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Weekly Financial Update – 02.07.2020
Just as retail shops were starting to open in England we found out that Intu, owner of a number of large shopping centres, went into administration. This means an uncertain future for those shops that operate in these centres. We also feel for those of you in...
Pension Contributions And The 50% Return
If you’re a higher rate tax payer then making pension contributions can give you an instant 50% return on your investment. What other investment does that?! Do you know if you qualify? Find out how the 50% return works and what you need to do to ensure you get...
Weekly Financial Update – 25.06.2020
At the end of last week we found out that the UK national debt now totals more than 100% of our GDP (our entire economy). This is the first time this has happened in over 60 years. Of course it was to be expected with the huge amount of spending the government is...
Best ISA Option For You
When it comes to ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) there are now 5 different types, but which is the best ISA for you? Did you know that in some circumstances you can actually save and invest more than the current £20,000 annual ISA limit? There are some key...
Weekly Financial Update – 18.06.2020
Global stock markets had a bit of a wobble at the end of last week. The FTSE 100 saw a drop of nearly 4% leading some to think this was the start of the final phase of the bear market and a prolonged period of losses. This all came about because of update from the US...
Investment Risk Just Before Retirement
Over many years it was considered appropriate to reduce your investment risk just before retirement. After all, if you are soon to be taking money out of your pension fund, it’s logical to want to protect its current value to maximise those withdrawals. But there...
An Insurance Return Could Be Better Than An Investment Return In Retirement
Did you know that there can be circumstances when an insurance return, as in the lump sum payout from an insurance policy, can be better than the return you get from investing. For example, if you have a lump sum available to invest or excess cash that you want to...
Why Now Is The Time To Re-Start Pension Contributions
Have you recently stopped your pension contributions as a result of business or job insecurity? Perhaps you’re employed and have reduced the amount you personally pay into your pension? Or perhaps you’re self-employed or a company owner and have stopped pension...
10 Reasons Why You Should NOT be Opting Out of the NHS Pension
It appears many Consultants and senior NHS staff are opting out of the NHS Pension which means they are leaving the scheme. This in turn means they lose future benefits. The main reason for this is the increase in tax bills many are facing as a result of a change to...
Entrepreneurs Relief Changes: What You Need To Know
Entrepreneurs Relief can be a very useful tax relief when it comes to selling your business. However recent changes have massively reduced the benefit of this relief. These changes, which were announced in the Budget back in March, have gone a bit under the radar...
Weekly Financial Update – 28.05.2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buds0zLxqNk&t=2sLast week I spoke about the huge bill the UK government is facing by trying to support jobs through the pandemic. Every week we find out a little bit more. The UK’s net debt at the end of April stood at 98% of GDP....
Weekly Financial Update – 21.05.2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FopU1WXCxnE&t=15sThe situation is becoming more difficult if you are planning to review and possibly transfer your defined benefit (final salary pension). A quarter of these pension schemes are suspending the calculation of transfer...
Leaving Everything In Order
Investing is never 100% certain but when it comes to death, it’s 100% certain you are going to die at some point, and you can only be 100% certain now to get everything in order. Tomorrow may never come. Without sounding too depressing we don’t know what’s around the...
Weekly Financial Update – 14.05.2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJQTr33VJ5Y&feature=emb_titleThe level of unemployment now in the US is truly staggering. The amount of jobs fell by 20 million during April. To put this into perspective this is the same amount of job losses that were lost in every...
5 Reasons Why Now Is The Best Time To Review Your Finances
You may not review your finances regularly and I realise you may have other priorities right now. However, if you and your family are safe and well, you may have more time on your hands to have a look at things. It’s not just the fact you may have extra time. With...
Sustainable Pension Withdrawals
When you hit retirement you are going to need sustainable pension withdrawals. If your pension withdrawals are not sustainable it is going to mean a very difficult retirement. You may have to move home, go back to work or worst, not do the things you love and...
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