Lee Blissett Wealth Management

05/11/2026

Bank base rate hits 4% - are more rate rises on the way?

The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to increase interest rates to 4% in response to rising global inflationary pressures. This marks the first increase in over three years.

The move had been widely anticipated by financial markets. In the days leading to the vote, the pound reached its highest level since the Brexit vote in 2016.

Rising energy prices largely caused by the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine have been driving inflationary pressures. The BoE warned inflation could reach nearly 5% by mid-2027.

So far, the UK economy has coped fairly well with the higher inflation. It has posted relatively healthy growth figures over 2026, above what many expected at the start of the year. The stronger economy gave the BoE scope to increase rates to counter higher inflation. The bank actually noted that the more resilient economy increased the chances that higher energy prices would affect prices in other areas.

The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to increase interest rates to 4% in response to rising global inflationary pressures. This marks the first increase in over three years.

23/10/2026

The missing years: caring, career pauses and long-term planning

Figures show women are substantially more likely than men to take a career break during their working life.(1) Whether it’s maternity leave, caring for young children, or looking after elderly family members, the responsibilities that lead to time out of paid work are more likely to impact women.

But while career breaks are often a positive experience, they can have long-reaching effects, both financially and on women’s confidence about returning to work.

This is where having a financial plan can help. Instead of treating career breaks as interruptions or gaps with damaging financial impacts, they need to be recognised as a normal part of women’s financial journeys.

Sensible long-term planning can help women more confidently navigate these changes in their working life.

Sources
(1) St. James's Place. Women and Wealth 2026 – June 2026. Opinium surveyed 6,000 UK adults nationwide between 17 March and 9 April 2026. Quotas and post-weighting were applied to the sample to make the dataset representative of the UK adult population.

Figures show women are substantially more likely than men to take a career break during their working life.1 Whether it’s maternity leave, caring for young children, or looking after elderly family members, the responsibilities that lead to time out of paid work are more likely to impact women.

20/10/2026

😊 It's been a while! 😊

At LBWM, we truly value the feedback we receive from our clients, and we were delighted to receive this recent testimonial from one of our professional clients.

Visit our website to read more testimonials and see what our clients have to say about working with us.

09/10/2026

Counting the cost: why caring shouldn't mean losing yourself

Becoming a carer for someone is a significant step in life. Helping loved ones through later life, ill health, disability or incapacity, is often highly rewarding. It can bring you closer together and ensure you can look back with no regrets. But caring can leave you feeling financially vulnerable – whether because of extra costs supporting people, or a reduction in income because you are working less or not at all. This situation can cause anxiety and stress for carers. Reviewing your finances and making a plan can help you stay in control while continuing to support the person you care for.

Caring for a loved one, in their old age or poor health, can be hugely rewarding and millions of people across the UK provide unpaid care1.

30/09/2026

We're proud to be continuing our growing relationship with Loughton Bowls Club

After recently supplying new mats for the club, it's fantastic to now see our advertisement displayed on the bowling green. We are looking forward to supporting the club over the coming years, and thank you to all the members for making us feel so welcome.

29/09/2026

The capital gains tax surprises that catch people out

Unexpected CGT bills are becoming more common, partly because the annual CGT exemption has fallen in recent years. To help avoid future surprises, keep records of purchases, sales and gifts of assets. This will make calculating any gains much easier. If you receive an unexpected CGT bill, take time to understand what triggered it, check the figures carefully and put a plan in place to pay it.

The run-up to a Budget often prompts people to think about tax and their finances. While future tax policy remains uncertain, understanding the rules that apply today can help avoid costly surprises. Capital gains tax (CGT) is one area where unexpected bills can arise, particularly as allowances hav...

29/09/2026

Great to meet with colleagues from the wider SJP community at the ‘Partnership Connect 2026’ London event, with really positive updates from CEO & CIO offices.

24/09/2026

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of attending an excellent event hosted by CISI Essex Branch at the iconic London Stadium.
The first session provided a deep dive into the growing role of AI in financial planning. The discussion explored how AI can be effectively integrated into existing workflows to enhance efficiency and support better outcomes. Equally important was the reminder that, particularly in the world of financial advice, human judgement, oversight and expertise remain critical.
In contrast, the second session focused on “Communicate to Connect”, exploring techniques for building trust and rapport quickly in face-to-face meetings, and how our unconscious communication habits can either strengthen or hinder our effectiveness when interacting with clients, colleagues and the people around us.
The afternoon concluded with networking, refreshments and a quick peek in the stadium, bringing back memories of our last visit in 2012 during the Paralympic Games.
A huge thank you to for delivering such an insightful and engaging event. It’s always valuable to take time out to learn, reflect and connect with fellow professionals.

17/09/2026

The new retirement dilemma: preserve or spend your pension

For years, many people viewed their pension as more than just a source of retirement income. It was also a tax-efficient way to pass wealth on to future generations. But changes coming into force in April 2027 could prompt many families to reconsider their retirement and estate planning.

From this date, most unused pension funds will be included when the value of someone's estate is calculated for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes.

For years, many people viewed their pension as more than just a source of retirement income. It was also a tax-efficient way to pass wealth on to future generations. But changes coming into force in April 2027 could prompt many families to reconsider their retirement and estate planning.

07/09/2026

At LBWM, we're committed to investing in our local community and supporting the organisations that help it thrive.

We were therefore delighted to help Loughton Bowling Club by supplying 12 new branded foot mats. It was wonderful to see them in use during the club's Finals Weekend and to play a small part in supporting such a fantastic local club.

We are proud to support organisations that encourage participation, friendship and community spirit, and we look forward to developing our relationship with the club in the years ahead.

If you are interested in joining Loughton Bowls Club LBC, they are always looking for new members and will give you a very warm welcome.