These articles help you understand your financial needs and aspirations
Welcome to our latest issue. The amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) paid by families has dramatically increased over the past decade, increasing from £3.1 billion in the 2012/13 tax year[1] to £7.5 billion in the 2023/24 tax year[2]. This rise is attributed to growing asset values and stagnant IHT thresholds, coupled with many families delaying their planning. On page 08, we look at how to maximise IHT allowances, strategic planning to reduce IHT, tax-efficient gifting and transfers, utilising pensions for IHT efficiency and additional strategies for reducing IHT.
How does pension consolidation work?
Pensions can be confusing, but there is an alternative way to help keep on top of them
Maximising returns
The power of reinvesting dividends for long-term growth
Stay focused on your retirement goals
Identifying any potential financial gaps and bridging these gaps before it's too late
Understanding the rising impact of Inheritance Tax
Exploring strategies to secure your family’s financial future
A safety net for uncertain times
How would you pay your bills if you couldn't work?
Have you had a retirement conversation?
Many people do not engage in crucial conversations regarding the lifestyle they envision
Who pays for long-term care?
Ensure you’re well placed to fund any future care needs
Building a diversified investment portfolio
Why it's imperative to consider your objectives and attitude towards investment risk
Enhancing your financial plans as you approach 50
Steps you can take now to influence your retirement and overall financial security significantly
Planning your path to a fulfilling retirement
Are your finances on the right track as you approach this new chapter?
How much financial security do you need for a happy retirement?
Financial status plays a significant role in retirement happiness
Is it time to evaluate your financial landscape?
Financial strategies are not immune to the impacts of life’s changes
Unlocking homeownership
Generous parents and grandparents are turning to their property wealth
Managing the menopause, a financial perspective
Often-overlooked financial implications during this transformative life stage
Balancing motherhood and financial security
Juggling responsibilities can often push long-term financial planning to the sidelines
Building a secure financial future together
How to prevent misunderstandings and lay the groundwork for mutual financial success
Combating inflation, the ‘silent thief’
Why retirement planning needs to account for longevity risk
Retirement readiness in your 50s
Now is the time to make sure you know how much you need to save
Understanding the gender pension gap
Why do women often find themselves disadvantaged in retirement?
Landscape of workplace pensions
Six in ten employees feel they are not saving enough for retirement
Navigating life events and inheritance
Research highlights a profound impact on financial security and life choices
The role of trusts
Providing timely financial support to your loved ones when they need it most
Welcome to our latest issue. On 30 October, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will deliver the Autumn Budget Statement 2024. It will be a critical indicator of the government's approach to managing the economy, aiming to foster an environment conducive to sustainable growth. The outcomes of this Autumn Budget will have far-reaching implications, potentially influencing everything from tax rates and public services to business investment and consumer confidence. As such, it is a pivotal moment that will shape the economic landscape in the months and years ahead. On page 10, we look at what it could mean for your finances.
Could you have been underpaid the State Pension?
HMRC estimates that affected women could be owed an average of £5,000 each
Pension scams on the rise
Protect your savings! 7.3 million UK adults encountered an attempted scam in the past year
Navigating the complexities of inheritance
Should you consider estate planning and gifting for future generations?
Mastering financial planning
Essential tips for mothers balancing family and finances
Autumn Budget Statement 2024
What it could mean for your finances
Time to revisit your retirement plan?
Helping you feel more prepared for this stage of your life
The middle-aged squeeze
Juggling careers, family care and financial pressure amid rising costs and wealth transfers
The cost of early withdrawal from your pension
How retirees are impacting their financial future by accessing pension pots too soon
Rising demand for health cover
Grappling with a workforce sickness epidemic and long NHS waiting times
Building wealth and achieving financial goals
Aligning investments with risk tolerance and capacity
The future of retirement
Experiences of the past and potential future scenarios
The Great Unretirement
Contemplating a return to work after a significant absence or considering a phased return?
Sandwich generation
Two-thirds of people in the UK will care for a loved one at some point
Take your pension to the max
Do you have potential shortfalls and need to address these gaps?
Empowered savers
How to make future aspirations more attainable and less stressful
Shaping a sustainable future
The imperative of collective action and responsible investment
New study uncovers financial vulnerability in five million UK households
Delayed life milestones and lack of planning pose significant risks
Redundancy and your pension
Understanding your workplace pension options to navigate your next steps confidently
Have you secured your legacy?
The vital role of Wills in estate planning
Should you use your pension lump sum to pay off your mortgage?
Essential key considerations and potential pitfalls you need to know
The retirement gap
Why UK retirees are working seven years longer than planned
The rise of remote work and moving abroad
Becoming a UK expat can mark the start of an exciting chapter, but what about your pension?
Welcome to our latest issue. Nobody wants to consider what would happen if they became too ill to support their family financially. Financial protection is essential to creating a secure future for your loved ones, but understanding what cover you may need can be confusing. On page 10, we discuss whether you have considered the implications financially if you or someone in your family were unable to earn money, became ill or were to die prematurely. It’s not something we like to think about, but if you have left regular employment and are now either retired or have become self-employed, then any previous protection you received from an employer becomes your responsibility.
Articles featured in this issue:
Retirement matters
Making the right decisions today could boost your retirement pot and make the future a whole lot brighter
Caring for grandchildren
How it can help you boost your State Pension
Britain’s biggest pension taxpayers
How to make sure you avoid becoming one
Placing assets into a Trust
Ensuring your legacy is managed according to your wishes long into the future
Financial protection
Ensuring a secure future for you and your loved ones
Ways to reduce a Capital Gains Tax liability
How will you ensure more of your money will go towards your future?
Investing a lump sum
Received an inheritance, windfall, or proceeds from a business or property sale? But what next?
How much do I need to save for retirement?
Ensure your money works effectively to enjoy retirement on your own terms
The importance of drafting a Will
Protect your family from uncertainty and potential conflicts
Quarter of retirees financially struggling despite paying off mortgage
Urgent need for effective financial strategies and support systems to ensure a dignified and secure retirement
Financial planning conversations you need to have
Protecting your legacy and boosting your children’s financial security
Young women and retirement
How much income will you need for a comfortable retirement?
State Pension awareness
What payments can you expect to receive from the government later in life?
Changing retirement trends
Why the concept of a 'hard stop' retirement is becoming less prevalent
Learning from the retired
Balancing financial security with mental wellbeing
Retirement experience among over-55s
Money, or lack thereof, a significant driver of overall retirement satisfaction
Building financial confidence in children
Sharing values and encouraging children to formulate their own
Many Britons unaware of incorrect tax codes
What you need to know to avoid discrepancies and potential financial strain
Retirees supporting family and friends financially
Nearly 40% support grown-up children, a spouse or partner, a parent, an elderly relative or a friend
Downsizing in later life
Research highlights what people consider before making the decision
Minimise Inheritance Tax
Allow your loved ones to benefit more from your accumulated wealth
Only two-fifths of Britons know how to boost their pension
How much money will you have for retirement, where is it invested and what are you being charged?
Welcome to the first issue for 2024. The tax landscape has witnessed considerable changes, making the situation more challenging for taxpayers and investors alike. As we near the end of the 2023/24 tax year on 5 April, every taxpayer should understand the importance of this date and consider their tax position. Don’t leave it to chance and miss the deadline. On page 06, we’ve provided some planning tips to consider and discuss with us.
National Insurance Contributions (NICs)
Significant reforms and rates cut for millions of workers
Changes to the State Pension
‘Triple Lock’ to increase by 8.5% from 6 April 2024
Tax-saving measures
What actions to review before the 2023/24 year-end?
Balancing profit and planet
Striving to use impact to boost investment returns
Time to SIPP into financial freedom?
‘I want to take charge of my retirement savings’
Succession planning, a family affair
A delicate process that requires clear communication and effective planning
Treasure trove
£26.6 billion in forgotten pensions
A tax-efficient, flexible method for future planning
Time is running out to use your 2023/24 ISA allowance
Financial road map for 2024
How to devise a robust plan for wealth accumulation and protection
Securing retirement
The art of de-risking
Charting your financial future
Tackling retirement anxieties requires understanding your current financial resources
Time to kickstart your retirement plans?
How to get your retirement plans in motion
Make the most of your wealth
Opening up a world of possibilities for your future
Gender pension gap
The potential barrier to reaching the same savings levels as men
Heightened interest rates increase demand for annuities
What will you do with your hard-earned pension pot at retirement?
The forgotten task on Britons' to-do list
Financial pitfalls that could easily have been avoided
Investing after retirement
Preserving wealth for your future lifestyle
The power of prevention
An effective financial plan acts as your protective shield
It’s good to talk
How to navigate financial conversations with your family
£32 billion hole in UK savings pots
Rise in living costs forcing many people to dip into their financial reserves
Bridging the pension generation gap
Urgency for younger generations to access improved financial education
Welcome to our September/October 2023 edition. In this issue, we look at investment bonds and explain how they offer several benefits that some investors may be missing out on, which have become even more beneficial due to recent changes in tax regulations. This follows last November’s Budget and the Chancellor’s decision to reduce the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Allowance from £12,000 to £6,000 this year and to £3,000 in April 2024. This is likely to increase the appeal of investment bonds for some investors who want to minimise Inheritance Tax (IHT) liabilities when passing on wealth.
Preserving wealth for future generations
Starting estate planning early and implementing it in stages is desirable
Will you make the right decisions around your pension pot?
Why defined contribution pensions are even more appealing for wealth transfer
Building a reliable income stream for your golden years
Make sure you maximise your retirement income through annuity shopping
Investment bonds
How bonds' structure and tax advantages can help you pass on wealth
Missing out on unclaimed money that could be in your pocket?
£1.3 billion pension tax relief unclaimed by pension savers over a five-year period
Saving for the next generation
Taking proactive steps in securing your child’s or grandchild’s financial future
Money and divorce
Untangling your finances and navigating the financial aspects of divorce
Pension drawdown
Greater flexibility in accessing your pension funds
Cost of care in later life
Choosing the best option for yourself or your loved ones
Retirement cash flow modelling
Assessing your current and projected wealth, income and expenses
Preparing the next generation to engage with their finances
How to help with money management and financial literacy
Key traits for successful wealth-building
Developing an investment strategy tailored to your goals
Macro trends impacting weddings in 2023
Main pressures are rising costs and unexpected expenses from suppliers
Retirement challenges faced by women
Nearly half of women aged 50-65 plan to continue working in some capacity after reaching the State Pension age
Do our later life dreams really become retirement reality?
Taking the necessary steps towards a fulfilling retirement
Gap in knowledge and uptake of Power of Attorney
Protecting individuals and facilitating smoother decision-making processes
Millions may have to rethink their retirement plans
More than one in ten have mortgage debt in the final decade before they retire
How much will I need to live on in retirement?
Planning for your life after work to ensure a financially secure future
How to reduce the impact of inflation on retirement income
During periods of economic uncertainty, it's advisable to reassess your retirement plan
Professional financial advice – where’s the value?
Making more informed decisions about money leads to better financial health in the long run
How to find or trace a lost pension
Total value of lost pension pots £26.6 billion in 2022
In this issue, financial planning can be a daunting and uncomfortable conversation for many, but thankfully attitudes towards talking about money are changing. Wealth succession should be an integral part of your financial plan as early as possible – because the right preparation now can have positive long-term impacts on future generations. On page 06, before you start this process, we consider the questions you need to ask.
Articles featured in this issue:
Goals don't just happen, you have to plan for them
How professional financial advice benefits both you and your family
Rising prices can wipe years off retirement pots
How to protect your pension income against inflationary pressures
Wealth succession
Making the right preparation for future generations
Show me the money
Britons not researching their investments because it’s ‘time consuming’ and ‘complicated’
Time to retire?
Planning your finances to be sustainable for the long term is key
Critical illness cover, your questions answered
Protecting against the financial impact that a serious illness can cause
Retirement planning
Your wealth. Your legacy
Giving retirement a second thought?
Over a third of over-55s think they will work beyond their State Pension age
Financial security and freedom
Rising prices add almost 20% to ‘minimum’ cost of retirement
Thinking about divorcing?
Protecting your assets and preparing you for going forward on your own
Cost of living crisis
Almost one in three over-55s’ mortgage repayment plans derailed
Financial bliss!
Money and finances are a common source of disagreement and stress
Cost averaging your investments
Reducing the risk of investing in volatile markets
Insurance that works while you can’t
2.5 million Britons lose at least £23,126 a year due to long-term illness
Retirement planning for every life stage
Alleviate any fear and uncertainty you might have about your financial future
Overwhelmed by your pension?
Almost half of UK consumers find pensions information daunting
Protecting income
7% of self-employed workers would choose to carry on working through illness or injury
Financial jargon
7 out of 10 adults are puzzled by financial matters lingo
Future wealth
Ready to start investing for your grandchild’s future?
Drawdown, annuities or both?
Make sure your retirement strategy meets your needs and goals
Welcome to our latest edition. Are you fed up with your nine-to-five? There are many factors that can influence when someone decides to retire. For some, it may be based on health reasons, while others may want to take advantage of government benefits or simply enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle. However, one of the most common factors that determines when people choose to retire is their age. On page 10 we look at what is the most popular age to retire early. New research reveals the key steps people have taken to embrace early retirement and examines the costs and benefits of doing so.
Disclaimer: Any advice provided to you by City Capital Financial Planning LLP (CCFP) will be strictly an individual arrangement between yourself and CCFP. Bar Council will not be liable for that advice under any circumstance. It is up to you as an individual to be satisfied that the advice you receive is appropriate for you given your particular circumstances.
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