Planning for Later Life
I have read with interest the first release of data from the 2021 Census, this shows that now nearly a fifth (18.6% to be exact!) of the population of England and Wales are over 65. According to the ONS (Office of National Statistics) the life expectancy at age 65 is 18.5 years for males and […]
There is nothing wrong with being vulnerable…
I can imagine that no one wants to be called vulnerable, in truth it is not a very nice term as in some peoples’ eyes it projects weakness and an inability to think and act for oneself. Individuals associate vulnerability with those in ‘later life’ who may be in need of care, people who may […]
How much can I afford to spend in retirement?
I read with interest an article about individuals spending habits as they move through their ‘retirement years’. The article states that as people move towards their 80’s their spending can increase and, as a specialist adviser in later life planning, this is something I have witnessed first hand. When talking to clients about their plans […]
What is the Lifetime Allowance?
Whilst there is no limit on the benefits an individual can receive or accrue in a pension, there is an allowance above which a tax charge is payable. This is known as the Lifetime Allowance (LTA). In summary the LTA is the maximum amount that can be accumulated in all pension plans without incurring a […]
The one constant in life is change…
As part of my role I see a variety of how well organised people are when it comes to their finances, this ranges from the individuals who have all information in the most comprehensive spreadsheet they can to those that attend meetings with some notes scribbled down. There is of course no right or wrong […]
Can I make a gift when acting under a Power of Attorney?
The simple answer to this question is ‘yes’ but there are limits as to who gifts can be made to and the amounts. First of all it is important to consider what a gift is, this does not just comprise of giving the individuals money or possessions to another person. A gift can also include […]
Can I give away my assets to avoid having to pay care fees?
This is a question I am fairly regularly asked and in short the answer is ‘no’. I have found that people can be very frustrated when they realise they will have to self fund their care costs if they have over a certain level of assets. In response to this, the first thought moves to […]
What is a Deferred Payment Agreement?
Funding for long term care can be a very complex subject, there are many ways these fees can be met and deciding the right option can be hard. Within this blog I look at the Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA), which in summary, is a type of Equity Release scheme that can be offered by the […]
The Importance of an Ongoing Financial Advice Service
Building a financial plan is not simply a case of deciding what is needed and implementing it, yes this is an important first step but what’s the point of having a plan if it is not reviewed? As we have seen over the past year or so a lot can happen in a short space […]
Are you worried about risk?
When looking to advise a client on where to invest their money a very important consideration is their ability to deal with a fall in value. Over the last year, particularly in March 2020, a number of clients experienced a short dramatic fall in value. Whilst, generally speaking, funds have recovered it can be a […]
