How the housing market must change to meet new needs
The arrival of the summer months is usually a busy time for estate agents. However, it seems that the market is being held back by a lack of supply. In their April survey, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reports that there is a marked lack of property for sale, with each estate agent having […]
What families need to know about the residence nil-rate band
April 2017 sees the introduction of a new Inheritance Tax (IHT) nil-rate band that is available in addition to an individual’s own nil-rate band of £325,000. It covers the main residence (or other qualifying property the deceased had lived in) when it is passed to descendants. The new Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) will apply […]
Pension savers set to miss out on unclaimed tax relief
Are you in a Defined Contribution Pension, such as a Stakeholder Pension or Personal Pension, or a SIPP? If you’re a higher rate taxpayer, you could be missing out on free cash because you haven’t claimed the correct tax relief on your pension contributions. This would be a shame, as tax relief on contributions represents […]
Investment risk and volatility – how to keep your cool
With interest rates currently at very low levels, and inflation starting to climb, savers aren’t seeing great returns. So, many are considering putting their money into the stock market. However, adjusting to a world where stock prices can rise and fall, often by a wide margin on just one day, can take a bit of […]
Does how you invest reflect your generation?
The way we view our savings and investment reflects when we were born, to a remarkable degree. Those aged 51 to 70 (Baby-Boomers), for instance, are more likely to feel that they have been particularly lucky with their cash. This generation saved hard for the future, and relied less on loans and credit card borrowing. […]
Why diversifying your assets could be the best strategy for 2017
As the government begins the process of leaving the EU, this year looks likely to mark a significant watershed for the UK economy and its relationship with the rest of Europe. On the international stage, there is considerable uncertainty about what the Trump administration will mean for business and trade, both in the US and […]
Happy 5th birthday to the junior ISA
Last November, the Junior Individual Savings Account (JISA) celebrated its 5th birthday. In the 2015-16 tax year alone, over £920m was paid into 738,000 accounts, and the average amount saved was £1,248 per account. JISAs have proved very popular as a means of saving tax-efficiently, not least because once they have been set up by […]
Power of attorney – why numbers are rocketing
There has been a huge rise in the number of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) created, prompted no doubt by 2016 figures showing that dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have overtaken heart disease and cancer to become the biggest cause of death in the UK. Figures for the first eight months of 2016 show that there […]
The peace of mind that protection policies can provide
A recent study shows that many families are overlooking the benefits that protection insurance policies can provide and the peace of mind they can bring. Life cover may be one of those things you’ve been meaning to sort out for a while but haven’t yet ticked off your list. It’s undoubtedly one of the most […]
Does it make sense to combine your pension pots?
The days when people began their careers with one employer and stayed there until they retired are long gone. It’s estimated that depending on where you live, people now have an average of between six and 11 different jobs during their careers. This can mean that over the years they end up with pension entitlements […]