I’ve been away for a bit - have I missed anything? I suspect I have.

After the excitement of the past week, with politicians throwing themselves on the funeral pyre of insanity, it’s time to turn to more mundane, but important, matters. Yes, I’m talking about Inheritance Tax, or IHT as the professionals call it.

I suspect most Financial Planners roll their eyes these days when they read on Financial Planning Today about another advice firm declared in default by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Along with 2,500 other people, I was fortunate enough to attend the Personal Finance Society’s long-awaited Festival of Financial Planning this week. 

There has been a wave of stories recently suggesting that people are pushing back their retirement or opting for a ‘phased’ retirement due to the cost of living crisis.

While reading through the Autumn Statement changes this week I was reminded of one of the most famous songs from the 1964 Disney movie Mary Poppins: A Spoonful of Sugar (Makes the Medicine go down).

News late this week that personalised financial guidance is to move a step closer has left me in two minds but I’m not opposed in principle to the idea, for reasons I’ll explain.

Today’s whopping £2.4m FCA fine imposed on a South Wales financial adviser firm shames the sector and the damage to consumer trust will be substantial.

I will give Jeremy Hunt his due - he knows how to ruin a Friday.

There is no getting away from the fact that 2023 will be a very busy year for Financial Planners and that, despite the grim economic backdrop, there are some positive signs.