Category: Pensions
In this month’s Focus we are taking the opportunity to … err … Focus … on why you should check your National Insurance Contribution situation and State Pension entitlement and, if eligible, consider topping up your NICs. We also suggest you do this before next April. First because you can usually only go back six… 
Our Focus this month is an important reminder for all those who are members of a pension scheme – whether a personal pension plan or a company defined benefit scheme. Below, we focus on several key areas. Annual Allowance Your Annual Allowance is based on your earnings and other income and is currently capped at…
Income Tax – The personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000 * Consider transferring income yielding assets to a spouse or civil partner to maximise your allowances. Capital Gains Tax – The annual exemption for 2019/20 is £12,000 * Married couples and civil partners can consider transferring assets to…
There was scarcely a mention of the ‘P’ word in October’s Budget speech (believe us, we were listening closely for it!). However, we had a good read of the accompanying ‘Red Book’ looking for any mention of pensions. At 106 pages, this was no mean feat. Fortunately, though, it was time well spent as some…
This Focus is necessarily somewhat longer than usual. It holds a very important message for anyone who is a member of a pension scheme. It is based on our understanding of taxation matters that involve quite complex rules. Money Purchase Pension Schemes – Death Benefits As discussed in our October 2017 Focus (recent Focuses can…
The pensions lifetime allowance (LTA), the amount savers can place in their pension pot and still claim tax relief, is now down to £1m – down from £1.8m when it was set just five years ago in 2011-12. Any savings in excess of the LTA will potentially attract tax at 55%! So is it the…
Financial Planning Berkshire: With its head office in Newbury Berkshire, Barry Fleming & Partners has grown from a tax advisory background into a broader business that encompasses investment management. Both things matter for wealth management, retention and creation. That expertise makes the company strikingly different from others. This capability allows Barry Fleming and Partners…
Budgeting for retirement can be more difficult than budgeting whilst you’re still working. Some costs may increase, such as heating your home, and you’ll have to work out exactly how much income you will be receiving from your pension. The average British wage is about £26,000 – to replicate that in retirement you’d need a…
According to a recent article in the Daily Telegraph, drawing on data from the International Longevity Centre (ILC) and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), baby boomers are a “frugal not frivolous” generation, with the data revealing that people in their sixties and seventies are saving nearly twice as much money as thirty and forty-year…
Recent HSBC research identified four broad actions which may help today’s retirement savers to create an informal plan and work towards a better financial future for themselves. 1. Be realistic about your retirement aspirations The research indicates that more than half of retirees (53%) have been unable to realise at least one of their hopes…