News and insights

How to create a financial plan

• 27 Jan
• Financial planning
• 5 minute read

A financial plan can provide you with a focus, helping you decide exactly how you’ll get to where you want to be – as well as helping you stay on track.

The inflation mirage

• 20 Jan
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Volte face

• 14 Jan
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

2020 (di)vision

• 08 Jan
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Pension carry forward

• 02 Jan
• Retirement Planning
• 5 minute read

In this article, we look at how pension carry forward rules work and explain how you can use them to your advantage.

Vic-tory-ous

• 17 Dec
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

The election outcome in focus

• 13 Dec
• Market update
• 5 minute read

What does this mean for our investment strategy?

Watford scrap

• 10 Dec
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Second innings - Over-50s cricket

• 09 Dec
• Lifestyle
• 5 minute read

Over-50s cricket is reigniting interest in the sport among older age groups.

Poll positions

• 04 Dec
• Market update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Is 55 too early to retire?

• 29 Nov
• Retirement Planning
• 4 minute read

You say it best when you say nothing at all

• 26 Nov
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Manifestos not mops

• 19 Nov
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Trade wars and cold wars

• 12 Nov
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Number two for Close Brothers at FTAdviser Top 100

• 07 Nov
• Financial planning
• 2 minute read

We are delighted to have been ranked second in the 2019 FTAdviser Top 100 Financial Advisers list.

6 financial planning tips

• 06 Nov
• Financial planning
• 4 minute read

Investor Insight - Autumn 2019 video

• 04 Nov
• Investment Insight
• 5 minute watch

Robert Alster, Head of Research, summarises what took place our recent investment committee meeting.

Investor Insight - Autumn 2019

• 04 Nov
• Investment Insight
• 6 minute read

All I want for Christmas is a majority

• 04 Nov
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

What does a Christmas election mean for Brexit?

• 31 Oct
• Investment Insight
• 4 minute read

A general election provides a mechanism by which Brexit (or at least the first stage of it) may be resolved.

PM seeks comfy ditch

• 29 Oct
• Market update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Financial planning for newly married couples

• 23 Oct
• Financial planning
• 3 minute read

Not-so-super-Saturday

• 23 Oct
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Information on the suspension of Woodford Equity Income Fund

• 17 Oct
• Fund information
• 2 minute read

10 estate planning tips

• 14 Oct
• Financial planning
• 5 minute read

I’m in a tunnel

• 14 Oct
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

“Two borders for four years” falls on deaf ears

• 08 Oct
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's the latest market update from our investment team.

Hale storms

• 30 Sep
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Planning for retirement in your 50s

• 25 Sep
• Retirement Planning
• 3 minute read

Come on Arlene

• 24 Sep
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Back-to-backstop meetings

• 17 Sep
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Rudd-erless

• 10 Sep
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Brexit update: three questions that matter

• 05 Sep
• Market update
• 5 minute read

Will the 31 October Brexit deadline be extended? When will Jeremy Corbyn agree to a general election? Will the nation vote for "No Deal if Necessary"?

Tax-efficient investments for higher-rate taxpayers

• 03 Sep
• Financial planning
• 4 minute read

Going pro-rogue

• 03 Sep
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Our research capability

• 28 Aug
• Investment management
• 1.5 minute watch

A not so sweet Mac(a)ron

• 28 Aug
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Curves in all the wrong places

• 19 Aug
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

The importance of financial planning

• 15 Aug
• Financial planning
• 6 minute read

In today’s complex financial environment, achieving your financial goals is not always straightforward. This is where financial planning can help.

You can’t always get what Yuan

• 13 Aug
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Trade tensions cause markets to correct

• 07 Aug
• Market update
• 5 minute read

Year to date, market performance has been very strong, with all main indices delivering double-digit returns in Sterling terms to the end of July. However, at the beginning of August, market sentiment began to wobble, with a significant correction this week.

Brecon bleakens

• 05 Aug
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Do I need a financial adviser? Seven reasons you may need advice

• 05 Aug
• Financial planning
• 4 minute read

With the rise of financial blogs and robo-advisers, it can be tempting to try to manage your finances on your own. However, there comes a time when seeking advice from an experienced financial adviser is a sensible idea. 

Lifetime Allowance planning

• 02 Aug
• Financial planning
• 6 minute read

The Lifetime Allowance (LTA) is the total amount of money you can build up in your pension accounts without paying extra tax charges. If you go over the LTA, you will pay a tax charge on the excess whenever you take income or withdraw a lump sum from your pension, or reach the age of 75 without having taken any benefits.

Blonde on Blonde

• 01 Aug
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

In the Leyen of fire?

• 23 Jul
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Tax-efficient school fees planning

• 22 Jul
• Financial planning
• 3 minute read

In this article, we will take a look at the current cost of a private school education in the UK, and explore some effective tax-efficient school fee saving strategies.

Investor Insight - Summer 2019

• 19 Jul
• Market update
• 6 minute read

Investor Insight - Summer 2019

• 18 Jul
• Market update
• 5 minute watch

Educating the next generation

• 17 Jul
• Financial planning
• 2 minute read

As the cost of private school fees mounts, grandparents are increasingly helping to foot the bill.

Financial thriving, not just surviving

• 16 Jul
• Financial planning
• 5 minute read

Many people who are solely focused on surviving, might overlook strategies that would help them thrive.

No googly from the Fed

• 16 Jul
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Tackling the global plastic packaging problem

• 12 Jul
• Investment management
• 8 minute read

How can socially responsible investment help to solve the global plastic packaging problem?

The cost of not planning ahead

• 10 Jul
• Financial planning
• 4 minute read

Make sure you’re not missing out on valuable financial planning advice that could save you money.

Changing of Lagarde

• 09 Jul
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

10 questions to ask when choosing a financial planner

• 03 Jul
• Financial planning
• 4 minute read

The planner you choose to work with can have a profound influence on your financial future, so it’s important to identify an expert that you can build a long-term relationship with. With that in mind, here is a list of 10 questions that are worth asking before selecting your financial planner.

20-20 vision

• 02 Jul
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Founding partner of The WealthiHer Network

• 28 Jun
• Investment management
• 3 minute read

The Network is a group of change agents from the world of finance who have come together to champion female investors.

It's a farmers market

• 26 Jun
• Investment management
• 4 minute read

The resemblance between the rise of both passive investing and industrial farming.

Being active about your passive portfolio: how to invest in passives well

• 25 Jun
• Investment management
• 4 minute read

The final two

• 25 Jun
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Eight Brexit questions you’re probably asking

• 24 Jun
• Investment Insight
• 7 minute read

Will Boris Johnson be the next prime minister? Will we leave the European Union with 'no deal' in October? Our investment team weighs in on these questions and more.

What do you need to know about bull and bear markets?

• 19 Jun
• Investment management
• 5 minute read

It is useful to understand the difference between a bull and a bear market and what these markets mean for your personal investments.

The UK’s glum GDP

• 18 Jun
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

When to consolidate your pension pots

• 18 Jun
• Retirement Planning
• 4 minute read

Tepid summer CPI

• 11 Jun
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Mexican stand-off

• 04 Jun
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

May day, May day

• 29 May
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

My way or the Huawei

• 21 May
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Yuan a fight?

• 14 May
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

US labour market lows

• 08 May
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

The import-ance of being Ernest

• 30 Apr
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Investor Insight - Spring 2019

• 29 Apr
• Investment Insight
• 5 minute read

Investor Insight - Spring 2019

• 25 Apr
• Market update
• 7 minute watch

China’s spring rebound

• 24 Apr
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Trick or treaty?

• 16 Apr
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Stockpile skew

• 09 Apr
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Songs of Brexperience

• 02 Apr
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Bund breaches 0

• 26 Mar
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Support for the Bank of Mum and Dad

• 25 Mar
• Financial planning
• 3 minute read

Third time lucky

• 19 Mar
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

2019 Spring statement update

• 14 Mar
• Financial planning
• 10 minute read

Le Crunch

• 12 Mar
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Lending into retirement

• 11 Mar
• Financial planning
• 3 minute read

BBBella Italia

• 05 Mar
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Are you ready for tax year-end?

• 04 Mar
• Financial planning
• 3 minute read

Dovish dilemma

• 26 Feb
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Investor Insight- Winter 2018/19

• 22 Feb
• Investment Insight
• 5 minute read

Investor Insight - Winter 2018/19

• 21 Feb
• Market update
• 8 minute watch

Inflation winter chill

• 19 Feb
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

The value of investment research: Uncovering disruptive growth themes

• 14 Feb
• Investment management
• 5 minute read

Here are a few areas where our in-house research team has identified potential for growth.

Chinese New Year, same old trade woes

• 12 Feb
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Domestic economy conundrum

• 05 Feb
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Downside risk

• 29 Jan
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Plan A 2.0

• 22 Jan
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Last plan standing

• 15 Jan
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

New year, new markets?

• 08 Jan
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Set your financial resolutions for 2019

• 07 Jan
• Financial planning
• 4 minute read

Market update

• 07 Jan
• Market update
• 5 minute read

Given the volatility in markets, we are cognisant that clients may be feeling uneasy. Here is an update from our Investment Team.

Have you been appointed an Executor?

• 19 Dec
• Financial planning
• 7 minute read

Ne’er cast a clout till May be out

• 18 Dec
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Investor Insight - December 2018

• 17 Dec
• Market update
• 6 minute read

Uncertainty prevails

• 11 Dec
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

The value of socially responsible investment

• 07 Dec
• Investment management
• 3 minute read

Deal or no deal?

• 04 Dec
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Deal dilemma

• 27 Nov
• Weekly update
• 2 minute read

Here's a weekly update from our Investment Team.

Matt Stanesby on our Close Managed Funds

• 22 Nov
• Investment management
• 7 minute watch

Brexit - an update on our thoughts

• 05 Nov
• Investment Insight
• 5 minute read

In this Investment Insight, we examine the key issues and investment implications of the UK's future relationship with the EU.

Investor Insight - Autumn 2018

• 24 Oct
• Market update
• 10 minute watch

Investment Insight - Our views in light of recent market volatility

• 15 Oct
• Investment Insight
• 4 minute read

Funding the next generation

• 20 Aug
• Financial planning
• 5 minute read

Bull and Bear – the US economy

• 02 Jul
• Market update
• 5 minute read

Investor Insight - Summer 2018

• 01 Jul
• Market update
• 8 minute watch

Girls just wanna have funds

• 25 Jun
• Financial planning
• 7 minute read

Investing in health and wellness

• 23 May
• Investment management
• 5 minute read

Investor Insight - Spring 2018

• 10 Apr
• Market update
• 4 minute watch

Betting on Beijing will take courage

• 29 Mar
• Market update
• 3 minute read

Should investors follow the PM into China?

• 01 Mar
• Market update
• 3 minute read

Investment Insight - Should we worry about a trade war?

• 01 Mar
• Investment Insight
• 5 minute read

Investment Insight - Why do tariffs matter for markets?

• 01 Mar
• Market update
• 4 minute read

Investment Insight - Market Turbulence 2018

• 09 Feb
• Market update
• 4 minute read

Finding the balance between humanity and technology

• 17 Jan
• Financial planning
• 2 minute read

Charting a course through financial volatility

• 12 Jan
• Financial planning
• 3 minute read

Save and invest for the long term

• 05 Jan
• Financial planning
• 2 minute read

Spread your net to hit your long-term targets

• 02 Jan
• Investment management
• 3 minute read

Finding the right mix for a smooth future

• 21 Dec
• Investment management
• 2 minute read

Tailoring your portfolio to find the perfect fit

• 15 Dec
• Investment management
• 2 minute read

Why bespoke planning beats off-the-peg

• 08 Dec
• Investment management
• 2 minute read

Investor Insight - Winter 2017/18

• 01 Dec
• Market update
• 6 minute watch

Investment Insight: Close Select Fixed Income Fund

• 25 Nov
• Investment Insight
• 7 minute read

The lifetime allowance - don’t forget age 75 issues

• 24 Nov
• Financial planning
• 2 minute read

The psychology of investment

• 16 Nov
• Investment management
• 5 minute read

Investor Insight - Autumn 2017

• 19 Oct
• Market update
• 5 minute watch