Blog
Check out our latest thoughts and insights on a variety of financial topics
Should I defer my state pension?
Most people choose to draw their state pension as soon as possible – especially as the goalposts keep moving. The state pension age has changed every year since 1987, and it’s still on the move.
Can you afford the retirement you want?
More than 30% of people are facing a struggle during retirement, according to new research.
If you’re not currently feeling the “cost of living crisis”, you’re in the minority. The unhappy combination of high inflation, stealthily increased taxation and limited earnings growth is having far reaching effects. The crisis should pass in time, but as we’re in the depths of it we often forget that it was only just over two years ago (July 2021) that inflation was just 2.0% - the Bank of England’s target.
What not to do when interest rates are high
Your questions, answered by our experts.
Have you been wondering whether you should sell your investments to benefit from high interest rates in a savings account? Perhaps you’re seeing a 2% return on your investments, but you can get 6% in cash ISAs, and it feels sensible to cash out and enjoy the 6%. You can always buy equities again when the market has recovered – right?
Is the Bank of Mum and Dad in crisis?
One of the major providers of property finance is facing difficult questions thanks to rising mortgage rates.
There’s a group that’s estimated to have provided £8.8 billion of residential property finance to 170,000 first-time buyers in 2022 alone. They have no high street presence and no oversight from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or the Bank of England.
Smart saving: How to minimise your interest tax bill
You’re putting aside money regularly, your savings pot is growing, and you’re earning decent interest on it. But are you ready for the tax bill?
There’s a chance that the way you’re saving isn’t working in your best interest - pun intended. This is because the interest you earn in most savings accounts is subject to tax. The amount you’re taxed depends on your income, because you can earn an amount of interest tax-free, depending on your Income Tax band – this is called the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA).
4 ways to align your business and personal finances as an MD
Aligning your business and personal finances benefits your company and your lifestyle. There are plenty of ways to leverage your position as a Managing Director and/or business owner for the benefit of your personal financial goals (that make great business sense too). You can find four of them below.
Why are savings rates lower than the current interest rate?
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Report is here, and analysis reveals savers are being short-changed.
The weighty Monetary Policy Report is issued every three months by the Bank of England to set out the economic analysis and inflation projections that its Monetary Policy Committee uses to make their interest rate decisions. While that might sound like a cure for insomnia, it often includes some valuable insights into the Bank’s thinking and how UK plc is functioning.
Further delays to the Pension Dashboard Programme
Have you heard of the Pensions Dashboard Programme? Back in 2016, the Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority said; “[The Treasury] should challenge the industry to make a pensions dashboard available to consumers by 2019, bringing together industry and consumer representatives to help them set direction and drive progress.” This was in the wake of the introduction of pensions flexibility and the replacement of the old state pension scheme with the single-tier new state pension.
One month left for voluntary NICs...
If you’ve got gaps in your national insurance contributions (NICs) record, then mark 31st July on your calendar. This deadline serves as a reminder for you to consider making voluntary contributions.
Since the introduction of the new state pension in April 2016, several adjustments have been made to the rules regarding pension entitlement and NICs. Understanding these changes is essential to ensure you make informed decisions about your pension provision.
Are utility bills about to fall with return of Ofgem price cap?
An announcement in late May will herald a fall in gas and electricity bills from July. (Source: Ofgem, Cornwall Insights.)
Last year the Ofgem price cap rise dominated headlines with its 54% increase – from £1,277 a year to £1,971. This leap caused a flurry of government measures, including £150 council tax rebates, followed by a universal £400 payment and the introduction of an Energy Price Guarantee (EPG).
Father’s Day, later life care and sandwiches... (yes, really.)
First up, happy Father’s Day. To all the dads, grandads, dads-to-be, step-dads, biological dads, adoptive dads, and father figures – we appreciate you. Your role as any of these likely entails taking care of small to medium-sized humans – or fully grown adults – in one way or another. And while you’ve probably got some combination of feeding, watering, advising, supporting, and memory making down to a tee, you may not have thought about how later life planning fits in to the ‘dad’ of it all.
Will the bank deposit protection rise?
Is the maximum protection for bank deposits overdue for an increase?
The figure of £85,000 is one you might have regularly seen in articles (or some adverts) about bank deposits. It's the maximum deposit value in an authorised deposit-taking institution that is covered by the Financial Service Compensation Scheme (FSCS). If the deposit is in joint names, the £85,000 is doubled. However, there's a trap to watch out for – more than one bank may operate under the same banking license. For example, the Halifax’s license also covers the Bank of Scotland, Birmingham Midshires and St James Place Bank.
A long tax year for the self-employed
Calling all self-employed: Did you know that the 2023/24 tax year might be longer than you think?
If you’re self-employed, until 2023/24, you’ve normally been taxed on the profits made in the accounting year that ends in the tax year. For example, if your accounting year ran to 30 April, then in the last tax year, 2022/23, you’re taxed on the profits for your accounting year ending on 30 April 2022 – a few weeks after the start of the tax year.
An inheritance fit for a king
This weekend, King Charles will be coronated – and it’s got us thinking about inheritance. Behind all the pomp, pageantry, and Victoria sponge cake is a man inheriting his mother’s estate. And what an estate it is too.
Earth Day 2023: ‘Invest in our Planet’ with ESG
April 22nd marks Earth Day, the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. The theme of Earth Day 2023 is ‘Invest in our Planet’ - so naturally it caught our attention. As a firm of Independent Financial Advisers, ‘investing’ is core to our business. But did you know that you can invest in a sustainable future?
