on-month in September – Halifax


By Dan McGrath

UK house prices dropped by 0.3% month-on-month in September, following an increase of 0.2% in August, Halifax has revealed.

The bank’s latest house price index found that year-on-year, house prices in the UK increased by 1.3%, after jumping by 2% in August


Story 2

Regulators urged to improve policy communications to advice sector

Trade body PIMFA has called on policymakers to provide greater “clarity, consistency and proportionality” in their communications to the financial advice sector.

The group suggested that while the sector recognises the importance of proportionate regulation, the volume of reforms and lack of clarity in communications are having a significant impact on day-to-day operations

Story 3

One in five people giving away money to beat IHT, study finds

Twenty-three per cent of people are aiming to give money away as part of an effort to manage their inheritance tax (IHT) bills, new research by Hargreaves Lansdown has indicated

Story 4

The Mortgage Mum and LIBF launch new scholarship scheme

LIBF has launched a new scholarship scheme with The Mortgage Mum to support people from underrepresented groups and help them start a career in mortgage advice

Retail investors withdraw £1.8bn from funds in August

UK retail investors withdrew a net £1.8bn from funds in August, a figure significantly up from July’s £277m, new data from the Investment Association (IA) has revealed

Hargreaves Lansdown hits record AUA in FY25

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) has reached its record assets under administration (AUA) in the year to 30 June, which increased by 11% to £172.7bn
PEXA announces collaboration with Muve

PEXA has announced a strategic collaboration with the conveyancing firm, Muve

Advisers report surge in IHT enquiries ahead of Budget

Advisers are experiencing a surge in enquiries about inheritance tax (IHT) ahead of the Budget, according to investment manager Downing, as demand for support on estate planning continues to expand

View More News

Categories

One in five people giving away money to beat IHT, study finds

Twenty-three per cent of people are aiming to give money away as part of an effort to manage their inheritance tax (IHT) bills, new research by Hargreaves Lansdown has indicated

Advisers report surge in IHT enquiries ahead of Budget

Advisers are experiencing a surge in enquiries about inheritance tax (IHT) ahead of the Budget, according to investment manager Downing, as demand for support on estate planning continues to expand

Wealthy individuals rethink estate planning amid IHT Budget speculation

Wealthy individuals are increasingly seeking advice on inheritance tax (IHT) and estate planning amid speculation around tax changes ahead of the Autumn Budget

Govt’s IHT reforms ‘unworkable’ – PIMFA

The Government’s draft inheritance tax (IHT) reforms have been labelled “unworkable” by trade association, PIMFA. The body representing financial advisers and wealth managers across the UK has warned that the plans also risk creating serious problems for bereaved families

Regulators urged to improve policy communications to advice sector

Trade body PIMFA has called on policymakers to provide greater “clarity, consistency and proportionality” in their communications to the financial advice sector. The group suggested that while the sector recognises the importance of proportionate regulation, the volume of reforms and lack of clarity in communications are having a significant impact on day-to-day operations

Air publishes suitability report for later life lending advice

Air has launched a new suitability report ahead of any potential regulatory change as a result of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Future of the Mortgage Market Discussion Paper

IG secures FCA crypto license

IG has been granted its cryptoasset license by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), allowing the firm to expand its crypto offering for customers

more2life calls on FCA to deliver potential of later life lending products

more2life has responded to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Mortgage Market Discussion Paper, calling on the regulator to create conditions for the later life lending sector to deliver its full potential.

9% year-on-year jump in equity release loans used for gifting

The number of homeowners applying for an equity release loan with the purpose of gifting to family members or friends has increased by 9% on last year, new research by Canada Life has indicated

Artorius adds £95m in AUM with acquisition of investment managers

Wealth management firm Artorius has announced the acquisition of four investment managers and the completion of its migration to BNY Pershing

Portfolio management costing IFAs new business, study suggests

Financial advisers believe their current focus on portfolio management is costing them new business and hindering their ability to help people with effective financial planning, Rathbones Group has stated

Compliance requirements reducing time IFAs spend helping clients

Rising compliance and portfolio management demands are reducing the time that financial advisers are spending to address client concerns about their financial affairs, new analysis by Rathbones has warned

Clients increasingly accessing tax-free pension cash to gift to younger generations

Clients are increasingly accessing their tax-free pension allowance to gift to younger generations amid inheritance tax (IHT) changes and Budget speculation, according to Forvis Mazars

Standard Life completes £52m buy-in with Amtico Company Pension Scheme

The Amtico Company Pension Scheme has completed a £52m full buy-in with Standard Life, securing the benefits of 425 members

Aviva completes £160m buy-in with SG Pension Fund

The SG Pension Fund has completed a £160m buy-in with Aviva, securing the retirement benefits of more than 1,900 members

Just Group completes £23m pension buy-in

Just Group has completed a £23m buy-in with the Welcome Break Pension Plan scheme

Hargreaves Lansdown hits record AUA in FY25

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) has reached its record assets under administration (AUA) in the year to 30 June, which increased by 11% to £172.7bn

JPMorgan to launch Personal Investing brand in place of Nutmeg

JPMorgan has announced plans to replace the Nutmeg brand and offer its services on a new wealth management and investment business JPMorgan Personal Investing

Retail investors withdraw £1.8bn from funds in August

UK retail investors withdrew a net £1.8bn from funds in August, a figure significantly up from July’s £277m, new data from the Investment Association (IA) has revealed

Mortgage Advice Bureau invests in UK Moneyman

Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) has announced an investment in Hull-based firm, UK Moneyman

Step One Finance partners with Phoebus Software

Step One Finance has selected Phoebus Software as its mortgage servicing partner to support future lending growth

Fintel launches standalone distribution platform

Fintel has announced the launch of a new distribution platform, Omnicore, which is designed to provide a conduit between providers and advisers

The Flower Group launches data tool to support financial planning firms’ growth

The Flower Group has announced the launch of an all-in-one data analysis tool that aims to support the commercial growth of financial planning businesses

Raw Knowledge launches AI-powered data platform

Raw Knowledge has launched a new managed smart data platform for the wealth and investment management sector

Fairstone acquires financial adviser Allen Tomas & Co

Wealth management group Fairstone has acquired Norfolk-based financial advisory firm Allen Tomas & Co

PEXA announces collaboration with Muve

PEXA has announced a strategic collaboration with the conveyancing firm, Muve

News in brief - 7 October 2025

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Hampshire Trust Bank, Buckinghamshire Building Society and Pepper Money

SmartSearch announces integration with Iress

SmartSearch has announced an integration with financial services software provider, Iress

Lending with a difference: A conversation with Family Building Society’s Nathan Waller

With demand growing for more flexible mortgage solutions, Family Building Society is carving out a strong reputation in later life, family-assisted, and buy to let lending. We speak to Nathan Waller, Business Development Manager at Family Building Society, to discuss how they’re supporting brokers, addressing complex borrower needs, and adapting to an evolving market.

BLOG: Expand the holistic solutions you can offer with Royal London Equity Release

Royal London Equity Release discusses the importance of holistic support for clients when it comes to later life lending

BLOG: The younger generation have spotted an alternative route into the housing market – and we should embrace it

Head of business development at Saffron for Intermediaries, Tony Hall, discusses how the younger generation can find their way onto the housing ladder

BLOG: Introducing eConveyancer+ | Raising the bar on communication

The latest MoneyAge blog explores eConveyancer+, a new standard in conveyancing designed to support brokers in delivering exceptional service with complete confidence

Check out our latest advertorials

The Bank of Family

Divorce and the importance of financial advice

Later Life Lending: It’s more than just equity release or retirement interest only (RIO)

Later Life Lending

View More Advertorials

Latest videos

View More Videos

FREE E-NEWS SIGN UP

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive breaking news and other industry announcements by email.

  Please tick here to confirm you are happy to receive third party promotions from carefully selected partners.


NEW BUILD IN FOCUS - NEW EPISODE OF THE MORTGAGE INSIDER PODCAST, OUT NOW
Figures from the National House-Building Council saw Q1 2025 register a 36% increase in new homes built across the UK compared with the same period last year, representing a striking development for the first-time buyer market. But with the higher cost of building, ongoing planning challenges and new and changing regulations, how sustainable is this growth? And what does it mean for brokers?

The role of the bridging market and technology usage in the industry
Content editor, Dan McGrath, sat down with chief operating officer at Black & White Bridging, Damien Druce, and head of development finance at Empire Global Finance, Pete Williams, to explore the role of the bridging sector, the role of AI across the industry and how the property market has fared in the Labour Government’s first year in office.

BANNER


Does the North-South divide still exist in the UK housing market?
What do the most expensive parts of the country reveal about shifting demand? And why is the Manchester housing market now outperforming many southern counterparts?



In this episode of the Barclays Mortgage Insider Podcast, host Phil Spencer is joined by Lucian Cook, Head of Research at Savills, and Ross Jones, founder of Home Financial and Evolve Commercial Finance, to explore how regional trends are redefining the UK housing, mortgage and buy-to-let markets.

The new episode of The Mortgage Insider podcast, out now
Regional housing markets now matter more than ever. While London and the Southeast still tend to dominate the headlines from a house price and affordability perspective, much of the growth in rental yields and buyer demand is coming from other parts of the UK.

In this episode of the Barclays Mortgage Insider Podcast, host Phil Spencer is joined by Lucian Cook, Head of Research at Savills, and Ross Jones, founder of Home Financial and Evolve Commercial Finance.

© 2019 Perspective Publishing     Privacy & Cookies