Independent Contractors: How We Work
Holistic financial planning The first thing we do is look at the bigger picture. We will consider all aspects of your life, not just your finances, so that we have a deep understanding of where you are, how you got there, and what it is that you want to achieve. Once we understand your goals […]
Independent Contractors: Some Things To Think About
Risk Risk, in the context of investments, often refers to the degree to which short term investment returns will deviate from the longer-term average, and is commonly measured in terms of volatility. It is important to understand the level of risk you are comfortable with. If you take a small amount of risk the expected […]
Independent Contractors: You Have Options
Accumulate cash or invest your wealth? One option that many Contractors take (possibly due to inertia) is to simply allow funds to accumulate in the business. This is low risk (the Financial Services Compensation Scheme guarantees cash deposits up to £85,000 per banking institution so long as you qualify as a ‘small business’) but, consequently […]
Advice for Independent Contractors
We are used to dealing with Contractors at Wingate Many of my clients are City professionals specialising in Technology, Finance or Project Management. Typically they work for large Investment Banks on a short-term contract basis, due to the nature of their work, and the flexibility this provides senior management. In most cases they will have […]
How might a reduction in tax on death benefits benefit you?
I wrote how I embraced the new flexibilities that are proposed to be afforded to pensioners in April 2015. Today saw a publication from gov.uk on the abolition of 55% tax charges on pension funds on death. The headlines are: The current effective penalty on funds from which an income and/or lump sum (“crystallised” benefits) will […]
Wingate Financial Planning has been awarded the Investors in People Gold standard
Wingate Financial Planning has been awarded the Investors in People Gold standard, joining the top 7% of accredited organisations across the UK who believe in realising the potential of their people. Wingate Financial Planning was established in 2008 and is an award winning firm of Chartered Financial Planners based in Caterham, Surrey who help individuals […]
Government Slash State Pension Deferral Accrual Rate
Steve Webb, the Pensions Minister, announced on Monday 22nd July 2014 that individuals who look to postpone their retirement beyond the State Pension Age would receive 5.8% per annum for each year deferred, which is a reduction from the current rate of 10.4%. For those who can afford to defer their State Pension, it is […]
A Current Summary of 2015’s Pension Freedoms
In March 2014 the Chancellor, George Osborne, announced that he would introduce significant new defined contributions pension flexibility. Announcements made this week give further detail to these flexibilities, and what we presently know is highlighted below. It should be noted that this is subject to final law, and therefore potentially will change, but given the obvious […]
Pensions freedoms shouldn’t increase property prices (but may well do so)
There has been near-universal applause given to the pension liberation changes introduced in the Budget. These are currently under consultation and it is notable that they are set to increase tax revenues by £3 billion over the next five years in increased income tax. Savills have suggested that £10 billion of pension funds (link paywalled) could enter the […]
Could you join us?
2013-2014 saw our best ever year, and we thank our clients and professional connections for propelling us to even greater success. With the partial retirement of Douglas Flower, and the successful integration of Francis Townsend & Hayward (Financial Services), we are delighted to announce the creation of positions for two new advisers. Since 2008 the business […]
