Private Wealth
Fix it, flip it: why renovating a property can make financial sense
Ready, steady, renovate! Buying a property that needs fixing up can be a great investment for both homeowners and developers. In our latest Private Wealth Guides, we revealed how the typical asking price for a ‘fixer-upper’ property can be around 10% lower than the national average. The c....
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Inclusive workplaces help retain and attract talent
British employees still believe in people being treated fairly in the workplace, despite the growing politicisation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policies. For some this belief is so strong that they would be prepared to quit their job on a matter of principle. Nearly 60% of w....
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Families priced out of private education by rising fees
Fewer pupils. Higher costs. Private schools are struggling to survive after being hit with multiple financial shocks in 2025. It’s been reported that at least 54 independent schools in England have already closed or announced shutdown plans since the start of the year. Inflation coupled ....
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Simply the best: top places to live in Hertfordshire and Essex
Finding a new home is hard enough. Moving to a new location can make the task even harder. From transport links and school ratings to green spaces and local services, there’s a lot to consider when deciding where to live. In the latest Attwaters Private Wealth Guide, we highlighted two p....
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Tougher lifetime gifting rules could increase inheritance tax liabilities
Charitable donations. Listed buildings. Business shares. These are just some of the gifts that can be made without incurring inheritance tax (IHT), but only if you know how to make the most of different reliefs and exemptions. The rules around gifting and IHT can be very difficult to follow – ....
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New pension inheritance rules: what does it mean for estate and tax planning
You’ve written a will, established a trust and agreed a drawdown strategy. Lifetime estate planning can be ticked off your to do list, right? Legislative changes and market shifts mean that lifetime estate planning will never be a tick in the box activity. It needs to be revisited regularly es....
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Hertfordshire and Essex – thriving business hubs
When producing our Private Wealth Guide, we always enjoy the opportunity to discover more about Essex and Hertfordshire’s thriving business environments – and this year is no exception. Recent data highlights that these two counties continue to play a vital role in the UK’s economic landscape....
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The introduction of VAT on private school fees
In the Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the government’s plans to end tax breaks on private schools; as of 1 January 2025, the standard 20% VAT rate is applicable on private school fees. This much anticipated reform has sparked concern among parents that they may have to pull the....
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Advantages of eco-friendly homes
In recent years, eco-friendly homes have increased in popularity, with 76% of potential buyers looking for homes with sustainable features according to Confused.com Energy. In our latest Private Wealth Guide, we featured luxurious homes in Essex and Hertfordshire that don’t compromise on sustaina....
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The legacy of wealthy philanthropists in Hertfordshire and Essex
In this year’s Private Wealth Guide, we dug deeper into the philanthropists who have used their wealth for good, helping to make Hertfordshire and Essex the thriving counties they are today. In our Hertfordshire Guide, we spotlighted John Apthorp CBE, who died recently in July 2024 after dedicati....
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The key legal documents you need to protect yourself in every area of life
In this blog, we take you through the documentation you need and some of the things you need to think about the give yourself and your loved ones every advantage in life. You may think that these things only apply to older people, or maybe that you will never need them. Sadly, it is not until someb....
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Will Labour’s VAT plans threaten independent schools?
With the UK’s next general election fast approaching, the Conservative and Labour parties are beginning to ramp up their promises and pledges for Britain’s future as they commence their battle for the public’s vote. One such pledge from Labour poses a serious threat to the independent scho....
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Hertfordshire – the new global business hub?
We’ve been publishing our Private Wealth Guide to Hertfordshire and Essex for many years now – and yet, every single year we find new examples of what an excellent home these two counties make for thousands of local businesses. In January 2024, for example, multinational tech giant Google re....
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The highest-earning neighbourhoods near you
In 2022, the average salary for full-time employees in Hertfordshire and Essex was £41,423 (3.27% up on 2021) and £38,021 (4.8% up), respectively. This is according to data from statistics provider Varbes. Whilst these figures hover just above or around the average mark for the United Kingdom,....
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Essex leads the way in British wine production
Wine has featured heavily in our Private Wealth Guide as an up-and-coming alternative investment for many years now. Frequently featuring in Knight Frank’s own Wealth Report as one of the most profitable luxury investments, it has long been a stalwart of alternative investment portfolios. Now,....
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The places where house prices just keep on rising
Buying a property is the most expensive purchase that most people will ever make. For most homeowners, however, it’s been well worth it. Over the last few decades, property buyers have seen an excellent return on investment, with the price of an average home increasing by a staggering 207% in the....
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Luxury goods – a ‘safe haven’ investment?
Last year, as the UK economy continued to struggle and inflation soared, Investors Chronicleran an article about luxury goods and their potential to weather economic storms in comparison to more ‘traditional’ investments like stocks and shares. It was an article that resonated with us at the....
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Wealth in the age of social media
The ways in which people can accumulate and grow their wealth are forever expanding and evolving. In our Private Wealth Guide for 2022-23, for example, we featured a number of social media stars across Hertfordshire and Essex who had risen to fame – and fortune – on social media websites such a....
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Who are the South East’s richest people?
In our Private Wealth Guide for 2022/23, we featured celebrities hailing from Hertfordshire and Essex who have used their fame to amass significant fortunes. In this article, we decided to go one step further and focus on the wealthy heirs and businesspeople who have reached the very highest echelo....
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Quirky – the name of 2022’s property game
In our Private Wealth Guide for 2022/23, we talked about a new property trend revealed by a survey conducted by TalkTalk. Many more British people appear to be searching for ‘quirky’ homes, with 37% saying they were on the lookout for unique features and unusual shaped spaces. Even more respond....
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