Mehak Bambrah- Financial Planner

For many people, particularly women in their 40s and 50s, caring for an ageing parent can arrive while they are still working, supporting children and trying to prepare for their own retirement.

Reducing working hours or stepping away from a career can affect current income, pension contributions and longer-term financial security.

There may also be difficult family conversations about how a parent's care will be funded and who will manage their affairs if they're no longer able to.

If you find yourself taking on more responsibility for somebody you love, don't overlook the effect on your own future.

Looking after someone else and looking after your finances can and should, happen alongside each other.

Last month's highlights 💫

• AI remained the dominant market story, driving strong corporate earnings and record highs in US equities. This was despite growing debate around valuations, competition and the long-term return on massive investment spending.
• The conflict between the US and Iran continued to shape markets, influencing oil prices, inflation expectations and investor sentiment as hopes of progress repeatedly emerged and faded.
• Droughts, heatwaves and wildfires raised fears over food production, supply chains and inflationary pressures across Europe.
• Attention turned to government finances, with the US national debt surpassing $40 trillion. Investors closely monitored borrowing levels, bond markets and the outlook for interest rates.

Read more in this week's Week Watch:
https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-01-09-2026.html

WeekWatch - 01/09/2026 WeekWatch - 01/09/2026

There comes a point when the relationship between parents and children begins to change.

You may find yourself helping with appointments, paperwork or practical decisions that your parents once handled entirely themselves.

Money can be one of the hardest subjects to introduce.

Do they have an up-to-date Will? Have Lasting Powers of Attorney been arranged? Where are important financial documents kept? What are their wishes if they eventually need additional care? Who would be able to manage their finances if they could no longer do so themselves?

These aren't necessarily conversations for a moment of crisis. Having them while everyone is well and able to express their wishes can make life considerably easier for the whole family later on.

A cup of tea and an open conversation can be a very good place to begin.

Will writing and Powers of Attorney involve the referral to a service that is separate and distinct to those offered by St. James's Place and are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Divorce can require you to make some of the biggest financial decisions of your life at a time when emotions are understandably running high.

The family home often receives much of the attention, but pensions, investments, protection and future income can be equally important when considering the long-term picture.

For women in particular, career breaks or periods of reduced earnings may also mean retirement provision has developed very differently from that of their spouse.

As a female-led advice firm, we understand the importance of having space to ask questions, understand what different options could mean for your future and regain confidence in managing your finances independently.

The decisions made during a separation can shape your financial position for many years afterwards. Having professional advice alongside the legal process can help you look beyond the immediate settlement and consider the life you're building next.

What are you actually looking forward to in retirement? 🏝️

For some, it’s travelling. For others, it’s spending more time with family, moving somewhere new, pursuing interests that work has left little time for or simply having more freedom over each day.

Putting a number against those ambitions is where retirement planning becomes particularly valuable.

How much income will the lifestyle you have in mind require? When could you realistically afford to stop working? How might your spending change as you get older? And how will your pensions, savings and investments work together to provide that income?

Retirement can represent decades of your life. Giving some thought to how you want those years to look can help you plan for them with much greater confidence.

WEEK WATCH: Burnham urged to dispel rumours of pension lump sum changes

Financial services firms are urging prime minister Andy Burnham to quash rumours of changes to the pension tax-free lump sum ahead of the Budget on 28 October.

In the run up to last year’s Autumn Budget there was similar speculation the government would scrap or amend the tax-free lump sum. Currently, most pension savers can take 25% of their pension tax free, up to £268,275, at the age of 55 (this rises to 57 from April 2028).

The rumours led many pension savers to withdraw their tax-free lump sum early. Once money has been withdrawn, it can’t later be reinvested in a pension.

Pension companies fear that allowing such speculation to grow again could result in lower confidence in pensions and a rise in early withdrawals. This may ultimately affect retirement savings and reduce trust in the system.

READ MORE HERE:
https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-17-08-2026.html

When was the last time you put your own financial future first?

For many women, particularly those balancing careers, children, ageing parents and other caring responsibilities, their own finances can quietly slip down the priority list.

Career breaks and reduced working hours can affect pension provision. Divorce or bereavement can suddenly change financial circumstances. Living longer also means women may need their retirement savings to support them for many years.

As a female-led advice firm, we’re passionate about helping women feel informed, involved and confident when making decisions about money.

On National Financial Awareness Day, make some space for your own future too. You spend plenty of time looking after everyone else. Your financial wellbeing deserves the same attention.

WEEK WATCH: Weathering the drought ☀️
While opinions may vary on whether the current hot, dry summer is nicer than Britain’s typical grey and drizzly experience, its effects on farming are less up for debate.

According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the heat has encouraged the spread of Bluetongue (a disease that particularly affects sheep) across southwest England. At the same time, several crops – such as winter wheat – are experiencing notably poor yields. Lower food production are likely to translate to inflationary pressures, though the extent of this may take time to fully materialise.

The weather situation is equally tough on mainland Europe. As well as the humanitarian costs, the wildfires that spread through France and Spain are estimated to have cost billions of euros in damages. Meanwhile, low water levels in rivers such as the Rhine have meant commercial shipping vessels have had to lighten their cargo.

So far, however, the weather hasn’t put too much of a dampener on equities. Both UK and EU markets are trading at, or near, all-time highs on the back of strong company results and optimism around a potential deal with Iran.

Read more here:
https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-10-08-2026.html

WEEK WATCH: The summer slowdown in the UK housing market has been sharper than usual, with Bank of England statistics suggesting homebuyers are putting plans to buy on hold.

While mortgage approvals for house purchases increased to 58,200 in June, up from 56,200 in May, this represents a decline from an average monthly figure of 61,400 over the previous six months.*

Factors behind this include higher mortgage rates driven by market uncertainty due to the protracted conflict in the Middle East.

*Source: Bank of England, Money and credit statistical release – June 2026. Published 29 July 2026

Read more here:
https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/weekwatch-03-08-2026.html

Financial confidence isn't about understanding every investment or tax rule.
It's about knowing your finances are organised.
Knowing your family is protected.
Knowing your long-term plans remain achievable.

As a female-led advice firm, one of the most rewarding parts of our work is helping clients replace uncertainty with confidence, whatever stage of life they're in.

Because peace of mind is one of the most valuable outcomes good financial planning can provide.