What is portfolio rebalancing?

Rebalancing a portfolio means adjusting your investments back to their original mix of assets in line with your goal, risk tolerance, capacity for loss and time horizon when market changes cause them to drift.

Over time, some investments grow faster than others, which can leave you with more risk (or less) than you intended. Rebalancing helps keep your portfolio aligned with your goals, risk tolerance and capacity for loss.

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How to rebalance your portfolio

Start by asking yourself a few key questions:

• Am I still comfortable with my original asset allocation?
• Has my financial situation or goals changed since I set it?
• Is my portfolio more aggressive or more conservative than I’d like it to be?
• Has my risk tolerance or capacity for loss changed?
  

If the answers suggest your portfolio has drifted away from where you want it to be, it’s time to consider rebalancing.

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Simple steps to rebalance your portfolio

There are a few different approaches investors use:

• Selling and buying. Selling some of the investments that have grown beyond your target and using the proceeds to buy more of the underweighted assets.
  
• Adding new funds. Directing new contributions into areas of your portfolio that are underrepresented, rather than selling anything.
  
• Automatic rebalancing. Some platforms and funds offer built-in rebalancing, adjusting your portfolio for you on a set schedule.

Which method you choose depends on your investment style, account type, and comfort level with making changes.

See our full guide on portfolio management.

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How often should I rebalance my portfolio?

There’s no strict rule, but generally checking your portfolio consistently, once or twice a year or if your circumstances have changed.

Some investors prefer a “threshold” method, where they only rebalance if allocations drift by more than 5-10% from their targets.

The key is consistency, regular reviews and not overreacting to every short-term market movement.

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Advantages of portfolio rebalancing‍

• It keeps your portfolio aligned with your goals and risk profile.
  
• Improves diversification over time.
  
• Reduces the chance of being overexposed to one asset or sector.
  
• Helps manage volatility and risk.
  
• Supports long-term investing discipline.

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Disadvantages of portfolio rebalancing‍

• May reduce exposure to sectors that are currently performing well.
  
• Could increase exposure to underperforming assets.
  
• May trigger taxes or transaction fees, depending on your account type.
  
• Requires time, effort, and a clear understanding of your goals.

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Rebalancing your portfolio summary

Rebalancing is a practical way to keep your portfolio on track as markets shift. By comparing your current allocation to your target, making adjustments where necessary, and sticking to a consistent review schedule, you can manage risk and stay aligned with your long-term goals.

Next in this series: Pound-cost averaging and how investing small amounts regularly can reduce risk and smooth out returns.

From April 2027, the allowance for saving into cash ISAs will be cut from £20,000 to £12,000

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered the Autumn Budget, setting out the government's financial roadmap for the coming years. After weeks of intense speculation, and some notable late-stage changes to the Treasury’s plans, we now have clarity on changes to the tax and savings landscape.

Here is a summary of the key announcements and what they could mean for your money.

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ISA allowances shift for cash savings — use it or lose it!

In a significant move for savers, the structure of the Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance is changing from April 2027.  

The total annual limit for saving and investing, with either a Smart Cash ISA or Stocks & Shares ISA, is £20,000 across all accounts, and savers are permitted to open different ISAs of the same type across different providers, provided they remain within the allowance limit.

However, following Rachel Reeves announcement on Wednesday, savers will only be permitted to save £12,000 of their total annual allowance within Cash ISA products — a move the Chancellor hopes will encourage greater use of Stocks & Shares ISAs.

The Treasury has indicated this policy is designed to shift the UK’s savings culture, and encourage savers with solid cash savings to consider investing as a way of getting the most out of their money long-term.

Big piles of cash savings generally lose value to inflation over time, and investing can hold the keys to really growing that money. The Chancellor said in her speech “investing £1,000 a year in an average stocks and shares ISA every year since 1999 would have delivered a £50,000 better return than if it was invested in a cash ISA.”¹

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Income tax stays put, but thresholds frozen until 2030

Following intense debate over potential rises to Income Tax, the Chancellor confirms that the rates for basic, higher, and additional taxpayers will remain unchanged.

However, to raise further potential revenue of £7.5 billion, the freeze on Income Tax has been extended for a further two years until April 2030² — this determines how much you can earn before paying tax (currently £12,570) or entering the 40% tax bracket (£50,270).

This means that while real income tax rates aren’t changing, the effect of ‘fiscal drag’ means that as wages rise with inflation over the next five years, a larger proportion of earnings will likely fall into higher tax bands.

This effectively increases tax contributions of earners without moving the tax bands.

Tax beyond Personal Savings Allowance to increase from April 2027

The rules on rates of tax outside the Personal Savings Allowance are changing from April 2027 with a 2% increase to tax on savings interest outside of ISAs. The increases that apply to your tax band are as follows. Basic (20% to 22%), higher rate (40% to 42%) and additional bands (45% to 47%).

The tax on dividends outside of your £500 allowance will also increase by 2% from April 2027 for each tax band respectively.

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Changes to pension salary sacrifice

The rules for sacrificing a portion of your pre-tax salary to make additional pension contributions are being tightened. Under current rules, employees can opt in to sacrifice a portion of their gross pay to additional workplace contributions as an employee benefit.

This is a more tax-efficient way to pay more into your pension, as the amount comes from your salary before tax and national insurance are taken, meaning it costs you less to make a contribution.  

New restrictions coming into effect in April 2029, will limit the amount of national insurance exempt earnings that can be exchanged for pension contributions to £2,000 a year.

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Pension tax-free lump sum is safe

Providing certainty for those approaching retirement, the Chancellor confirmed that the 25% tax-free pension lump sum will remain as it is, with the current cap (£268,275) unchanged. This ends recent speculation about potential reductions to tax-free withdrawals.

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Things to think about‍

Make use of your cash ISA allowances: If you plan to save more than £12,000 into your Cash ISA, tax year ending 5 April 2027 will be the last year you can do it before the allowance is lowered.

With a 2% increase in tax outside of your personal savings allowance also announced, ISAs are as important as ever.

Keep an eye out for pension changes: If you make additional contributions to your pension through your employer's salary sacrifice scheme, keep your eyes open for any communications regarding changes to your scheme.

The importance of making your money work harder: The Budget is a reminder that factors like fiscal drag may squeeze your take-home pay. Keeping a solid cash buffer is important, but growing your money through investing can be an effective way to stay ahead over the long term.

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Get the most out of your £20k

At Chip, our Smart Cash ISA and Stocks & Shares ISA can help you take full advantage of your tax-free allowance.

Whether you’re looking to make the most of the £20,000 cash allowance before the 2027/2028 Tax Year rolls in, or take your money further with investing, we’ve got you covered — all in one place.

Chip does not provide tax or financial advice. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.

Right now we’re also letting new investors benefit from 0% platform fees* until 31 January 2027. Eligibility & T&Cs apply. Promotion ends 8 January 2026.

¹Budget 2025

²The Guardian

*Fund management fees apply

Seccl Custody Limited is the ISA Manager for the Chip Stocks and Shares ISA. ISA limits apply. Invest £20k per tax year.

The Smart Cash ISA is provided by Chip Financial (Investments) Ltd. ISA limits apply, deposit up to £20k this tax year. Terms apply.

As one of Europe’s most crowdfunded businesses, we have 28,000 people (largely Chip customers) who shape what we build and the direction of the business.

This customer focused community has been our secret to success and played a huge role in our growth so far, seeing us named in 2025 as the 6th fastest growing company in the UK by the Sunday Times and the 12th fastest growing in Europe by the FT.

In this spirit, I want to share the key themes from the discussion with all Chip customers, to give you all a view on what’s coming in the next year and a chance to share your thoughts on it.

We’ve also pulled together a quick visualisation to give you a glimpse of what all this will look like.

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We want to use AI to bring personalised planning and financial advice to Chip.

The growth of AI in the last two years has opened up an incredible opportunity for Chip to explore building a truly personalised advice and planning service for our customers.

Imagine instead of having to learn your way around the intricacies of personal finance, you could start with a conversation about you.

Discuss your goals and ambitions — where you are now and where you want to get to.

Chip’s AI could then build a personalised plan based on this conversation, suggesting which savings and investments accounts to open, how much to put into a pension vs an ISA, what short and long term goals to set, and recommend an automated plan to effortlessly top up your savings.

You would be able to review the suggestions, easily tweak them to fit your needs in an open discussion and when you’re happy, you simply say “make it so” and Chip’s AI could crack on with the leg work; opening the accounts, initiating deposits, transfers and all the boring admin work done for you.

But you’d still have easy oversight of everything in your app, with simple graphs and portfolio views to track your progress against your goals.

You’d be able to pre-program nudges for yourself and book in regular reviews, and at any time simply discuss with the AI to update the plan for you if your ambitions grow or circumstances change.

While we might be some way off replacing the human touch from an expert wealth advisor at this early stage, we do think there's a lot that can be automated via AI to open up the benefits of financial advice to everyone.

In addition to building the technology, we are exploring the correct permissions and regulated set-up to offer more planning and advice. This is an industry that is very strictly regulated and as you can imagine, there are no shortcuts to getting a fully functioning AI advice service live.

However, the regulator is also increasingly recognising the potential of tech to offer a better outcome to consumers and the FCA has announced reforms to help close the “advice gap”.

In their own words:

“These once-in-a-generation reforms will help people navigate their financial lives and give them greater confidence to invest … There are about 7 million adults in the UK with £10,000 or more in cash savings who may be missing out on the benefits of investing throughout their lives.”

So, we hope these changes could open a quicker path for us to bring you a more personalised service within the next year.

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The first step towards more personalisation

Our first step towards offering more personalisation has been rebuilding our Goals feature from the ground up.

Those of you who have been with us for a while will know that we’ve always offered Goals as a feature to help keep our customers focused on achieving their long term ambitions.

I’m delighted to announce that Goals will very soon fully integrate with all the accounts in Chip and offer a seamless easy experience.

We’ll continue to enhance our Goals feature over the next year, with the intention to eventually tie it into our new AI planning service.

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Coming early next year

To be able to offer you a true wealth management experience, we know we need to offer you pensions.

Self-Invested Personal Pensions, commonly abbreviated to SIPPs, offer powerful tax benefits to people saving for their retirement.

This is the last financial product type missing from our fundamental offering. So, I’m delighted to say this is currently under development and should be ready to launch in the first half of 2026.

In the long term we want to offer the ability to transfer your existing pensions into Chip, so you'll have one easy view of all your wealth.

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All of your ISAs in one place

There have of course been some rumblings from the government about changing cash ISA limits, but they remain one of the most popular tools available to UK savers and our cash ISA is certainly one of the most popular products at Chip.

Whatever happens, we believe that ISAs will remain the cornerstone of the savings and investments accounts we offer.

First, we are going to create a seamless experience between your Chip Cash and Stocks & Shares ISAs.

We want to give you one clear view on your tax allowance across both these accounts, so you can easily see how you are diversifying your portfolio and if you’re taking full advantage of your annual ISA allowance.

Then, we’ll look at adding LISAs and JISAs too, so you can enjoy more ways to tax-efficiently build wealth.

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We're here to make you wealthier. Your way.

Our mission remains the same. We want to make our customers' lives wealthier.

We’ve spent much of the last eight years putting as many tools, products and accounts in the palm of your hands as possible. So you can literally build your wealth at the tap of a button.

But now, we’re presented with a game changing moment to tie it all together with a personalised user experience powered by AI.

Essentially, you’ll have everything you need to build and grow your wealth in a couple of taps across cash, investments, pensions (and eventually even more).

But also, you’ll have a guide that listens to what you want, asks about your goals, and builds a plan around your needs that is personal to you.

I know you’re going to love it and I can’t wait to share it with you.  

Again, if you'd like to take a sneak peek at what the future holds, see our webpage for a preview.

What is Open Banking?

Open Banking is a set of rules that require banks to let you share your financial data with authorised providers, such as money management apps or websites.

By doing so, you can give these providers read-only access to your spending transactions, regular payments, and account balance. 

The idea behind this is to make it easier for other organisations to use your data to personalise their products or provide suggestions on areas where you can save.

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How is Open Banking Used?

Open Banking has paved the way for a variety of useful ‘money management’ websites and apps. These can use your financial data to offer you a personalised service or make recommendations on ways to save based on your spending habits. 

For example, automatic savings apps analyse your current account data, such as your available balance, and calculate how much you can afford to save. The app then moves the calculated amount into a savings account automatically.

Additionally, Open Banking has made online payments more convenient and secure. Certain online retailers can now connect directly to your bank, eliminating the need to fill out your card details. 

HMRC also offers a ‘pay by bank account’ Open Banking option for a number of tax bills, such as self-assessment tax returns, Capital gains, and Stamp duty. Learn more here.

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Is Open Banking Safe?

With all the data being accessed and payments being made, it's natural to wonder if Open Banking is safe. 

As long as providers are authorised and have the relevant FCA permissions, they can only access data needed for the service you’ve signed up to.

This means that if you've asked a provider to look at your current account with one bank, they wouldn’t be able to look at your credit card details with that bank without your permission.

Moreover, all providers must comply with data protection rules, including UK GDPR. Before you sign up, the provider should tell you which data they will use, how long they will keep it, and what they will do with it. 

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How does Open Banking work?

Each provider will ask for your consent to access your information when you sign up. They will then send a request to your bank, which will process and share your details through secure technology called application programming interfaces (APIs). 

APIs simply allow two providers to ‘talk’ to each other and pass on the information you’ve given permission to share, such as your bank balance and regular payments.

You can also withdraw your permission at any time. Additionally, providers are required to get renewed permission from you every 90 days, which gives you the opportunity to rethink whether you want to continue using that provider.

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Open Banking Summary

In conclusion, Open Banking is generally considered to be a safe and convenient way to share your financial data with authorised providers. 

With the variety of useful apps and websites available, it can help you manage your money more effectively and make online payments more secure. Remember, if you’re unsure about anything, always ask before giving access.

What is a Cash ISA?

A cash ISA, short for Cash Individual Savings Account, is similar to a conventional savings account. However, its distinctive feature is the exemption from taxation on the interest earned.

In each UK tax year (which runs from April to April), you can deposit up to £20,000 into a cash ISA.

ISA savings are in addition to the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA), which permits basic rate taxpayers to earn up to £1,000 in savings interest annually without incurring tax liabilities.

Higher rate taxpayers (40% tax rate) qualify for a reduced PSA of £500 per year, while additional taxpayers earning £150,001 or more do not receive any allowance.

ISA limits apply. £20k per tax year. Chip does not provide tax advice or financial advice. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.

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How do Cash ISAs Work?

If you're thinking about using a cash ISA to grow your savings, here's a brief overview of how they work:

• Cash ISAs are typically easy to open.
• You can save up to £20,000 annually, and your account accrues interest similar to a standard savings account.
• A variety of cash ISAs are available, such as easy access, regular saver, fixed rate, and junior ISAs for individuals under 18.
• Different ISAs may have varying terms, including withdrawal restrictions on fixed rate cash ISAs.
• Transferring funds from previous tax years into a higher-yield ISA account is possible. Avoid closing an ISA when switching; instead, contact your new ISA provider to facilitate the transfer.

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Interest Rates on Cash ISAs

The interest rate depends on the type of cash ISA and the chosen provider. Fixed rate cash ISAs offer a guaranteed return for a set period, whereas variable rate cash ISAs may change if the provider adjusts its interest rates.

Use our interest rates calculator to see how much you could earn. 

Cash ISA interest rates can vary between financial providers, so it’s always good to do your research with comparing Cash ISA rates.

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Cash ISA factors to think about

Before opening a cash ISA, consider the following factors:

1. Interest Rate: The interest rate determines your savings' returns. Be aware that initial high introductory rates may decrease after a year, so consider transferring your ISA funds to a higher-yielding account at that point.

2. Account Type: Choose between easy access, fixed, or regular saver ISAs based on your preferences for return and accessibility.

3. Alternative ISAs: Apart from cash ISAs, you can explore stocks and shares ISAs. These involve investing in the stock market, offering potential rewards but also bearing some level of risk.

4. Annual Limit: You can open only one cash ISA each year. Think carefully before selecting your cash ISA, keeping in mind that your total ISA savings can't exceed £20,000 in any tax year.

5. Deadline: The tax year concludes on April 5th. Any unused ISA allowance cannot be carried over, so invest before this date to maximise your tax-free benefits.

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How Many Cash ISAs Can I Have?

You can have multiple ISAs, but you can only deposit a maximum of £20,000 in a given tax year.

Be aware that transferring funds from previous years' ISAs does not count towards this limit.

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Cash ISA Rules

Cash ISA rules are straightforward:

• You can deposit a maximum of £20,000 per tax year.
• Transfers from existing cash ISAs to new cash ISAs or splitting transfers among different providers are allowed.
• To switch between cash ISA providers, you must request a transfer. If you withdraw the money yourself, you'll lose your tax-free allowance on the entire sum.
• You can transfer money from a stocks and shares ISA to a cash ISA, but this requires a form to be submitted to the new provider (but please note you can't currently do this with Chip).

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Pros and Cons of Cash ISAs

Pros of cash ISAs:

• Tax-free savings.
• No risk of capital loss compared to stocks and shares ISAs.
• Flexibility to transfer to higher-yield accounts while retaining tax advantages.

Cons of cash ISAs:

• High interest rates may drop after the first year.
• Fixed rate cash ISAs may lock your money for a set period.
• Not all accounts accept transfers from previous years, and exit fees may apply.

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Switching Cash ISAs

Switching could be considered if you find an account offering a higher interest rate. Ensure the new provider accepts transfers and inquire about any penalties for moving your funds.

You can transfer savings from both the current and previous years. It may also be possible to request a partial cash ISA transfer however not all providers can facilitate this.

Avoid closing the ISA, as this would result in losing the tax benefits. Instead, contact the new provider to arrange the transfer.

The Bank of England Base Rate, also known as Bank Rate, holds significant influence over the UK's financial landscape, impacting borrowing costs, mortgage rates, and savings interest. 

It's important to understand the Bank of England Base Rate and how it affects your financial decisions. In this guide, we'll explain what the Bank of England Base Rate is, how it influences interest rates, its impact on the economy, and why it plays a role in influencing spending and inflation.

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What are Interest Rates?

Interest rates refer to the percentage charged or earned on borrowed money or invested funds. 

Lenders charge interest on loans as compensation for the risk and opportunity cost of lending money, while savers earn interest on their deposits as a reward for entrusting their funds to financial institutions. Learn more about interest rates.

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What is the Bank Rate?

Bank Rate, often referred to as the Bank of England Base Rate, is the key interest rate set by the Bank of England. It acts as a tool for controlling inflation and stabilising the economy. 

The Bank of England assesses economic conditions and adjusts Bank Rate accordingly to support the government's inflation target and ensure economic stability.

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How Bank Rate Affects Your Interest Rates:

Changes in Bank Rate have a ripple effect on various interest rates throughout the economy. Here's how it influences your financial decisions:

• Mortgage rates: Bank Rate influences the cost of borrowing for banks, impacting the interest rates they offer on mortgages. When Bank Rate rises, mortgage rates tend to increase, making borrowing more expensive. When Bank Rate decreases, mortgage rates may go down, providing potential savings for homeowners.
• ‍Savings interest rates: Bank Rate also affects the interest rates offered on savings accounts. Higher Bank Rates generally result in higher savings interest rates, potentially increasing the returns on your savings. Lower Bank Rates may lead to reduced savings interest rates.

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How Changes in Bank Rate Affect the Economy:

Changes in Bank Rate have a significant impact on the broader economy. Here are some key effects:

1. Borrowing costs: Changes in Bank Rate directly influence the cost of borrowing for individuals, businesses, and financial institutions. Higher rates increase borrowing costs, potentially curbing spending and investment. Lower rates encourage borrowing and stimulate economic activity.
2. ‍Inflation: Bank Rate plays a crucial role in managing inflation. When inflation is rising, the Bank of England may increase Bank Rate to reduce spending and control price increases. During economic downturns, lowering Bank Rate can encourage borrowing and spending, boosting economic activity.

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Why Does Bank Rate Influence Spending and Inflation?

Bank Rate influences spending and inflation primarily through its impact on borrowing costs. When borrowing becomes more expensive due to higher interest rates, individuals and businesses may reduce their spending, leading to a potential slowdown in economic activity and inflation.

Lower interest rates make borrowing cheaper, encouraging spending, investment, and economic growth. How do interest rates affect inflation? 

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Bank Rate Summary

Understanding the Bank of England Base Rate is crucial for making informed financial decisions in the UK. The rate directly affects interest rates on mortgages and savings, impacting borrowing costs and potential returns. 

Changes in Bank Rate have far-reaching effects on the broader economy, influencing spending, investment, and inflation levels.

What is laddering?

Laddering is the practice of dividing your savings across several fixed-term accounts or bonds with varying maturity dates. Instead of locking up all your money in one long-term account or keeping it entirely in easy access savings, you spread it across multiple terms.

This allows you to benefit from better interest rates while ensuring a steady flow of accessible funds.

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How does it work?

Imagine you have £10,000 to save. Instead of placing it all in a single account, you could, as an example, split it like this:

• £2,000 in a one-year fixed-term account
• £2,000 in a two-year fixed-term account
• £2,000 in a three-year fixed-term account
• £2,000 in a four-year fixed-term account
• £2,000 in a five-year fixed-term account

As each account matures, you would then have the option to access the money or reinvest it in a new five-year account, thus maintaining the ladder.

This way, you will be continuously cycling your savings, while simultaneously benefiting from higher interest rates on long-term accounts.

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How to start laddering

Before you start building your ladder, you’ll need to plan ahead:

• ‍Evaluate your needs: Decide how much you can afford to lock away for longer terms and how much (if any) you’ll need to access in the near future.‍
• Compare rates: Understand the best fixed-term savings rates.
• ‍Start small: You don’t need a huge lump sum to get started. Begin with what you have and build your ladder over time.
• ‍Stay updated: Monitor interest rate trends and economic conditions to make informed decisions when your accounts mature.
• ‍Understand tax implications: Be mindful of how your interest earnings might impact your tax liabilities, especially if you’re in a higher tax bracket.

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Is laddering right for you?

Laddering can be a great option if:

• You have a lump sum to invest;
• You want to maximise your savings’ interest without sacrificing liquidity;
• You’re comfortable managing multiple accounts;
• You have a stable financial situation and can afford to lock away part of your savings;
• You need instant access to all your money or are just starting your savings journey, an easy-access savings account may be more appropriate for now.

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The bottom line

Laddering is a simple but effective strategy that helps you strike a balance between earning potential and maintaining flexibility.

Whether you’re looking to grow your savings or ensure regular access to funds, this method could be a game-changer for your financial future.

Of course, it’s important to always keep in mind that personal finance is unique to each individual, and what works for one person might not be the best fit for another. Take the time to assess your goals, risk tolerance, and financial needs before implementing laddering in your savings plan.

Please note: Chip only offers savings and investment products, which are listed in its app and website. Chip does not provide financial or tax advice, and this information should not be considered a personal recommendation.

AstraZeneca, the FTSE 100’s largest company, is powering towards a potential £200 billion valuation this year.¹ The pharmaceutical giant is regaining momentum as tariff concerns fade, with robust earnings and promising clinical trial results reigniting investor confidence.

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What’s driving AstraZeneca’s recent growth?

• Pipeline momentum: Positive trials in new treatment for high blood pressure Baxdrostat, as well as multiple new regulatory approvals across oncology, cardiovascular and rare disease therapies. 
• Strong financial results: Total revenue was up 9% in H1 2025 to £21.3 billion, operating profit rose 23% to £5.46 billion, and pre-tax profit rose 26% to £4.96 billion. 
• Regulatory clarity in China: Investigations into the company’s tax and insurance practices are nearing resolution, with fines expected to be minimal.
• Tariff risk under control: Reassurance on the impact of US trade policy, with tariffs seen as manageable. 

If AstraZeneca continues to post strong earnings results and investors continue their vote of confidence, hitting the £200 billion valuation before the end of the year could be within reach.¹ 

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Why does this matter?

As the FTSE 100’s largest company, solid growth from mega-cap stocks like AstraZeneca is enough to have a positive impact on the whole index. 

Although one stock's growth doesn’t indicate a trend for other stocks in the FTSE 100, it does show us how strong innovation and earnings (even in the face of adversity) can continuously drive value and resilience. 

For long-term investors, AstraZeneca’s rally reinforces the case for focusing on high-quality companies with a history of long-term growth often found in market-cap weighted indexes like the FTSE 100 or S&P 500. 

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Where does Chip come in?

With Chip, you can invest in index funds like the FTSE 100, which track the price of huge companies like AstraZeneca. Companies move in and out of the underlying index based on their market cap (value of total shares), so you can be sure you’re always investing in the 100 most valuable stocks. 

Open a Stocks & Shares ISA or General Investment Account, choose your funds, and you’re away!

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Sources

¹TheMotleyFool

Several forces are pushing gold higher:

• Global uncertainty: Concerns over U.S. monetary policy, rising trade tensions, and inflation are driving investors toward safer assets. Just in case.²
  
  
• Central bank buying: Countries like China, India, and Turkey continue to stockpile gold, reinforcing its role as a long-term store of value.^{3
  ‍}
• ‍Weaker dollar & rate cut bets: Investors are anticipating future rate cuts, making non-yielding assets* like gold more attractive.⁴

‍*Chip explains: Non-yielding assets are investments that don’t pay you an income while you hold them, so their value comes from the price itself

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Why it matters for you

Gold’s latest rally is a strong reminder of why it has held its place in portfolios for centuries. It isn’t about explosive growth or short-term gains – it's about stability, protection, and balance. 

In times of uncertainty, gold can act as a hedge against inflation and market swings, helping to smooth out the bumps. Think of gold as the solid foundation that can support your more growth-focused investments. 

With prices now* at record highs, the message is clear: gold continues to earn its reputation as a safe haven. For investors, that means confidence that even when markets are unpredictable.

But always remember to take a balanced view. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and the price of gold can go down as well as up.

‍*Accurate as of 2 September 2025 spot gold price at $3,529.01 per ounce.
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How Chip can help you take advantage

At Chip, we offer exchange-traded commodities (ETCs) such as Physical Gold, which gives you a way of tracking the price and performance of the gold price, without the costs and admin of owning physical gold bullion. 

If you want to get involved, you can open a Stocks & Shares ISA in minutes. Invest from £1, and manage everything right from our app. Just go to the ‘Invest’ tab to get started.

Source: 1 BBC 2 JP Morgan 3 The National 4 The Economic Times 

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