Public sector strikes and wage inflation: Are they keeping UK inflation higher than expected?
Inflation in the UK has been rising sharply in recent months, reaching a 40-year high during 2022 and 2023. There are several factors that have contributed to this, including the war in Ukraine, rising energy prices, and supply chain disruptions. However, two factors that have received less attention are the public sector strikes and wage […]
Summer is coming… things to do for free, now the sun is out!
The increases in the cost of living over the last 18 months (inflation) is making it difficult for many people to afford to do the things they enjoy. This could include holidays, eating out, cinema, the gym, etc. This is particularly true if you have a family where you may be adding up the costs […]
Make hay whilst the sun shines on Pensions, you could save £20,000 more a year!
HMRC has recently increased the pension annual allowance from £40,000 to £60,000. This change could have a significant impact on the retirement planning of many people, especially high earners (anyone earning over £40,000). The annual allowance is the amount of money that can be contributed to a pension each tax year while still receiving tax […]
How much should financial advice cost?
Since 2012 it should be far easier and clearer for you to know exactly what you are paying for in terms of advice, both upfront and ongoing. Sadly, this is not always the case. Wingate have long held a clear fee charging structure which does not include commission as we believe this is the fairest […]
What is your nominated retirement date?
Like most people I speak to, you probably do not know. The concept of a “retirement date” has change massively over the last 10 years. Particularly since changes in how you can access your pension were announced in 2015, sometimes referred to “pension freedoms”. As less and less employers in the private sector offer final […]
How is a redundancy payment taxed?
How is a redundancy payment taxed? Following on from my previous blog based around redundancy and whether retiring was viable, one of the first questions people ask is ‘is my redundancy pay taxable?’. A redundancy payment can be made up of many elements and each will either be tax-free or taxable. So, what is tax-free? […]
Should I save for my children’s (or grandchildren’s) university costs or should they take the student loan?
I have two young children and this question and I have wondered if I should save for their university costs over the recent years. I also get this question from three distinct sets of clients: Grandparents who want to pass money to their family / grandchildren. Parents who want to save for their children’s futures. […]
Adapting to change
Simon and Simon, two of our advisers discuss the impact recent relaxations of lockdown rules may have on client meetings, as well as the future of face to face advice.
Lifetime ISA vs Pension
If you are finding that you have excess cash within your monthly budget, there is value in saving this money for your longer term future. In this article I have considered two tax efficient “wrappers” that, depending on your circumstances, could significantly enhance any savings you able to make by virtue of tax relief. Before […]
Adapting to change
Simon and Simon, two of our advisers discuss the impact recent relaxations of lockdown rules may have on client meetings, as well as the future of face to face advice.
