The December issue of The Intermediary has arrived, closing out the year with a festive edition that reflects on the market’s latest developments while casting an eye to what lies ahead in 2026.

The lead feature sees Jessica O’Connor explore the events of another turbulent year, from shifting rates and lender strategies to the evolving needs of advisers and clients.

The Interview features Adam Butler at Avamore Capital, offering insight into the lender’s evolution and its plans to support SME developers through the next phase of the cycle.

In In Profile, Rikesh Tailor B.A (Hons) CeMAP discusses a transformative year for TAB and the company’s growth strategy, while the Q&A sees Simon Bateman at Recognise Bank share his outlook for 2026 and beyond.

This month’s Meet the Broker is with Kasia Makarewicz of STEP BY STEP FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS LTD, and Meet the BDM features Nina Kainth at Mercantile Trust Limited.

Local Focus takes a lighter turn with a trip to the North Pole, delivering seasonal satire with a broker twist. Meanwhile, the Broker Business section examines employment trends and the reality of placing challenging cases.

The issue also includes commentary and insight from a wide range of contributors, including John Phillips, Andrew Gething, Hamza Behzad, Victoria Thompson, Peter Dockar, Maria Harris, Paul Carter, Dave Harris, Jonny Jones, Derek Ryan, Gary Thompson, Victor Jannels CertPFS CeMAP CPSP, Conor McDermott, Simon Thompson, Tanya Elmaz, Anna Lewis, Richard Sexton, Stuart Davidson, Louisa Ritchie, Martin Sims, Rob Houghton, Robert McCoy, Tippie Malgwi, Chris Wilson, Melanie Spencer, Peter Izard, Kate Davies, Jonathan Fowler, Alistair Nimmo and many more.

Ryan Fowler, managing director of Astor Media and publisher of The Intermediary, said: “It’s always great to get the last issue of the year put to bed.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the work the team has put into this issue and the magazine as a whole throughout 2025.

“The commitment, energy and focus shown across editorial, sales, design and production has made this a standout year for The Intermediary. My thanks to everyone who helped make it happen.”

Jessica Bird, group editorial director at Astor Media, added: “The December issue is always a unique one, a chance to reflect, poke a little fun, and still ask serious questions about where the market is heading.

“We’ve tried to strike that balance here, while keeping brokers at the heart of every piece. I’m really proud of what the team has delivered to round out the year.”

The you can read the latest issue here.