Castlebay Monthly: November 2025

November always feels like a pause between seasons. The rush of summer behind us, with the festive buzz still to come. The clocks have changed, the air’s cooler and it’s the perfect time to take a moment and check in on how things are tracking personally and financially. Especially ahead of the Christmas present shopping frenzy!

As we approach the UK’s Autumn Budget on 26 November 2025, the media headlines continue to change daily from government leaks and proposals. It is important that we avoid taking any irreversible action before knowing the facts. As challeng as that may be.

For those of you not planning on watching the Budget, or have more exciting things to do, the December edition of the Castlebay Monthly will contain an overview of the Chancellor's plans.

Enjoy this month's instalment of our newsletter. As always, it is packed with links that you may find interesting. If you would like to add your children, other family members or even friends to this email distribution list, please drop us a line.

The Stock Markets

Your Year-End Financial Checklist

As November arrives and the year begins its final act, thoughtful investors turn their attention to a different kind of preparation. While others are distracted by holiday planning and Black Friday sales, the financially literate consider whether there’s anything that needs tidying up in their financial life.

Most of the heavy lifting in financial planning happens in the big decisions you've likely already made. These small year-end actions separate good investors from great ones. They're the compound interest of good habits, the quiet discipline that results in peace of mind and financial security.

Before the year-end rush begins, here are five practical steps that deserve your attention in November.

Five Moves That Matter

The best investors know that great planning isn't built in dramatic moments but in consistent, thoughtful actions. Here are five year-end actions you can take to give you peace of mind during the holidays and help you to start 2026 on the right foot.

1. Review your insurance and beneficiaries.

November is the perfect time to check all your policies and accounts. The beneficiaries you named five years ago might not reflect your current wishes. On the slight chance that the insurer has made an administrative error, you’ll catch that too. This ten-minute review could save your family the headache of discovering an incorrect beneficiary nomination at claim stage.

2. Get your paperwork in order.

Nobody likes thinking about worst-case scenarios. Having your affairs in order brings peace of mind. Is your will current? Do your loved ones know where to find important documents? Think of this as creating a roadmap for those who might need it. Organisation today prevents chaos tomorrow. One afternoon of sorting could be the greatest gift you give your family.

3. Review your monthly subscriptions and debit orders.

Those small monthly payments have a sneaky way of multiplying. The streaming service you tried once, the gym membership you keep meaning to use, the insurance for the phone you replaced last year. Run through your bank statements and cancel what you're not using. You might be surprised how much you free up for next year's goals. Every pound saved is a pound that can work harder elsewhere.

4. Plan for major expenses.

Look ahead to 2026. What's coming that you already know about? A new car, home repairs, that memorable anniversary trip, university fees? Identifying these expenses now allows you to prepare properly rather than scrambling later. Set up a separate savings pot for each major expense. When the time comes, you'll pay with satisfaction rather than stress.

5. That one thing you've been avoiding.

You know what it is. It could be consolidating old pension pots, setting up that trust, or having the money conversation with your adult children. Whatever you've been putting off, November is your permission slip to tackle it. The relief you'll feel heading into the new year will far outweigh the discomfort of dealing with it now.

Small Actions, Big Impact

You don't need to tackle everything at once. Completing two or three of these items puts you ahead of most investors who let the year slip away without review. Choose the ones that resonate with your current situation and start there.

The fact that you're thinking about these matters while others are thinking only about Christmas lunch and shopping says something important about your financial maturity. You understand that small actions compound into significant results.

The financially literate don't need perfect execution. They need consistent attention to what matters. If you'd like help working through any of these year-end considerations, we're here to guide you.

Life is for Living

While we always encourage smart saving and financial prudence, enjoying the life you're working hard to build is just as important. That means making space for experiences, community and a little fun now and then!

Here’s a roundup of upcoming events that might pique your interest. Treat yourself because balance is key; life is meant to be lived.

Last-minute weekend plans: 'Òran' [Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, 15th November]

A date for the diary: Carols at the Royal Albert Hall [London, 14th - 24th December]

Something for the crafters: Tea Green Winter Market [Scottish Venues, 22nd November - 12th December]

---

Read

No One Wants to Follow a Pessimist [4 minutes]. Pessimism is intellectually seductive in a way optimism only wishes it could be.

​If You Think You’re Too Smart to Get Scammed, Read This [5 minutes]. Scammers can target anyone, including intelligent and financially savvy individuals.

​ If You Get the Chance [4 minutes]. Every chance is a valuable moment to practice and improve your skills.

---

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

The Castlebay Corner

The New Website Launch We’re excited to share the new Castlebay Financial Management website, which we have been working on behind the scenes.

The refreshed site offers a cleaner layout, easier navigation and a much-improved experience across devices. Whether you're catching up on our latest updates, exploring insights from the team, or simply checking in, everything’s now simpler, faster, and we hope a bit more enjoyable.

Take a look around and let us know what you think, we're always keen to hear your thoughts.

Please access the following link for the new website: Castlebay Financial Management

For existing clients, the website provides a route to accessing the Personal Finance Portal and AJ Bell Valuations.

The link for: Client Portal Access

If you have previously logged into your online accounts through the website, we would recommend bookmarking the new Castlebay Financial Management website to your browser. This will allow seamless acces going forward.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or queries regarding the website.

---

We hope that you enjoyed this month’s newsletter. Please let us know what you enjoyed, or write back with any of your own news.

As always, we're here for you.

See you next month,