Pensions vs ISAs – which “tax wrapper” is better?
Many people get confused when talking about tax wrappers; such examples are (but not limited to) Pensions, ISAs, General (or Collective) Investment Accounts, and Investment Bonds. As a side note, the lattermost tax wrapper shares its name with an investment asset – the bond. A bond is a form of debt, but further explanation isn’t […]
How/when should I take from my retirement pot – the pitfalls of the 5% rule
This is a question that many people consider and may cause some level of concern. Individuals may decide to put off retiring for “just one more year” in an attempt to ensure they have enough money in their retirement pot. This may stem from the issue of not knowing how much is needed and what […]
The importance of assessing attitude to risk
We are all experiencing change at the moment, whether that is a change to the cost of living, change in legislation or a change in how we approach our attitude to risk. The latter may seem fairly low down the list of things to worry about at the moment but the ongoing assessment of someone’s […]
Return of the annuity
Purchasing a secure stream of income, an annuity, in recent years has often been dismissed by many people in favour of income drawdown. Income drawdown is a retirement option where you keep control of the pension fund and usually take an income of your choice from your pension fund that remains invested. With an annuity, […]
The Dilemma with ESG Investments and Our Investment Solution
In the last 10 years especially, consumers have become more aware of what they are buying and who they are buying from. This is demonstrated by people trying to use fewer plastic products and products which may be sourced unethically or have a negative social impact. As a result of media scrutiny, some company marketing […]
How your pension can help leave a legacy
Did you know that pensions can be a fantastic inheritance tax planning tool? Due to changes in legislation your beneficiaries are able to ‘inherit your pension’ rather than receive a lump sum. This means your pension remains outside of your estate for inheritance tax purposes, your beneficiary is then able to pass on any residual […]
Beware: Capital Gains Tax on Divorce
When splitting or passing assets on divorce capital gains tax (CGT) may not be an immediate consideration. The inter-spouse transfer exemption is commonly understood, however this exemption may only apply in the first tax year following separation, with separation usually being regarded by HMRC as the date a couple ceased to live together (with the […]
Take control of your finances
We are now in the middle of the summer with many people taking a week or two’s holiday and spending time with family, loved ones or friends. These annual breaks often give people time to reflect on what is important in their lives. This could be more “me time,” greater freedom to pursue existing hobbies, […]
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 […]
Conflict and the planet
Not only is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine a disaster from a humanitarian perspective which should not be belittled, it could also have a knock on effect on the wellbeing of the planet. Russia historically has been the world’s second-largest gas producer, making up 17% of global output. Until the introduction of recent sanctions, […]
