Latest News & Views
115% Tax Relief
It really is possible to get more money back in tax relief than what you put into a pension. There are a few ways you can ‘play’ the system and be super tax efficient especially using all the allowances available to you as a family. Here are a few examples where...
You Have Probably Got Investment Risk All Wrong
If I asked you what you thought investment risk was, there’s a good chance you will say it’s the chance of you losing money. Research commissioned by Scalable Capital and conducted by YouGov in 2017 found that a Cash ISA was the most popular savings vehicle after...
When To Sell An Investment
When to sell an investment is just as important as when to buy an investment. Remember you don’t make or lose anything when you buy an investment. You make a gain or loss when you sell. Have you seen large rises in the value of your investment in the last year or...
Taking Your Pension Early To Avoid The Lifetime Allowance Charge
I am speaking to more and more clients wanting to avoid the lifetime allowance charge. It’s understandable. The lifetime allowance charge can involve some big numbers. A 25% or 55% tax charge at the point you retire isn’t a nice prospect. A few weeks back I...
Why It’s Best To Use Your ISA Allowance At The Start Of The Tax Year
It’s usually best to use your ISA allowance at the start of the tax year and in case you didn’t know, we have just entered a new one. This will ensure you keep more of your investment return. If you want to keep your options open then don’t worry, a recent ISA rule...
Contributing To A Pension After Retirement
Contributing to a pension after retirement is still perfectly possible and in fact could be very prudent in terms of your overall planning. Reducing work or stopping work all together is likely to restrict the amounts you can save so it’s important you are aware of...
Avoiding The Pension Lifetime Allowance Test At Age 75
Even though you may be retired and receiving your pension, everyone is still subject to pension lifetime allowance test at age 75. The lifetime allowance tax charge can be significant, potentially resulting in a big dent in your pension funds. It’s important to...
Keeping Fit In Retirement
Keeping fit in retirement is likely to ensure you can enjoy your time as you move into the third stage of your life rather than being uncomfortable. According to the Office For National Statistics, a male aged 60 has an average life expectancy of 87 years and a 25%...
What The World’s Greatest Investor Teaches Us About Investing
Warren Buffett is, I believe, the world’s greatest investor. I certainly can’t find anyone that comes close to his record. The good news for investors and long term wealth creators like us is that every year he writes a letter to his company shareholders. Being a...
How The Budget 2021 Impacts Your Retirement Planning
So on Wednesday 3rd March 2021, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak stepped up and delivered the Budget 2021, the second Budget of his reign. It’s been a busy few years for Mr Sunak, having only become an MP in 2015. At least he had a bit more time to prepare for this...
5 Benefits Of Consolidating Your Pensions
As you approach retirement one of the biggest jobs you will probably need to consider is whether you should be consolidating your pensions. There are some great benefits to consolidating your pensions but also a few things you need to check before you do. Why...
Bitcoin And Cryptocurrency
So Bitcoin and cryptocurrency more generally. There has been a lot written about it in recent times which in itself tells you something (more on that later) but if you haven’t already, should you be considering investing in it? After all, the price of one...
Focusing On Income Not Capital In Retirement
I read a great article recently from US Financial Adviser Michael Lynch where he talks about how people spend more time worrying about the fluctuations of their investments rather than the income generated from them. As he rightly points out, we live on income, not...
Inheritance Tax On ISAs
Many people believe that an ISA is free of all taxes but unfortunately your estate may still pay Inheritance Tax on ISAs when you die. Along with pensions, ISAs can play a fundamental part of producing a sustainable income in retirement. But unlike pensions, the...
Retirement Spending And Long Term Care
When planning for retirement and calculating your sustainable income in retirement, the future implications of long term care can be a worry. Do you save some of your capital to cover long term care costs in the future at the expense of a reduced income in...
What A New US President Means For Your Investments
Former US President Bill Clinton once said…. “It may be disappointing, but I think it is neither prudent nor appropriate for any president to comment on the hour-by-hour or the day-by-day movements of the market.” Clearly former President Trump didn’t agree and...
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