Resources

When someone dies, Inheritance Tax needs to be considered. Without the right professional advice and careful financial planning, HM Revenue & Customs can become the single largest beneficiary of your estate following your death. To evaluate whether or not Inheritance Tax could become payable, all of your assets you hold at the date of death need to be valued, and reliefs and exemptions determined.

Reviewing your retirement date regularly as you get older makes real sense, and most modern pension plans enable you to change and update this date whenever you choose.

There are many things to consider when looking to protect your family and assets. Whatever your priorities are, the sooner you start thinking about IHT planning, the more you can do.

There’s a fundamental lack of awareness and understanding around Inheritance Tax, especially when it comes to how Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are treated after death. Given that some people have been able to amass over a million pounds in their ISAs, it’s an area where lack of knowledge could prove costly.

Even if retirement isn’t far away, there are steps you could take to increase your eventual retirement income. This applies both to your State Pension entitlement as well as to any personal or workplace pension pots. We’ve provided some areas to consider that you may wish to discuss with us to help you to meet your retirement goals.

Our life is an endless series of daily choices, and how we manage those choices determines the outcome of our life.
We all want financial freedom, but how will we achieve it? Financial goal-setting is the key to building wealth.

By the time we have been working for a decade or two, it is not uncommon to have accumulated multiple pension plans. There’s no wrong time to start thinking about pension consolidation, but you might find yourself thinking about it if you’re starting a new job or nearing retirement.

The world of investing can seem daunting. Whatever stage of life you’re at, we’ll guide you through the appropriate investment opportunities available to you. Every investor needs to ask themselves the same basic questions before getting started.

If you have accumulated a number of Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) over the years, keeping them all in one place could give you better control and help you save money. There’s a common misconception that you can’t move your existing ISAs from one provider to another. Transferring your ISAs doesn’t affect its tax-efficient status, but you should make sure that you don’t have to pay penalties or give up valuable benefits.

Retirement is a time for you to do the things you’ve always wanted. When considering your retirement income needs, you need to consider the types of events you would like to happen after you retire that may impact your budget. Thinking about these early could help you when you’re deciding the best way to take your pension savings.

An increasing number of middle-aged Britons are getting healthier as they exercise more and eat better than they did when they were younger. Over-40s are turning to healthier lifestyles, with more than half rating themselves as more health-conscious than they were in their mid-20s, according to new research. Read our factsheet for more.

A recent study by Citizen’s Advice found nine out of ten people would fail to spot common warning signs of a pension scam, such as unusually high investment returns, cold calling and offers of free financial advice. Read our factsheet for more information.

It's important to consider the tax implications of making financial decisions. The 2018/19 tax year is now upon us and a raft of new changes have come into force. The good news is that there is little change in the overall tax burden for basic-rate taxpayers. However, there are a number of areas that have changed that should be taken note of.

Read our summary of the Spring Statement here

Being more aware of the great things health allows us to do means we’re more likely to take care of the little things.

Half (49%) of retirees now say they view their post-work years as an exciting phase of life, with many using their free time to learn, see and experience new things.

Writing a Will may seem daunting – and with everything else we should be thinking about, it becomes just another chore on the to-do list. However, getting your affairs in order and planning what you want to pass on to loved ones – whether it’s while you’re alive or after you’ve passed away – is really important.

Unforeseen life events and circumstances can potentially impact your finances in a number of ways. Hundreds of thousands of people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, and it is becoming more common among those of working age.

An ISA is a tax-efficient investment wrapper in which you can hold a range of investments, including bonds, equities, property, multi-asset funds and even cash, giving you control over where your money is invested.

Read our factsheet for more information regarding the changes to the market conditions.

Retirement can mean different things to different people. Understanding how much it will take to provide an income for yourself and potentially a spouse, while also ensuring you are able to leave something behind for your loved ones after your death, is essential.

Older workers are finding themselves caught in a position of retirement roulette, as many are relying on external factors such as a downsizing, an inheritance or even a lottery win to be able to afford a comfortable retirement, according to Aviva’s latest Real Retirement Report.

Obtaining the right legal and financial guidance and support is vital when dealing with pensions (and indeed the other assets and financial issues) in the event of a divorce.

We have to decide whether we are prepared to watch our money erode away in saving accounts or try and grow our savings through investing.

The 2017/18 tax year ends on 5 April 2018, with the new tax year beginning the following day, on 6 April. These are important dates for financial planning, so it’s important you don’t miss the chance to make the most of valuable tax-efficiencies and allowances. Read our factsheet for more information.

The importance of taking financial advice when it comes to tax planning it becoming more essential and can never be overestimated – and the sooner you start planning, the better for you.

Whatever you’re putting money aside for, there’s likely to be a role for Individual Saving Accounts (or ‘ISAs’). Low interest rates on cash savings since the financial crisis have meant that many savers have turned to the markets in the hope of achieving a better return.

It’s important to set aside money for the future and protect it from inflation, whether it’s a rainy day fund to cover unexpected events or for longer-term goals.

Choosing an independent school is a serious investment. Recent figures show that average boarding school fees stand at over £30,000 a year, with day-only attendance costing more than £17,000. These fees continue to rise, last year increasing by 3.5% compared to 2015

The Government said the introduction of a new Lifetime Individual Savings Account (LISA) will help young people save flexibly for the long term throughout their lives. The aim is to help them simultaneously save for a first home and for their retirement, without having to choose one over the other.

It is impossible to consider retirement, and our experience of it, without also considering how we’ll pay for it. But almost 30% of people over the age of 55 are unsure if they will be able to retire on their current savings, according to new research.

Does it feel like your savings aren’t earning as much as you’d like? You’ve worked hard for your money – now investing can get your money working harder for you.

What is cryptocurrency? There has been a lot of excitement and news surrounding cryptocurrencies. This factsheet will explain what bitcoin is, why it is so prevalent in todays news, and our views on cryptocurrency.

Have you made your New Year’s resolutions? Considering that the most common topics are health and finances, there’s a pretty good chance that at least one of them involves a financial goal

The average cost of living in a nursing home in the UK is £866 a week. With an ageing population it is vital that you know the facts surrounding care homes. Read our factsheet for more information regarding care costs.

The stock market can be very volatile at times. Fluctuations in prices can mean holding out on selling your investments can be very difficult. However, in these circumstances patience is key. Read our factsheet regarding Long-term investments for more information.

A Self-Invested Personal Pension is a type of pension called a ‘defined contribution pension’ that allows you access to a wider choice of investments when it comes to saving for your retirement. Please read our factsheet for more information on a SIPP.

It can be very hard to discuss money or death with family members. owever, it is always best to have a plan in place so that you know everything is in place. ead our factsheet for more on Inheritance Tax.

Pensions should play an important part in everyone's long-term financial planning, so ensure that you make the most of any employer's contriburions. Read our factsheet to ensure you have enough saved to keep doing the things you love. 

Research has found that 73% of cohabiting families do not have a life insurance policy, compared to 56% of married couples. This is leaving thousands at risk as cohabiting couples do not enjoy the same rights as married couples. Read our factsheet to learn more about life insurance and protecting your family.

Handing a family business to the next generation is a major process, from selecting and developing the successors to protecting the brand reputation and retaining knowledge. Read this factsheet to help develop a personal financial plan so that you can meet your long-term goals.

Making sure you have enough money in retirement is likely to be at the heart of planning for your retirement. Read this factsheet to find out more about setting a plan to help you achieve your retirement goals.

No matter what your personal circumstances, it is vital to ensure you have an appropriate plan in place to protect your finances. Read this factsheet to find out more about how to protect yourself and your family.

The rules around Inheritance Tax changed from 6 April 2017 with new introductions to rules on passing down wealth. Read our Inheritance Tax Change factsheet to place control over what happens to your assets after your death.

Thousands of people have at least one pension that they have forgotten about. Read our factsheet about forgotten pensions to consider what to do if you think you have a fogotten pension