Articles by James Mackreides

James Mackreides

James Mackreides

'Mac' is a short tempered former helicopter pilot, now a writer based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Loves dogs, the outdoors and staying far away from the ocean.

Pension benefits: tax thresholds and their operation
Personal Finance

Pension benefits: tax thresholds and their operation

Because the tax laws pertaining to retirement savings are intricate and have undergone numerous changes as governments have altered them ...

When I sell my home, will I have to pay taxes?
Personal Finance

When I sell my home, will I have to pay taxes?

When buying a property, buyers must account for stamp duty costs, but sellers may question if they must pay taxes when listing their hous...

There are two strategies to profit from airport monopolies
Investments

There are two strategies to profit from airport monopolies

You can do this in two ways. If an airport is strategically located, it can be a significant investment. Despite their less than ...

Where does your area rank in terms of the fastest and slowest places to sell a home?
Investments

Where does your area rank in terms of the fastest and slowest places to sell a home?

The best time to list a home is in the spring, but depending on where you live in the UK, you may have a long wait for buyers or a speedy...

Is it better to have a variable rate or a fixed mortgage?
Personal Finance

Is it better to have a variable rate or a fixed mortgage?

Some of the lowest mortgage rates ever offered in the UK will be gone as millions of homeowners finish their fixed rate mortgages this ye...

Should you buy UK stocks as the FTSE 100 continues its longest winning run in eight years?
Investment Advice

Should you buy UK stocks as the FTSE 100 continues its longest winning run in eight years?

What factors have influenced the FTSE 100's performance? Today, the FTSE 100 ended the day up 0.37%, indicating gains for the thi...

Should you spend money on weight-loss medications?
Investments

Should you spend money on weight-loss medications?

Is it time to make an investment? Do the pharmaceutical and biotech companies that make weight-loss medications merit a look when...

For what length of time does the stock market recover?
Investments

For what length of time does the stock market recover?

What is the duration of a stock market recovery? You might as well inquire about the length of a piece of string when you ask how...

The amount that you actually need is shown here Millions of people are reaching retirement with just £3,650 annually
Personal Finance

The amount that you actually need is shown here Millions of people are reaching retirement with just £3,650 annually

How much you need to retire is explained. A new report estimates that nearly 9 million people in the UK will enter retirement wit...

How to make investments in the rapidly expanding insurance sector
Investments

How to make investments in the rapidly expanding insurance sector

James Mackreides advises astute investors to invest right away. Probably the most important but least exciting industry in the wo...

Growing inheritance tax concerns cause a 32% increase in equity release
Investments

Growing inheritance tax concerns cause a 32% increase in equity release

Would it lessen the need to pay inheritance taxes? New data shows that in the first three months of 2025, homeowners took 32% mor...

Will prime real estate in the UK become a safe haven asset again?
Investments

Will prime real estate in the UK become a safe haven asset again?

Amid worries over Trump tariffs and stock market volatility, cautious investors have been pouring money into so-called safe haven assets....