NOTES

Time is running out for Help to Buy ISA savers to switch funds into a Lifetime ISA – and stop the amount counting towards their £4,000 annual limit for the 2017/18 tax year.

These transfers must be completed by April 5 and it can take a few weeks to complete the process.

Tom Selby, senior analyst at investment firm AJ Bell, said: “Anyone with money invested in a Help to Buy ISA should seriously consider taking advantage of this one-off opportunity to boost the value of their savings pot.”

Oliver and Olivia might be the nation’s most popular names, according to the Office of National Statistics – but it’s Matthew and Isabella who lead the way when it comes to young savers.

Figures from Yorkshire Building Society’s One Day children’s savings account show boys named Matthew had the largest average savings balance at £13,995. Isabellas led the way for girls with an average account balance of £10,870.

Lauren, Amy and Alice join Matthew and Isabella to make up the top five young savers, followed by Lola, Emma, James, Elizabeth and Nathan to complete the top 10.

Overall, girls save 26% more at an average £6,376, compared to £5,070 for boys.

Louise Halliwell, senior product manager at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “It’s encouraging to see that while baby name trends change over the years, savings habits remain consistently healthy.”

Owning a holiday home and being able to give up the nine to five grind early are the two status symbols that impress Brits most.

More than half of people think having a holiday home is the biggest indicator that someone is doing well, research from Hitachi Personal Finance reveals.

When it comes to judging ourselves on how well we are doing, it’s being able to take early retirement that tops our list. Women admit they pay more attention to what others have and are more likely than men to see ownership of items as indicators of success.