While summer is traditionally a time when everyone hopes to relax a little, developments this year are making that harder than usual. From the government dealing with difficult by-election results, soaring inflation and the fall-out from the war in Ukraine to businesses and individuals having to focus on new strategies to get through these challenging times. The Chancellor’s strategy of freezing tax thresholds for three years was always going to create wealth erosion, but now, coinciding with accelerating inflation, it is set to create a record number of higher rate taxpayers by 2025/26. Those who are pushed over the threshold.

Continue Reading

Retirees have a whole host of options The pension freedoms, introduced on 6 April 2015, have given retirees a whole host of new options. There is no longer a compulsory requirement to purchase an annuity (a guaranteed income for life) when you retire. The introduction of pension freedoms brought about fundamental changes to the way we can access our pension savings. There is now much greater flexibility around how you take your benefits from Money Purchase Pension (Defined Contribution) schemes, which include Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). How pensions can be taken has become dramatically relaxed Since the rules governing how.

Continue Reading

Understandably, the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is causing angst among people, particularly elderly and vulnerable clients who have been self-isolating. It’s estimated that more than half of British adults have not made a Will. The coronavirus pandemic has made more people think about just how crucial it is to make a Will and ensure it is kept up to date. Everyone should have a Will, but it is even more important if you have children; you own property or have savings, investments, insurance policies; or you own a business. Your Will lets you decide what happens to your money, property.

Continue Reading

It’s a common fallacy that only those who are wealthy have any need for professional financial advice. Regardless of how careful you are with your money, dealing with the tricky intricacies of taxation, investments and financial regulations can be difficult for even the most money-conscious earners. However, when it comes to financial planning for your future, it’s important that you receive expert professional advice about all the options and income sources available to you. As your life progresses, there will be certain points where you’ll be thinking about making changes that relate to your finances, for example, getting a new.

Continue Reading

For most people, a mortgage will be by far the largest debt they will ever have. Debts are passed on should the holder die and form part of their estate. There are many situations where mortgages that are passed on cause serious hardship for bereaved families. Any situation where a families ability to meet the debt are impaired by the death of a family member could have serious implications, for example the family may need to downsize to meet their obligations. A common way to avoid these situations is through mortgage protection, this is essentially life assurance that decreases in.

Continue Reading