Author: Dean
What Are “Death Duties” & Can Pension Freedoms Help Avoid Them?
“Pension Freedoms” certainly has a nice ring to it. When you hear it, most people think of the money they’ll be able to access in retirement as result of these government rules. Fewer people tend to think about inheritance tax… Even fewer still tend to consider reducing their pension spending… […]
Posted in Pensions
Taking Money From Your Pension: 5 Important Options
In this article, we’re going to talk about some of the options available to you when deciding how to take your pension money. There are no easy decisions here, and the pension landscape is complex and constantly changing. We therefore ask that you take this article as a guide to help you process […]
Posted in Pensions
Will You Work Into Your 70s, And Do You Want To?
Today, around 30% of British workers expect to work into their 70s. That’s more than twice the number of people who thought so in 2010. It’s not surprising many people hold this attitude. The government keeps pushing the state retirement age back, after all. Currently, if you are a man born before 6 […]
Posted in Pensions
Inheritance Tax In 2018: Big Changes You Need To Know About
Inheritance tax (IHT). It’s the tax that many people love to hate. It’s quite controversial, and complicated to understand. Yet grasping the essentials – and how IHT affects you – goes a long way to benefitting your loved ones in the future. In a nutshell, IHT is the tax levied on wealth transferred […]
Posted in Financial Planning
6 Changes To Pensions & Benefits In 2018 You Should Know About
April: the beginning of a new tax year. Naturally, lots of changes tend to come to pensions, tax and the overall economy at this time. Some of the highlights for 2018 include: Some good news for pensioners and students. Increased pension contributions for UK workers. More personal allowance for income tax. And […]
Posted in Financial Planning
Is It Too Late To Start Investing In Your 50s?
Your 50s are a crucial time for your finances. Men, for instance, will typically hit the height of their earning power within this age bracket (for women, it’s in their 40s). At the same time, it is possible to find more freebies which you might be able to use to save money. […]
Posted in Investments
The UK State Pension: The Worst of 35 OECD Countries
The UK is a great place to live for many people, and in many respects. However, one area where it is widely seen to perform poorly is the state pension available to retired people. A study by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) released a report towards the end of 2017 on […]
Posted in Pensions
GDPR Is Looming: Here’s What We’re Doing About It
Consent is a hugely important moral and legal value. This comes into particular focus when it comes to our personal data, such as our name, age, preferences, and especially our finances. Indeed, who has the right to know and hold onto this kind of information about us, and under which circumstances? What […]
Posted in Investments
Summer Budget Summary – 2015
George Osborne’s first post-election Budget provided much food for thought for pensions and financial services, and I wish to summarise some of the salient points as follow: 1. Reduction to the Annual Allowance for high earners The Government had actually announced before the Summer Budget that the Annual Allowance that applies to pension savings, […]
Posted in Richard's Words
Save your future: the importance of making private provisions for your pension
The UK State Pension pays out no more than £113 per week. In today’s economic climate, this is insufficient to meet the costs of living, including groceries, heating, utilities and clothing. One way to demonstrate this is to look at the Consumer Price Index. In June this year, for example, the CPI rose by a […]
Posted in Uncategorized