Adviser Firm of the Year 2026 – Midlands finalists

We are thrilled to share that Optimum Path has been named as a finalist in the Professional Adviser 2026 Awards, in the category of Adviser Firm of the Year – Midlands.

Being recognised alongside so many outstanding firms in the region is a real honour, and this achievement is a testament to the dedication, professionalism, and genuine care our team brings to every client relationship. We are proud of what we have built together, and moments like this remind us why we do what we do. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey.

Alasdair in The Telegraph: Inside the Portfolios of Millionaire Investors

Our very own Alasdair Walker was recently featured in Telegraph Money, contributing expert insight to an article exploring how high-net-worth investors typically structure their investment portfolios.

The piece offers a fascinating look at the strategies and thinking behind serious long-term investing and it’s well worth a read whether you’re a seasoned investor or simply curious about how others approach building and managing wealth.

You can read the article for free by clicking here – just note that you will need to create a free Telegraph account to access it.

HMRC has ended automatic refunds

This is something that may have slipped under the radar towards the end of last year, but it’s an important change that could affect you.

HMRC has stopped automatically issuing tax refunds. Previously, if you had overpaid tax, HMRC would typically identify this and send a refund without you needing to do anything. That is no longer the case. You must now actively claim any overpayment back yourself by contacting HMRC directly.

This change means it’s more important than ever to check whether you may be owed a refund – particularly if your income or circumstances have changed, or if you’ve made pension contributions, gift aid donations, or other tax-relevant decisions during the year.

Alasdair was featured in an MSN News article covering this change, which you can read here.

For the full official guidance, you can also refer to the HMRC December 2025 Bulletin.

Get in touch

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

Get in touch at hello@optimumpath.co.uk or call us on 01664 778899. You can also book a quick call directly through our website.