January is the month named for Janus, the Roman god who was depicted with two faces – one looking back and one looking to the future. And that is precisely what we should be doing now in respect of our financial planning. Successful financial planning is a cyclical activity. It is important to review your… 
If you or a member of your family is saving for a home through a Help To Buy ISA or know someone who is, it’s worth being aware of a planning opportunity that could boost your savings by an additional £1,100. But anyone hoping to take advantage of this opportunity needs to be quick, as…
Changes to inheritance tax (IHT) came in earlier this year, affecting the allowance for those wanting to pass on their home to members of the family. But as the changes are being rolled out over the next few years up to the 2020/21 financial year, it can be hard to know if and how the…
In 2015, under the Government’s Freedom and Choice pensions reform initiative, things changed radically for members of personal pensions plans. In this Focus we highlight Personal Pension Plan Death Benefits (i.e. not Occupational Pension Schemes) and point to just a few of the key issues that arise from those changes. Much depends on the age…
Not a vintage offering this, the last ever, Autumn Statement! Underwhelming for many, but there were some items on the vine that were worthy of harvesting regarding tax, savings, and pensions. Here are some that might affect you: – An increase in the tax-free personal allowance to £11,500 and the…
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…