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These articles help you understand your financial needs and aspirations 

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Understanding the Rising Impact of Inheritance Tax

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

Autumn Budget Statement 2024 - What it Could Mean For Your Finances

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?

Financial Protection - Ensuring a Secure Future For You and Your Loved Ones

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?

Enhancing Pension Contributions for a Brighter Future

Welcome to our latest issue. As we embark on the new tax year, on page 08, we consider why reviewing your pension savings strategy presents an opportune moment, setting a solid foundation for future financial stability. Early attention to your private pension at the onset of the fiscal year is not just about cultivating beneficial saving habits; it's also about ensuring you take advantage of the benefits and allowances available to you.

Britons procrastinate on making a Will

Research identifies that over half of adults do not have a Will

 

Looming pension pitfall

£50 billion of hard-earned pension funds could be in jeopardy

 

Costs of later-life care

Establishing a thorough wealth strategy is key to ensuring financial readiness

 

Changes to Individual Savings Accounts in 2024

Why savers and investors now have a more flexible approach

 

Enhancing pension contributions for a brighter future

New tax year, new you? Maximise your pension savings this new tax year

 

Navigating Inheritance Tax

How to pass on assets to the next generation to secure their future for tomorrow

 

Rising trend of unretirement

14% of those aged over 55 have found themselves re-entering the workforce

 

Prudence of perseverance in investing

Maintaining an investment stance centred on the potential for long-term growth

 

Enhancing retirement through lump sum contributions

Contributing additional amounts to your pension stands to benefit you significantly in the long term

 

Understanding pension uncertainties

Survey highlights prevailing uncertainty among those on the cusp of retirement 

 

Generational wealth perspectives

Whether through property, pensions or a blend of both, informed decision-making is crucial

 

New pension tax framework

Pivotal shift changes you need to know commenced from 6 April 2024

 

Troubling trend amongst UK workers

Prevailing issue of presenteeism highlights a need for a transformation in workplace culture

 

Unveiling the core principles of investing

Timeless beacons guide investors through periods of market volatility towards financial prosperity

 

Mind over matter

How behavioural investing can shape financial futures

 

Strategic reinvestment of State Pension increases

When transferring into a personal pension may make sense

 

Unique insight into the current attitudes towards pension investment

Prevailing concern among savers regarding their capability to make informed investment decisions

 

Employee preferences in Workplace Pension selection

Complex landscape of employee preferences, confidence and skills

 

Overcoming the gender investment disparity

Critical insights to empower women to take the reins of their financial destinies

 

UK retirees confronting pension shortfalls

Many regret not having commenced their savings journey earlier in their careers

 

Reliance on Defined Benefit pensions among over-50s

Diverse avenues through which individuals plan to supplement their retirement income

A Crucial Decade: Financial Planning in your 50s

Welcome to our November/December 2023 edition. As you sail into your 50s, it becomes pivotal to consider your financial strategy. Life has likely found a steady rhythm by now. Children have probably taken flight, becoming financially self-sufficient, and the idea of reducing work hours or even retiring completely starts to surface. Each person's life journey is unique and has different resources and challenges. However, there are shared goals and steps that one can take during this stage. On page 09, we consider how knowing where to begin can be daunting, whether you aim to maximise your earnings or lay down a robust financial plan.

Welcome to our latest November/December 2023 edition. 

 

Articles featured in this issue:

 

Taxing times for 2023 

A year marked by several tax changes that impacted higher rate taxpayers

 

Strategies to minimise retirement tax

Many pensioners may face a lurking tax risk as the State Pension grows

 

Decoding auto-enrolment

Good news on the horizon for future retirees

 

A crucial decade: financial planning in your 50s

Maximising your earnings or laying down a robust financial plan

 

Journey to monetary autonomy

Optimising your finances and formulating an all-encompassing wealth plan for the future

 

‘Time in the market’, not ‘timing the market’

The allure of quick profits and instant gratification

 

Weathering the inflation storm

Is it time to diversify your portfolio?

 

High costs of private education

The significant decision of choosing a private school for children

 

Aspiring towards retirement

Why many people experience a mixed bag of emotions on the subject

 

A timely proposition

Considering gilts for your investment portfolio?

 

The Family Bank

Planning to aid the next generation

 

Mind the retirement gap

Crisis looming over today's youth

 

Financial planning

A personal journey tailored to your unique financial situation and aspirations

 

Positive impact on financial wellbeing

Improving your overall life satisfaction and happiness

 

Navigating multiple pensions

Simplifying financial management, lowering charges and increasing future funds

 

The reality of retirement

Are you sure your target retirement age aligns with your financial status?

 

Taking the first step

Introduction to investing for beginners

 

Inflation and your retirement income

Several strategies to lessen its impact on retirees

 

The gender divide

Reflecting on 75 years of State Pensions

 

Fixed-income investments

Providing significant value in a diversified investment portfolio

 

Immediate gains, long-term losses

The high price of halting pension contributions

 

Fed up With your Nine-to-Five

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.

Invest Your Way Out of Inflation

Welcome to our March/April 2022 magazine. Inside, we look at why now is the time to make sure you protect your wealth. The word ‘inflation’ had barely featured in the market’s vocabulary in the last three decades until it suddenly started to come back with a vengeance in 2021. As higher inflation looks set to persist throughout 2022, on page 09 we consider why finding ways to generate a return on investments greater than inflation will be a key investment theme – otherwise your wealth falls in real terms. 

Articles featured in this issue:

 

Getting ready to retire?

Bolstering your retirement lifestyle as you approach retirement 

 

Invest your way out of inflation

Why now is the time to make sure you protect your wealth

 

Looking to build a bigger pension?

Don’t miss the deadline to give your pension savings a boost

 

Improving your financial health

Staying on track to achieving specific financial goals

 

How much do I need to save to retire?

Questions to help you live your best life in later life

 

‘Time is money’

5 principles of investing everyone should know

 

Pension freedoms

You work, you save and then you retire

 

Investment choices

Behavioural patterns shaping our way of investing, for better or worse

 

Cost-of-living crunch

Savers still recognise the importance of long-term planning

 

Disrupting social plans leads to savings surge

Britons saved almost £4bn as a result of the Omicron variant

 

‘Job for life’ a thing of the past

Most Millennials and Gen Z have two or more pension pots

 

Roadmap for investors

Increased confidence portfolios will perform well in 2022

 

Will I be able to retire when I want to?

Financial planning and advice for the ‘unretired'

 

Inheritance Tax

What will your legacy look like?

 

How confident are you about your retirement?

Hopes, fears and aspirations of people approaching and in retirement

 

Smart money habits

Best practice, smart money habits

 

Extending the scope of the trust register

Deadline for non-taxable trust registrations announced

 

Unlocking cash from the value of your home

Homeowners release a record-breaking £4.4bn in property wealth

New Year's Tax Savings Resolutions

Welcome to our latest edition. Inside, we look at New Year’s tax saving resolutions to make sure you are fully utilising your relevant tax planning opportunities. With the tax year end (5 April) on the horizon, taking action now may give you the opportunity to take advantage of any remaining reliefs, allowances and exemptions. On page 08 we have provided some key tax and financial planning tips to consider prior to the end of the tax year. Now is also the perfect time to take a wider review of your circumstances and plan for the year ahead.

Adult social care charging reform

What will the government’s proposals mean for the social care system?

 

Improve your financial life

Setting a financial New Year’s resolution you’ll actually keep

 

Beyond profit

How green is your pension?

 

Get ready to beat the ISA deadline

Time to give your financial future a boost?

 

New Year’s tax saving resolutions

Make full use of your relevant tax planning opportunities

 

Time to bring your pensions together?

3.6 million Britons have lost track of their pension savings

 

It may be time to invest your cash

Is your wealth protected from the damaging effects of inflation?

 

How much income will you receive from your State Pension?

Knowing what to expect can be an important part of planning for life after work

 

Create a better world to live and retire in

Pension investments to harness a more sustainable planet

 

The importance of financial protection 

Millions battling with financial hardship, relationship stress and sleepless nights

 

Across the generations

Pandemic forces people to reassess their finances

 

Mind the pension gender gap

Women are being urged to think about their long-term savings

 

Could equity release fund your future?

Freeing up funds or releasing money tied up in your home

 

Missing midlife workers

Redundancy pushes over-50s out of the workforce

 

What’s your magic number?

Keeping up your current lifestyle and enjoying your golden years

 

Live sustainably: how to be a conscious consumer  

The everyday choices we make all have impacts on our planet

 

Saving for a rainy day

What’s the right emergency fund amount for you?

 

What matters to you?

What you want your wealth to achieve will be unique. It may involve your family, your business and other interests - as well as the social or environmental causes you are passionate about. We can help you achieve the financial future you want for you and your family – please contact us.

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