From our Technology and Integrations Director at Purposeful Group, Cat Adams. As digital communication grows and technology advances, cyber threats are becoming more common.

In this article, we share a few practical ways to stay safe and insights into our ongoing protective efforts.

Why vigilance matters

Many cyber attacks don’t start with sophisticated hacking; they

Roger Jackson is Director of Financial Planning and a Financial Planner at FMB.

Many of you will know Roger if you have joined us for any technical events online. You may not know, as well as his role at FMB, Roger is also on the board of our national governing body the Chartered Institute of Insurance and the Personal Finance Society. He began working at FMB fresh from

Dividend Tax rates rise from April 2026, affecting business owners and investors

• Ordinary and upper Dividend Tax rates rise by two percentage points
• Dividend Allowance remains £500 per tax year outside ISAs
• Reviewing your combination of salary, dividends and pension can improve efficiency

From April 2026, changes to Dividend Tax kick in. While most of the

I am Director of Operations at FMB and as you know it’s me who puts together the newsletter and organises our client events. You may not know before I worked at FMB I was a Primary School Teacher. As well as my role at FMB I am a Trustee at South Lakeland Hydrotherapy and Entrepreneur in Residence at Lancaster University Management School.

1) How many years have you

Liz Beavis is Managing Director and a Financial Planner at FMB. She is the daughter of founder Les Beavis. Many of you will know Liz as your planner or from events over the years. From golf days, Brough agricultural show, outdoor events, and our coffee mornings and fundraisers. Liz is one of our longest serving team members.

1) How many years have you worked at FMB? I

• 77% of high-net-worth individuals began making significant charitable donations after surpassing £2m in personal wealth
• High-net-worth individuals want their money to carry meaning, so philanthropy is becoming integral to wealth planning
• Inheritance Tax receipts continue rising, with forecasts suggesting revenues could reach £14bn by 2030

Wealth milestones trigger

Laura is Receptionist at FMB and also supports the accounts and admin teams. Laura is one of our best known face/voice as she is usually the one greeting you at our Kendal office or on the phone!

1. How many years have you worked at FMB? Four and a half years
2. Best part of working for FMB? The team spirit. Everyone is very supportive and caring.
3. Favourite drink? Got to be

• CPI fell to its lowest level since last March, retail sales rose by 1.8% in January, US threatens global tariffs of 15%
• Latest ONS data shows the Consumer Prices Index fell to its lowest level since last March
• ONS retail data shows sales volumes rose by 1.8% in January – the strongest monthly growth since May 2024
• President Trump said he intends to impose global