Lee Blissett Wealth Management

Why bonds are back in the spotlight – and why it matters

Bonds are back in the headlines, with political uncertainty driving fresh volatility in what is usually seen as a steadier part of the market. But why does this matter for investors? We answer some of the key questions in the article below.

Why bonds are back in the spotlight – and why it matters Investors hate uncertainty, but the UK currently has it in bucket loads. The Labour party leadership contest is raising fears that the government’s already weak finances will be put under further strain should candidates promise to spend more in a bid to woo voters.

Saving and investing for children and grandchildren

Many parents worry that their children will struggle to find their financial feet in the current environment. Concerns include the flagging jobs market and inadequate retirement savings. Meanwhile, high house prices make it increasingly difficult to take the first step onto the property ladder. These are all factors driving fears that younger generations will face a tougher financial future.
However, there are a variety of investment and saving tools for parents and grandparents who want to support children and grandchildren in building financial foundations. Here we explore some of the main options available.

Saving and investing for children and grandchildren Many parents worry that their children will struggle to find their financial feet in the current environment. Concerns include the flagging jobs market and inadequate retirement savings. Meanwhile, high house prices make it increasingly difficult to take the first step onto the property ladder. Thes...

Renters’ Rights Act: What landlords need to know

The Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026. It brought in new rules and requirements for private landlords in England, including the banning of no-fault evictions and fixed term tenancies. There are also new regulations around increases to rent.

Landlords and letting agents must send all named tenants a copy of the government-produced Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026, either digitally or in the post, by 31 May 2026. Failure to comply could lead to a £7,000 fine.

Read our guide to ensure you don’t fall foul of the rules and end up with a penalty.

Renters’ Rights Act: What landlords need to know The Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026. It brought in new rules and requirements for private landlords in England, including the banning of no-fault evictions and fixed term tenancies. There are also new regulations around increases to rent.

Is all that glitters fool’s gold?

After two years of rapid price increases, the conflict in Iran has seen gold prices fall notably. With the metal struggling, we look at what drives its performance, and how SJP views it as an asset class.

In Eastern Bulgaria, there is an ancient burial site known as the Varna Necropolis that dates to the fifth millennium BCE. Only discovered in the 1970s, it soon became clear that this site was home to what many consider to be the oldest examples of gold treasure and jewellery ever discovered.

In the intervening millennia, countless wars have been fought, empires forged and kingdoms lost in the pursuit of the precious metal.

What is most remarkable about all this is that, for most of this time, gold didn’t have much practical use other than being shiny, inert and relatively rare. Its inert quality made it an ideal store of wealth, while its rarity, looks and malleable nature made it practical for jewellery and turning into coins. Even today, these qualities make it an attractive store of wealth for many.

Is all that glitters fool's gold ? After two years of rapid price increases, the conflict in Iran has seen gold prices fall notably. With the metal struggling, we look at what drives its performance, and how SJP views it as an asset class.

Welcome to the latest issue of our CIO quarterly insights newsletter from CIO Justin Onuekwusi.

So far, 2026 has been a year of unexpected but persistent turmoil. Amid the noise, it is worth repeating that this situation calls for perspective rather than prediction. Reflection not reaction.

Read Justin's Insights below 📱 💻

CIO Investment Insights: Volatile conditions. Resilient decisions So far, 2026 has been a year of unexpected but persistent turmoil. This followed a relatively smooth end to 2025 for markets and investors. While I previously warned that investors should brace themselves for a correction - and that such corrections are also normal - few of us could have anticipated...

We are proud to announce that our Digital Services Administrator & son Harry, has been selected to join Triumph Motorcycles as a Design Engineer on their placement scheme, starting in July.
After online assessments & interviews, he was fortunate to be offered the position, marking the first step in his engineering career.
Having been introduced to motorcycles at 4 years of age, touring Austria in 2015 & Croatia in 2019, & passing his motorcycle test in June last year, he is excited to combine his passion with his Automotive Engineering masters degree studies.
Congratulations & we wish you the very best of luck in your placement year Harry, LBWM.

New tax year: Round-up of rate and allowance changes

The new tax year (2026/27) began on 6 April. Updated tax rates and allowances have been well-trailed by the government so there shouldn’t be any nasty surprises for taxpayers. That said, it pays to take note of how the adjustments, including new requirements for filing tax information, will affect your finances this year.

We’ve created a summary of the key tax changes for the 2026/27 tax year to help individuals and businesses with their tax planning.

New tax year: Round-up of rate and allowance changes The new tax year (2026/27) began on 6 April. Updated tax rates and allowances have been well-trailed by the government so there shouldn’t be any nasty surprises for taxpayers. That said, it pays to take note of how the adjustments, including new requirements for filing tax information, will affect...

The busiest shipping lanes in the world

The conflict in Iran has brought shipping traffic to a halt in the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global trade. This disruption has highlighted the world’s reliance on this strategic sea route and the vulnerabilities it creates for the global economy. Here we explore some of the busiest and most important shipping lanes in the world.

The busiest shipping lanes in the world A quarter of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz1 – the narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman – making it one of the most important trade routes globally.