Agile Independent Financial Advice Ltd

15/10/2026

Halloween: the season of ghouls, goblins, and gremlins; warlocks, witches, and wizards.

Children everywhere are preparing to dress up in their most frightening finery and fill their pumpkin-shaped buckets with sweets and chocolates. While you may have outgrown Halloween treats, that doesn’t mean you’re safe from tricks, particularly when it comes to your personal finances.

Bedsheet ghosts may not give you the same fright as they used to, but simple tax mistakes could. Here are five scary tax mistakes you should watch out for this spooky season.

Halloween is the season of goblins, ghouls, and frightening tax mistakes. Learn how a financial planner can help you excise yours from your financial plan.

01/10/2026

Retirement is a major life event that most people spend years planning and looking forward to.

And yet, research by Moneybox (3 July 2026) reveals that 43% of over-55s have never discussed their retirement finances with anyone, and just 44% have spoken about them to their partner or spouse.

This could leave couples with different expectations about when they will stop working and what their retirement will look like. It may also lead to missed opportunities to maximise their retirement income.

Read our article to discover why so many people avoid retirement discussions with their partner, as well as some practical tips for starting this important conversation and how a financial planner can help.

22/09/2026

Psychology could be one reason why some people are reluctant to invest, even when it fits into their wider financial plan.

Managing risk is an important part of life. You check the road before you cross the street, and you might be encouraged to take out home insurance just in case something happens. So, it’s not surprising that people often seek to minimise financial risk.

Some research shows that British people tend to be more risk averse with only 23% of the population investing in stocks & shares (aside from workplace pensions). This compares to almost twp-thirds of US citizens.

The difference in the number of people investing indicates that we may need to shift our mindset from a view that investing purely poses a risk rather than considering its potential benefits.

Read our article to learn why you might want to shift your thinking from cash investments to stocks and shares.

Psychology could be one reason why some people are reluctant to invest, even when it fits into their wider financial plan. Discover some of the reasons why cash might feel safer and the potential impact of overlooking investing.

02/09/2026

Key changes are being made to ISAs in April 2027, and they could affect how you use the tax-efficient wrapper.

You might have read in the news or heard that the ISA allowance is being cut or that tax will now apply to cash savings. While there is some truth in these statements, without further details they’re misleading. To cut through the sometimes confusing headlines, we explain the two changes you should be aware of.

Read our article to find out what these changes are and how they could affect your fianancial planning.

https://agileifa.co.uk/2-upcoming-isa-changes-you-should-be-aware-of/

23/07/2026

We recently attended a fantastic event lead by Candlelighters who are an amazing charity based in Leeds for children with cancer.

In light of this event, we wondered if we should all be including volunteering or charity work in our lives in some way.

Indeed, a fulfilling retirement isn’t just about financial security; it’s about the experiences you have, the people you meet, and continued personal growth.
Giving some of your time to a cause that matters to you could be an important part of this.

For more information, read our insightful article on how volunteering could enhance your retirement.

Volunteering can be a fantastic way to help others while gaining a new sense of purpose in retirement. Discover five compelling reasons to get involved.

05/05/2026

Are your self-employed or a small business owner? If so, do you have enough pension provision?

Research suggests that many small business owners and self-employed workers aren’t prioritising their retirement and could face uncertainty later in life as a result. However, opening a pension could benefit both you and your business.

According to an article from Which? (1 March 2026), people who have spent most of their working life as self-employed are three times more likely not to have a private pension.

28/04/2026

Getting the most out of your retirement and reaching your goals requires careful planning. But as we all know, life doesn’t always go to plan.

If you decide you want to retire sooner than originally planned – whether due to circumstances beyond your control, a health crisis, or a simple change of heart – a pension shortfall may require a rethink.

Our guide shares five steps you can take to help you plan for a pension shortfall, build a strong financial foundation, and start enjoying your retirement sooner.

Click the link to download our guide now!

Getting the most out of your retirement and reaching your goals requires careful planning. But as we all know, life doesn’t always go to plan. This handy guide could be useful if you want to retire sooner than originally planned.

21/04/2026

The current situation in the Middle East has led to market volatility. While it might seem new, similar movements have happened before, and looking at how these events have affected investor behaviour could be useful.

While volatility can seem concerning and unusual, it’s a normal part of investing. Indeed, even over the last 20 years, investors have experienced many periods of high volatility, including during the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read our article about two types of investor behaviour to be mindful of during volatility.

The current situation in the Middle East has led to market volatility. While it might seem new, similar movements have happened before, and looking at how these events may affect investor behaviour could be useful.

01/04/2026

When you think about the most important skills in investing, you might consider the ability to choose the “right” investments or understanding market movements. Yet, for the average investor, patience could be far more valuable.

Usually, investment strategies require a long-term outlook, so you need to be patient to achieve your goals. While it might be tempting to adjust your portfolio based on the news or market movements, for the average investor, creating a strategy that’s aligned with their goals and risk profile, and then holding assets long-term, could prove more effective.

Read our article to find out our tips to becoming a successful investor.

Once you’ve set out your investment goal and strategy, what comes next? Often, it’s time to test an important investment skill – your patience. With investment strategies usually covering long time frames, composure is essential.

23/03/2026

We’re proud to share some fantastic news 🎉

Both Chris Thorpe and Cindy Morley, our Financial Planners at Agile IFA, have been included in this year’s VouchedFor Top Rated Adviser Guide 2026 — published in The Times this Saturday 📰

This recognition is especially meaningful as it’s based on client feedback and reviews, reflecting the trust our clients place in us every day.

A huge congratulations to Chris and Cindy for this well-deserved achievement 👏

And of course, a big thank you to our clients for your continued support — we couldn’t do it without you.