St. James's Place

SpaceX has become one of the largest companies on the planet. Yet despite its size, it currently doesn’t quality for inclusion in the US’s flagship stock market index, the S&P 500. Why? All stock market indices have eligibility criteria which companies must meet in order to be listed on them. These include the size and value of a business (the market cap of a company), as well as having a minimum number of their shares available to be traded publicly.

The key people in your business aren’t necessarily those at the top. They could be a director or key decision maker. But they could also be an employee with niche expertise or talent that your business depends heavily on to operate successfully. For example, even the biggest rock bands would have to cancel their tour if the lead singer could not perform. But the show would probably go on if they had to replace their drummer for a while.

The ‘great wealth transfer’ as it is known, refers to the large-scale movement of assets between generations. Widely reported research suggests trillions of pounds will be passed between spouses and down the generations through inheritance over the next 20 years. It will lead to the majority of the UK’s wealth being in female hands within decades, which has significant implications for the financial services industry.

This summer has given us the biggest World Cup in history, with 48 teams and three host countries. As an avid football fan, I have watched as much as I can reasonably get away with, although the late nights have been particularly painful. One of the things I love about tournaments is how quickly the story can change. A team can look unbeatable in the group stage, only to run out of ideas when the pressure rises.

The UK economy is still grappling with the long-term effects of the 2008 financial crisis and the pandemic. Business confidence has remained fragile. Tax burdens have increased. Regulation has become more complex, and decision-making across many sectors has slowed. Despite the challenges businesses are facing, we have seen continued demand for growth, funding and exit advice.

Being named as an executor is an important role, and it can feel like a big responsibility — especially at an already difficult time. It involves tasks such as organising the funeral, managing assets, settling any debts, paying any inheritance tax due and distributing what’s left to beneficiaries. Many people choose to get support from a solicitor, accountant or financial adviser, particularly if the estate is complex. You don’t have to do everything on your own.

News Investing A powerful El Nino weather phenomenon is expected during the second half of 2026, with the potential to reshape global weather patterns into next year. On its own, this could pose a meaningful risk to agricultural output across Asia and Africa. When combined with the sharp rise in energy prices since the start of the Iran conflict, and ongoing disruption to fertiliser supplies, this creates a more fragile outlook for global food production.

If you do end up needing social care, the local authority will carry out a free ‘needs assessment’ – a means test – to decide how much you should pay towards your care. In England, if your capital exceeds £23,250, you will usually be expected to meet the full cost of your care. Many people are under the impression that, if you can reduce the amount of your assets by giving away money, property or income, the state will step in and pick up more of the bill.

Changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules which will bring most pensions into scope from next April are changing how people think about retirement planning, with more turning once again to annuities. For many years annuities have been firmly out of fashion. This followed the introduction of pension freedoms in 2015 which made it much easier for people to take out money from their pension fund, rather than having to buy an annuity.

The changes being introduced throughout 2026 and into 2027 represent some of the biggest shifts to employment rights in over a decade. While many employers are aware that legislation is changing, fewer have considered what these changes mean in practical terms for their business, their managers, and their day-to-day processes. The good news is that there is still time to prepare and ensure compliance.