Tapered Annual Allowance
Tapered Annual Allowance The Pension Annual Allowance sets the limit on how much you can pay into a pension in a tax year. It is based on your earnings for the year and is capped at £40,000. To add a layer of complication, for higher earners (see below) this allowance could taper away to as […]
We have all the time in the world
We have all the time in the world ‘I don’t want [our children] brought up in a country where the only way pensioners can get long-term care is by selling their home’. (September 1997 – New Prime Minister, Tony Blair’s speech at annual Labour party conference) ‘Nobody should have to sell their home for dementia […]
Don’t forget your protection!
Don’t forget your protection! Most people are aware that their pension will allow them access to 25% of the fund value, usually after the age of 55, as a tax-free lump sum. However, there are circumstances where the tax-free lump sum will be a higher percentage, and this is referred to as protected tax-free cash. […]
All things Green
All things Green 2017, Blue Planet II and David Attenborough have a lot to answer for when considering current investment trends. As you may recall, one program showed the damage that we are all doing to our planet specifically highlighting the dangers of plastic waste – bottled water, plastic packaging, electrical tape etc. The realisation […]
Are you due a refund on a Power of Attorney?
Have you checked to see whether you are one of the many thousands of people in the UK who are due a refund on their Power of Attorney fees after being overcharged for applications to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG)? Whilst the ability to be able to make a claim has been available […]
How do I securely cover the cost of a care home?
If you have savings and assets in excess of £23,250 (England) and are moving into a care home, you will have to pay your own fees as you are classified as a ‘self-funder’. Fees for a care home in the south east can be eye watering, as much as £1,200 per week*, or more, that’s […]
How can I reduce the cost of long-term care to myself?
Being faced with the prospect of requiring care for yourself or a loved one can be daunting. It is well documented that the cost of care is expensive and must be paid for even by those with modest assets or savings (currently £23,250 in England for the tax year 2018/19). However, there are several steps […]
Brick in the wall
I consider the UK State Pension to be a key component of my clients’ secure income in retirement. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of recent and expected amendments to this benefit to assist with the mapping out of a personalised financial plan. There have been a number of major changes over the last […]
The risks of pension consolidation
Bringing together or consolidating the various pension plans that you have built up over your working life into one arrangement will always make sense. Won’t it? Amalgamating two, three or more pension funds into one might have its merits such as taking advantage of changes in legislation, one tailored investment approach which is aligned with […]
Do I need to reposition my investments prior to 29th March 2019, BREXIT?
Often the inference of this question is that the current investment strategy is not or will not be fit for purpose post the UK exiting the EU. The investment portfolios that we put together for our clients will cover all the four asset classes, broken down into shares both in the UK and overseas, cash, […]
