Insights and events for financial advisers

The US “4% rule” is a familiar guide to retirement planning — but how well does it really hold up in the UK? New research hints at a different answer, showing why a more tailored approach could be key to making money last.

Markets drew lessons from lived experience and old scars that split investors into believers in the AI boom in one camp, and believers in the other.

For three decades, William Bengen’s 4% rule has shaped how advisers and retirees think about sustainable withdrawals. Originally published in 1994, the rule suggested that a retiree could withdraw 4% of their portfolio in the first year (gross of fees), increase that amount with inflation, and reasonably expect their funds to last 30 years. But does that guidance still hold in 2026? Recent research and Bengen himself suggest it may no longer be the optimal starting point.

Pension drawdown gives clients flexibility over how and when they take income, while keeping their capital invested for the long term. For advisers, the challenge is balancing clients’ income needs today with income sustainability tomorrow.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz kept inflation high in the first half of this year, but corporate earnings growth flowed freely.

Why transparency, flexibility and control are becoming more important in a Managed Portfolio Service (MPS).

A Burnham-led government would move leftward, but markets are waiting for more details before reacting. We advise clients to stick to existing paths.

Markets stayed steady despite heavy political and policy news, with investors weighing UK upheaval, a historic US IPO and a firmer Fed tone.

How investment and retirement propositions work together to move clients from growth to income, managing evolving risks and delivering better outcomes.

Explore how advisers and investment managers can collaborate to deliver personalised retirement support, addressing emotional and financial challenges across the journey.

The backdrop remains unsettled, from Middle East tensions to changing rate expectations. We still see reasons to stay constructive; investors are rarely rewarded for waiting on perfect conditions.

The Pension Schemes Bill represents the most significant package of UK pension reform in more than a decade. This article explores what advisers need to understand, and how the new framework is likely to affect pension recommendations in practice.

Successive Budget announcements have set out a wide range of tax and pension changes that will be introduced over the remainder of the decade. While many headlines focus on what is changing, the more complex challenge for advisers is understanding when each change takes effect and how the staged implementation affects planning decisions for clients. This article provides a practical timeline of upcoming changes, highlighting the areas most likely to impact pension advice, retirement planning and holistic wealth strategies.

Markets turned unsettled after a red‑hot run, sparking talk of a top. We still see no case to cut equities, periods like this can bring new opportunities.

Passive investing is often viewed as a low-risk, diversified approach, but today’s market structure challenges that assumption. With a growing concentration in mega-cap technology companies, index-tracking MPS may introduce unintended risks and limit responsiveness to market shifts. This article explores the implications for advisers and highlights the role of active management in navigating an increasingly uncertain investment landscape.

We caution against too much caution, as we weigh up the risks posed by the Iran war and the growth of AI.