Archives
The Financial Gap Few Families Plan For: What Happens If You Can’t Work for a Year?
It’s easy to assume the biggest financial risk is what happens if we’re no longer here. That’s why so many people take out life insurance. But for many families, the more immediate challenge is something else entirely, losing your income while you’re still alive. An illness or injury that keeps you off work for months […]
Posted in Insurance
The £500 Mistake: Why Dividend Allowance Cuts Are a Bigger Deal Than You Think
You haven’t changed your investments. But suddenly, you’re paying more tax. The culprit? A quiet but significant change to the dividend allowance, now slashed to just £500, that’s catching many income investors and semi-retirees off guard. If you hold income-producing investments outside an ISA or pension, this small shift could mean a bigger tax bill […]
Posted in Financial Planning
The 2026 Buyer’s Curveball: Why Your Deposit Isn’t the Only Thing That Matters
You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: “Save for the deposit.” And sure, it matters. But in 2026’s shifting mortgage market, it’s far from the whole story. Buyers focusing only on deposit size could be missing the bigger picture that actually decides whether you get the deal (or the keys). Your Credit Profile Carries […]
Posted in Mortgage
Why You Don’t Need £60k to Make the Most of Your Pension
When people hear they can contribute up to £60,000 a year into their pension, many immediately tune out. “That’s miles out of my league,” they think. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to hit that limit, or even get close, to make a real difference to your retirement. Even modest contributions can grow meaningfully […]
Posted in Pensions
The Advice-Only Mistake: Why Execution Matters Just as Much as the Plan
You’ve got the plan. The recommendations are clear, the goals are mapped out, and the next steps look achievable. But without support to implement them, even the best advice can end up gathering dust. At Cedar House, we believe good financial advice doesn’t stop at the “what”, it continues through the “how.” A smart strategy […]
Posted in Financial Planning
What Happens to Your Pension When You Die? Why 2025 Is the Year to Recheck Your Nomination
Pensions don’t automatically follow your will. Most defined contribution pensions (the kind you build through personal or workplace plans) pass on according to your nominated beneficiary form, not your estate. If you haven’t nominated anyone, or your nomination is out of date, the pension provider may use discretion to decide where the money goes. That […]
Posted in Pensions
The £3,000 Gift Everyone Forgets to Use (And Why HMRC Loves That)
Every year, millions of people in the UK let a simple tax break slip through their fingers: one that could save their families thousands. The £3,000 annual gift allowance sounds modest, but used consistently, it’s a powerful way to reduce future inheritance tax bills. The irony of it all is that most of us never […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Is Your Mortgage Deal Hiding a Trap? What to Know Before You Remortgage Again
That ‘too good to miss’ rate might look pretty tempting… much like a pancake van on a chilly autumn evening. But – the small print can come with costly surprises. Many of us get drawn like a moth to a flame when it comes to shiny, cleverly marketed deals and switch before really looking into […]
Posted in Mortgage
The Early Exit Retirement Plan Most People Overlook
Most people assume they’ll work into their late 60s, not because they want to, but because they think they have to. But what if that assumption is wrong? The truth is, many people could stop working sooner than they realise. The key is knowing your number and testing the plan, not relying on guesswork or […]
Posted in Retirement Planning
How Spreading Investments Too Thin Could Be Slowing You Down
Diversification is one of the most repeated pieces of investment advice, and for good reason. But here’s the part that rarely gets mentioned: too much diversification can actually hold you back. Instead of boosting performance or reducing risk, overdoing it can lead to a bloated portfolio that’s confusing, inefficient, and ultimately less effective. The […]
Posted in Financial Planning, Investments