The numbers to check every year
Figures and rules that go out of date quickly. This is Appendix D of the book with the values as checked in November 2026. Check them at the source shown before you decide.
| Item | Value as checked (Nov 2026) | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| ETF costs (TER), broad funds | 0.14% to 0.20% for the broad world funds checked in November 2026 | Fund KID, issuer site, justetf.com |
| ETF costs (TER), bonds, gold, property | 0.10% bonds, 0.12% gold, 0.50% to 0.65% others | Fund KID, issuer site |
| Yearly returns by asset class, 2001–2025 | US data in dollars; Bitcoin from price closes, which differ slightly by provider | Damodaran (NYU Stern); Nareit (REITs); BTC-USD price history |
| Private equity and venture capital returns | US pooled returns, periods ended December 2025 | Cambridge Associates |
| Private direct-lending returns | About 9% to 9.5% a year since 2004, before fees | Cliffwater Direct Lending Index |
| Active vs index fund fees, US | About 0.57% against 0.09% (end 2025) | Morningstar |
| Active funds trailing, Europe | About 97% over 10 years (end 2025) | S&P SPIVA Europe |
| Active funds trailing, US | 79% of large-cap funds in 2025 | S&P SPIVA US |
| Safe withdrawal rate | 3.9% for 2026 (3.7% for 2025) | Morningstar |
| Global equity real return | 5.2% a year, 1900 to 2024 | UBS Yearbook |
| UK: ISA allowance | £20,000 (2026/27); cash ISA £12,000 for under-65s from April 2027 | gov.uk |
| UK: capital gains tax | £3,000 exemption; 18% and 24% (2026/27) | gov.uk |
| UK: dividend and savings tax | £500 dividend allowance; 10.75% and 35.75%; savings allowance £1,000 or £500 | gov.uk |
| UK: New State Pension and pension annual allowance | £241.30 a week; £60,000 a year (2026/27) | gov.uk |
| UK: inheritance tax | 40% above £325,000, plus £175,000 for a home passed to descendants | gov.uk |
| UK: bank deposit protection | £120,000 per person per bank since 1 December 2025 (investments £85,000) | fscs.org.uk |
| UK: Junior ISA and junior pension | £9,000; £2,880 net | gov.uk |
| Germany: tax on investment income | 25% plus surcharges; €1,000 allowance | Bundeszentralamt, BMF |
| Germany: Vorabpauschale base rate; Frühstart-Rente | 3.20% for 2026; child pension passed the Bundestag 16 Oct 2026, process not finished | BMF, Finanzamt, Bundestag |
| UK: buy now pay later regulation | UK regulation from 15 July 2026 | fca.org.uk |
| France: flat tax; PEA ceiling | 31.4%; €150,000 | impots.gouv.fr |
| US: IRA contribution limit | $7,500 (2026) | irs.gov |
| UK product disclosure regime | Started April 2026, full by June 2027 | fca.org.uk |
| EU consumer credit rules | National laws apply from 20 November 2026 | EU Commission, national regulator |
| Regulators and registers | FCA, Ofgem, Ofcom, BaFin, AMF, SEC, ESMA | Type the address yourself |
Source: Appendix D of Money Game: Invest Smarter, with AI at Your Side. Educational only. Always verify on the official source or the product document.
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