If you struggle to navigate the UK’s Inheritance Tax regime, you are not alone. Whether you are setting up your estate planning or sorting out the estate of a departed family member, the system can be hard to follow. Getting your planning wrong could also...
Most over-45s are not making plans to match their hopes for the future, according to research from Standard Life[1]. The vast majority (86%) of those aged 45 or over are already dreaming about escaping their working life for retirement, but only 8% of the same...
We’ve now entered a new age of retirement planning with the introduction of pension freedoms. Your retirement is likely to be the most important time in your life you’ll even plan for – you could be retired for 20 years or more....
Despite efforts by the Government to tackle the savings gap through auto-enrolment and raising the pensions age, challenges still exist. People are living longer, many would rather spend today rather than save for tomorrow, and few know how much they actually have tucked away. Separately,...
Experts are widely predicting that The Bank of England Base Rate will rise on 2nd November 2017 for the first time in many years. Many of us will see our mortgage repayments rise as a result of this, especially if you are currently based on your...
UK pension system is sustainable but inadequate It’s been estimated that 18% of earnings need to be saved each year to achieve an adequate income during retirement, an International Longevity Centre (ILC) report has concluded. It said the contribution level, which is nine times higher than current...
The new IHT Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) was introduced in April 2017. It is in addition to an individual's normal inheritance tax nil rate band of £325,000. An estate will be entitled to the RNRB if the: individual dies on or after 6 April 2017 ...
How certain innate behavioural traits influence our decision-making With historic ultra-low interest rates on savings, many investors over the past decade have turned to income-paying funds as an alternative to cash-based savings. Changing life plans and priorities mean we now encounter varying income needs and goals...
How will it affect your retirement plans? Will you be one of the millions of workers who will have to work an extra year before retiring after the Government announced that it would be extending the retirement age to 68? New plans announced in July this year...
Dads putting their family’s financial security at risk if the unexpected were to happen What would happen to you and your family in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as the diagnosis of a serious illness or premature death? Worryingly, research from Scottish Widows reveals that...