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In light of everything happening right now, we’ve seen a sharp increase in demand for workplace financial wellbeing sessions.

It’s something we’ve been offering for over three years, but this month especially, we’ve had a rise in teams reaching out for support — whether it’s HR, women’s networks, or early-career groups.

We’ve developed a 45-minute workshop designed specifically for this moment — positive, practical, shame-free, and focused on what people can control.

Why Now?

With the economy in flux and pension values falling, employees are understandably anxious about their financial futures and employers have an opportunity to offer positive support.

Available sessions

• What is going on with the economy (and what can I actually do about it?)

• Building Financial Confidence: Tools to Feel More in Control

• Financial Wellbeing at Every Stage

They’re built for real life — inclusive, honest, and designed to meet people where they are.

We also have available sessions with other trusted experts

• Getting Mortgage Ready (with our trusted mortgage broker)

• Pensions, Decoded (with an FCA-regulated expert)

Previous clients

"Brilliant session - really enjoyed it. perfect amount of content to make it engaging but makes you want to take action.”

“The event was fantastic. It was relevant and covered something for everyone, no matter what age you were. Alice was a great speaker - very clear and concise”

Format

• 45–60 minute live session (online or in-person)

• Anonymous Q&A + takeaways

• Bespoke content available

Who Are They For

All-staff sessions, networks (women, parents, early careers), HR & People teams.

About GFY

One of the UK’s leading financial education platforms, GFY is a community of 100,000+ and is known for its clear, practical, no-jargon approach to money. Featured on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, BBC Morning Live, Panorama.

If this sounds useful, you can:

1. Reply to this email

2. Forward this PDF to your People/HR team

3. Book a quick 15-minute chat via Calendly

Trump’s Tariffs: 5 Key Events Over the Last Week

90-day pause on ‘reciprocal’ tariffs ⌛

⬅️ Recap: 

On April 2nd, Donald Trump announced a 10% universal tariff on all imported foreign goods in addition to “reciprocal tariffs” on 180 countries.

➡️ Currently:

• However, on April 9th, he announced a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs while keeping the 10% universal tariffs. 

• The pause excludes duties paid by Canada and Mexico, as their goods are still subject to 25% fentanyl-related tariffs if they do not comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement's rules of origin.

💭 Why?

• Trump cited ‘flexibility’ as the key driver, and later stated that he considered market volatility. 

• The 90-day period provides a window for countries seeking to negotiate trade agreements with the U.S. 

• There are also fears of a recession and the impact of the tariffs on US economic growth by investors.

🔎 Market Response & Outlook…

While there is temporary relief across markets following the pause of the tariffs, huge uncertainty remains as to the next move following the elapse of the 90 day period.

China / US Tariff ‘Tug of War’ 🇨🇳 🇺🇲

China & the US have engaged in a continuous battle of tariffs and reciprocal tariffs since Feb 1, 2025.

Timeline of Events…

• Following the April 2 announcement of reciprocal tariffs, Trump hit China with an additional 34% tariff, aside from the 10% announced on March 4.

• China responded with a retaliatory 34% tariff on US goods effective April 10.

• In response, Trump hit China with an additional 84% levy across all imports, raising the total to 104%

• China announced retaliatory tariffs of 84% on imports of US goods

• Trump raised the tariff to at least 145% on Chinese imports effective immediately and excluding China from the 90-day pause on "reciprocal" tariffs for nations 

• China increased its retaliatory tariffs on US imports to 125%. 

Market uncertainty remains but investors are taking advantage of it 📈

Over the past week, markets have fluctuated following the tariff announcements by Donald Trump. According to AJ Bell, the week closed out with the FTSE 100 losing 1.1%, while the FTSE 250 added 0.8%. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) traded 0.6% lower, the S&P 500 was down 0.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite shed 0.4%.

However, despite these fluctuations, investing platforms like AJ Bell and Interactive Investors witnessed a higher buy/sell ratio i.e., people are buying more than they are selling. 

Why?

• Investors are taking a ‘long-term’ approach with a consistent goal to stay invested, despite heightened volatility.

• Investors see this as an opportunity to buy equities of quality companies i.e., ‘buy the dip’, with the hope of benefiting from market recovery in the long term.

Response from AJ Bell:

Possibilities of cheaper mortgages due to the tariffs? 🏡

Global economic volatility has boosted expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) will respond with interest rate cuts.

A look at the market revealed that an increasing number of lenders such as Barclays, Coventry Building Society, Clydesdale Bank and Newcastle Building Society announced mortgage rates cuts, with new rates in the market falling below 4%.

Why?

Analysts predict that the BoE will reduce borrowing costs by more than expected this year to avoid a downturn, as the risk of global economic instability intensifies.

Why Hundreds of Barbershops Were Just Raided by Police

 💈 Over 260 high street businesses - mostly barbershops, but also vape shops, nail salons, and sweet shops - have been raided in a UK-wide crackdown on money laundering, modern slavery, and organised crime.

The operation, led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and dubbed Operation Machinize, lasted three weeks and involved 19 police forces. It’s already led to:

• 🔒 10 shop closures

• 👮 35 arrests

• 🧍‍♀️ 97 people placed under protection as suspected victims of modern slavery

What’s going on?

The NCA says many cash-heavy high street shops are being used to hide and move criminal money, often linked to serious crimes like:

❌ Drug trafficking

❌ Organised immigration crime

❌ Human trafficking

❌ Firearms smuggling

❌ Sale of illicit tobacco and vapes

The police seized:

• 💷 Over £40,000 in cash

• 🚬 200,000 cigarettes

• 📦 7,000 packs of tobacco

• 💨 8,000+ illegal vapes

• 🌿 Two cannabis farms (150 plants)

• 🧊 Over £1 million in frozen bank assets

Why barbershops?

The number of barber and beauty salons in London alone has grown from 5,930 in 2015 to 8,915 in 2024, according to ONS data.

🚩 Campaigners have warned that this boom may offer cover for labour exploitation or money laundering, especially when shops are bought with illicit funds.

🗣️ Justine Carter, director of anti-slavery charity Unseen, said most abuse is labour-related—but warned it can tip into full-blown modern slavery.

Links to real criminal cases

Barbershops have been connected to a string of major crime cases:

💸 A Hammersmith barber sent £11,000 to fund terrorism in Syria

🚚 A Colindale barber used his shop as cover for a people-smuggling network

🚤 A former Lewisham barber helped migrants cross the Channel in boats

🎰 A Lewisham shop was exposed as an illegal casino and drug operation

What happens now?

More closures are expected as investigations continue. The NCA estimates that £12 billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year—and this crackdown is just one part of a larger effort to make the UK a more hostile environment for organised crime.

🗣️ Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the raids are part of a plan to make our streets safer and restore confidence in local communities.

London Just Lost Over 11,000 Millionaires

London has seen the biggest millionaire exodus in the world after Moscow, according to a new global wealth report by Henley & Partners and New World Wealth.

In the past year alone, 11,300 dollar millionaires left the capital - including 18 individuals with over $100 million in assets and two billionaires.

The report defines a millionaire as someone with at least $1 million (£780,000) in liquid investable assets - including cash, bonds and shares, but excluding property. Since 2014, 30,000 millionaires have left London - around 12% of its wealthiest residents.

Why are they leaving?

• 💰 Tax pressure – The UK’s high capital gains and inheritance tax rates are a turn-off for investors.

• 🚨 Brexit fallout – Uncertainty and reduced EU access continue to affect investor confidence.

• 💷 Weaker pound – Makes the UK less attractive for global elites.

• 🏦 London Stock Exchange decline – Once the largest in the world, now ranked 11th.

• 🏙️ Global competition – Cities like Dubai, Paris, Geneva and Amsterdam are drawing in wealthy individuals with lower taxes and better incentives.

Why does this matter?

Experts warn the trend could hurt long-term growth.

He warned that losing high-net-worth individuals could mean less innovation, fewer business investments, and slower economic progress.

Where are they going?

• New York – Home to 384,500 millionaires

• San Francisco – Fuelled by tech wealth

• Dubai and Paris – Growing in appeal due to lower taxes and business-friendly policies

• Manchester is the only other UK city in the top 50, ranking 46th with 23,400 millionaires.

What’s the government saying?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ reform of non-dom tax rules has been cited as a key driver, with critics warning it could cost the UK £111 billion in economic growth over the next decade.

Sources/Read More:

Trump Tariff Updates: A summary of key events and changes over the last week 

• AJ Bell - Retail investors react to Trump tariff volatility

  Reuters - Investors grapple with tariff-driven economic threat as market swings persist

  The Standard - Some investors seeing buying opportunities in market volatility, says platform

  AJ Bell - Late market roundup: FTSE ends higher, Europe lags on tariff jitters

  Reuters - In stunning U-turn, Trump walks back some tariffs, triggering historic market rally

  Time - A Timeline of Trump’s Tumultuous Tariff Week

  Reuters - Trump trade war with China revives recession, bear market fears

  The Standard - Barclays set to cut some mortgage rates below 4% on Friday

  BBC - UK mortgage lenders cut rates after Trump tariffs

Why Hundreds of Barbershops Were Just Raided by Police

• Evening Standard

• National Crime Agency

• ONS

London Just Lost Over 11,000 Millionaires

• Evening Standard

• Sky News