Matthew Douglas Ltd

08/09/2026

The latest house price data reveals significant pressure on the UK market, with a 2% drop in newly listed asking prices in August – the largest fall for this month since 2018. Annual prices are down 1% year-on-year. Mortgage rates creeping up and budget uncertainty are contributing factors. Sellers pricing realistically have the best chance of finding a buyer. For navigating this market, professional financial advice is recommended. Please consult an advisor before investing.

07/09/2026

Questions are being raised about transparency in lending activities within Octopus's Inheritance Tax Service, impacting around 18,000 investors. Investors should understand their investments, related party exposure, and risk profiles. Independent, regulated financial advice is invaluable. This is not advice; consult an advisor before investing. Contact Matthew Douglas Ltd for professional financial advice you can trust.

04/09/2026

Ricky Gervais admits inheritance tax is the reason he's planning to marry after 40 years together. This highlights a crucial issue for cohabiting couples in the UK, who lack automatic inheritance tax protection and other rights. Without a will, your partner's estate could face significant tax. Consult Matthew Douglas Limited for professional financial advice.

03/09/2026

Many approaching retirement with workplace pensions are concerned. While financial advisers are prioritising retirement support, pension providers are not keeping pace. Decisions made around retirement are critical and getting them wrong can cost tens of thousands. If you're within 10 years of retirement and haven't had a pension review, please don't wait. This is not financial advice; consult an advisor before investing. For professional and financial advice you can trust, get in touch with Matthew Douglas Limited. Visit our website, drop us an email, or give us a call.

02/09/2026

Tax Freedom Day marks when the average Brit starts earning for themselves, not the taxman. In 2026, it falls on June 6th, the latest ever, meaning over 5 months of work go to HMRC. This is significantly later than in previous years, and projections show it moving even further back. With over 42% of income consumed by various taxes and potential future pressures, understanding your allowances like pensions, ISAs, and CGT is crucial. This is not financial advice; please consult an advisor before investing. For professional, trustworthy advice, contact Matthew Douglas Limited. Details are in our bio.

29/08/2026

We can’t wait to be back at next years show!

Our friends at Matthew Douglas are back with us for the 2027 show taking on the Art Show Preview sponsorship once again. We are absolutely delighted to have the team back with us after their first year as sponsors in 2026. It is absolutely lovely to be working with so many Hadleigh based businesses, community and local links are hugely important to what we aim for at the Hadleigh Show.

14/08/2026

If you’re in Hadleigh. Come down and support an incredible cause!

🏉 ROONAGH CUP – IMPORTANT INFORMATION 💜

With next weekend fast approaching We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to Hadleigh RFC for a fantastic day of rugby, family fun and fundraising in memory of Roonagh. 💜

🎟️ Wristbands – £5
Wristbands will be available to purchase at the club. Please keep your wristband safe once purchased, as it will be used to verify paid entry. NO WRISTBAND = NO ENTRY TO THE CLUBHOUSE.

🍺 Drinks & glasses
All drinks will be served in durable plastic glasses. There is a one-off £2 purchase for your first glass, which you can keep as a lasting souvenir of the Roonagh Cup fundraising event. 💜

💷 Cash & card accepted

🎟️ Raffle – £1 per strip
We have some amazing prizes up for grabs, so make sure you get your raffle tickets!

⚽ Car park
Football training will take place until 12 noon, after which the car park will be closed. Please arrive with this in mind.

☀️ Hot weather expected
Make sure you bring sun cream, plenty of water and suitable clothing for what is expected to be a hot day.

🪑 Bring a chair or blanket
There will be plenty going on throughout the day, so bring something comfortable to sit on and enjoy the rugby.

🎨 Face painting

🍦 Ice cream van

🏉 Rugby kicks off at 2pm
🎶 Live music & DJ from 7pm

Most importantly, come along, have a brilliant day and help us raise as much as possible for EACH – East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. 💜

Every penny raised makes a difference.

11/08/2026

🔴 We're on The Circuit!

We're pleased to share that Matthew Douglas Ltd now has a public access defibrillator (AED) installed at our building in Hadleigh — and it's officially registered on The Circuit, the UK's national defibrillator network.

Why this matters for Hadleigh

Registering on The Circuit means that if someone in the area dials 999, ambulance control room staff can immediately see our defibrillator's exact location and direct a bystander straight to it — no searching, no wasted seconds. It's not just our AED anymore; it's part of the town's safety net.

The numbers behind it:

- Over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the UK every year, but fewer than 1 in 10 people survive.
- Every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation reduces someone's chance of survival by up to 10%.
- When a bystander steps in with CPR and a defibrillator before the ambulance arrives, survival rates can climb dramatically compared with waiting for professional help alone.

There are now over 120,000 defibrillators registered on The Circuit nationally — but access is still uneven, and more deprived and rural areas often have the fewest devices nearby.

A defibrillator only saves lives if people know it's there and are confident enough to use it. That's exactly what The Circuit — and having one installed on our building — helps make possible, right here in Hadleigh.

📍 Find us, and register your own AED, at https://www.thecircuit.uk/

Register and maintain your defibrillator on The Circuit to ensure ambulance services can locate it in the crucial moments following a cardiac arrest

08/08/2026

06/08/2026

The wait for a date is over — Budget Day confirmed for Wednesday 28th October 2026.

HM Treasury has confirmed that Chancellor has commissioned the OBR to prepare its economic and fiscal forecast, to be presented to Parliament alongside the Budget on Wednesday 28th October 2026.

For anyone with savings, pensions, investments, or property, Budget announcements can bring changes that are worth understanding early — not reacting to at the last minute.

At Matthew Douglas, we'll be watching closely and breaking down what any changes could mean for your finances in the weeks ahead.

📅 Save the date. We'll keep you informed.

👉 Get in touch if you'd like to talk through how to prepare ahead of the Budget.