Good morning and welcome to your Morning Briefing for Friday 29 August 2025. To get this in your inbox every morning click here.
Lack of financial collaboration puts women at risk, Unbiased warns
Research by financial advice platform Unbiased has found that almost half of advice seekers in a two-adult partnership manage their household finances by themselves, with men disproportionately taking the lead.
The study reveals that 47% of people in a married, civil partnership or cohabiting relationship who seek advice manage their domestic finances alone. Of this group, 70% are men, while just 30% are women.
The findings suggest a significant lack of collaboration in financial planning amongst couples. This is particularly concerning as women are set to inherit 70% of global wealth over the next two generations, according to research by Capgemini.
Robin Powell: Why so many funds end up dead on arrival
Three out of every four alternative mutual funds launched in the past decade are dead. This isn’t hyperbole. Morningstar’s Jeffrey Ptak has shown that of 1,345 “liquid alts” funds available to US investors at the start of 2015, only 341 survive today.
More than 1,000 have been liquidated or merged away — a failure rate that should give policymakers pause.
The statistic matters here in Britain because the Government and the Financial Conduct Authority are opening the door to similar products. The Leeds Reforms, announced in July by the chancellor, confirmed the direction of travel: wider access to alternative strategies and illiquid assets for ordinary investors.
Quote Of The Day
Anything short of perfect was going to invite second-guessing. That’s what happens when you’re a $2trn AI titan
–
– Kate Leaman, chief market analyst at AvaTrade, on Nvidia’s share price falling despite earnings beating analysts’ expectations
Stat Attack
A new report from Shawbrook, titled ‘Home A-Loan’, highlights an issue in the UK mortgage market, where thousands of eligible applicants are being unnecessarily turned down for home loans.
The research reveals a widespread lack of understanding among consumers about specialist lenders, leading to many being rejected without being referred to alternative options that could secure their property purchase.
The findings show that:
34%
of people who were declined for a mortgage were never referred to a specialist lender.
25%
of consumers understand what a specialist lender is.
46%
of people have heard the term “specialist lender” but do not know what it means.
97%
of borrowers who used a mortgage broker found the right lender with their help.
Source: Shawbrook
In Other News
W1M Wealth Management Ltd the newly merged wealth and investment management firm of Waverton and London & Capital, has appointed Jake Lewis as the firm’s newest business development manager for adviser solutions.
His appointment signals W1M’s ambitions to grow its network of independent financial advisers, following the recent finalisation of the firm’s merger, rebrand and refreshed proposition.
Lewis will be responsible for developing and managing adviser relationships across Greater London, as well as selling W1M’s full range of solutions from MPS to bespoke portfolios.
He brings over 20 years’ sales experience in the wealth management sector and joins W1M from Rathbones Group, where he has spent the last five years as business development director.
Prior to that, he was a senior business development manager at Brooks Macdonald and also previously held roles at Coram Asset Management and Premier Miton.
City fears mount that Budget will target banks to help fill £20bn fiscal hole (Financial Times)
UK business confidence rises despite jitters over economy (The Guardian)
Parents warned of HMRC deadline that could see them miss out on £1,354 a year (The Independent)
Did You See?
By taking an empathetic approach, advisers can transform the daunting prospect of moving to a smaller home into an exciting new chapter in their clients’ lives, writes Kimberley Dondo.
For many UK homeowners, particularly those navigating later life, the prospect of downsizing can feel overwhelming.
Deciding which furniture and possessions must be given away, hunting for the perfect smaller property, then adjusting to living in that reduced space – all of these can be stressful experiences.
Nevertheless, research from Legal & General Financial Advice shows that approximately one third of homeowners aged over 55 are contemplating such a move, with nearly 2.9 million actively planning for it.
