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The Property Gifting Cheat Sheet: Keep It in the Family, Cut the Tax
Thinking about gifting a property to your kids? It’s something we hear a lot, especially from parents who’ve built up wealth in their home and want to help the next generation. But handing over a house isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Between inheritance tax rules and tricky timeframes, a well-meant gift can come with […]
Posted in Financial Planning, IHT Planning
Can Your Home Pay for Its Own Makeover?
Dreaming of a kitchen extension or a new bathroom? With savings squeezed and costs climbing, many homeowners are asking the same question: Can I use my mortgage to fund it? If your property’s value has gone up, you might have untapped equity sitting in your walls, and yes, that could mean your home can help […]
Posted in Mortgage
Mortgage Overpayments vs. Building Wealth: What’s the Smarter Move?
Overpaying your mortgage feels like a win, and it can be. But in 2025, when interest rates are high at 4.25%, investment returns are bouncing back, and tax rules are shifting under your feet, the question isn’t just “Should I overpay?” It’s “What’s the smartest place for my money right now?” Let’s zoom out and […]
Posted in Mortgage
5 Tax-Free Ways to Gift Money in 2025 Without Triggering the Taxman
Thinking of giving your kids a bit of help with their deposit? Or slipping your grandkids some cash for uni? Just make sure HMRC doesn’t turn it into an accidental tax trap. Fortunately, there are several perfectly legal ways to give financial support without creating a future inheritance tax headache. And in 2025, with frozen […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Your 50s Financial Game Plan: 5 Moves to Make Before Retirement Hits
You’re in your 50s. Retirement’s not here yet, but it’s not some abstract idea either, it’s getting real. These next ten years could be the most powerful for shaping your post‑work lifestyle. Whether you’re behind, on track, or flying ahead, this is the time to get strategic. And no, it’s not about chasing some impossible […]
Posted in Pensions
How to Get the Most Out of Your Adviser in 2025
You’ve got a financial adviser on your side; great move. But here’s a question worth paying attention to: are you getting the most out of that relationship? Like a good GP or personal trainer, your adviser can only work with the information you give them. The better the input, the sharper the outcome. This certainly […]
Posted in Financial Planning
No Pension Panic: Here’s Your Retirement Backup Plan
Just as we’re settling into the 2025/26 tax year, the retirement headlines are heating up again. Government chatter about raising the State Pension age to 68, sooner than planned, has sparked fresh anxiety, especially for those born in the late 1960s and early 1970s. And understandably so, because if the rules shift, and access gets […]
Posted in Financial Planning, Pensions
Cash at 5% – Too Good to Pass Up, or a Long-Term Trap?
It’s been a while since savings accounts turned heads, but here we are: 5% AER on easy-access cash. It feels like a win, finally, your money’s earning something without lifting a finger. But before you go stuffing every spare pound under the metaphorical mattress, it’s worth asking: is this the smartest move for your long-term […]
Posted in Financial Planning
New Tax Year, New Rules: Adjusting Your Wealth Strategy in 2025
Just a few months into the new tax year, and already we’re seeing a different landscape – one where familiar tactics may now leave you exposed. If you’re sitting on investments outside of ISAs or pensions, or haven’t reviewed your portfolio since April, this might be your early warning. CGT changes are biting. Exemptions are […]
Posted in Financial Planning
August Advantage: Why This Month Could Be the Best Time to Remortgage in 2025
August is a funny month. The weather’s decent (most of the time), the inbox quietens down, and if you’re a homeowner with a mortgage deal expiring soon, it might just be the month to act. With lenders adjusting rates and fewer people applying, this quieter corner of summer could give you a rare window to […]
Posted in Mortgage