Author: Lloyd Kafton
Are You in the £2,000 Pension Trap? What the 2029 Salary Sacrifice Cap Means for Higher Earners
A quiet but important change to pension rules is coming in April 2029, and if you’re contributing to your pension through salary sacrifice, it’s worth understanding how it might affect you. From that date, only the first £2,000 per tax year of pension contributions made via salary sacrifice will be exempt from National Insurance. Employer […]
Posted in Pensions, Retirement Planning
The ISA Rule Change Coming in 2027 And What It Means for Your Savings
A major ISA shift is scheduled for April 2027, and it will matter to anyone under 65 who prefers to keep the bulk of their allowance in cash. From that date, only £12,000 of the annual £20,000 allowance can be paid into a cash ISA. Anything beyond that will need to go into an investment-type […]
Posted in Investments
Autumn Budget 2025: What It Means for Your Money and Financial Plans
The Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, announced on 26 November 2025, focused on long-term financial discipline, with changes that will be felt by higher earners, investors and homeowners over the coming years. While the main income tax thresholds are frozen rather than rising, and several investment tax rates are going up, many people could end up paying […]
Posted in Financial Planning
The Financial Gap Few Families Plan For: What Happens If You Can’t Work for a Year?
It’s easy to assume the biggest financial risk is what happens if we’re no longer here. That’s why so many people take out life insurance. But for many families, the more immediate challenge is something else entirely, losing your income while you’re still alive. An illness or injury that keeps you off work for months […]
Posted in Insurance
The £500 Mistake: Why Dividend Allowance Cuts Are a Bigger Deal Than You Think
You haven’t changed your investments. But suddenly, you’re paying more tax. The culprit? A quiet but significant change to the dividend allowance, now slashed to just £500, that’s catching many income investors and semi-retirees off guard. If you hold income-producing investments outside an ISA or pension, this small shift could mean a bigger tax bill […]
Posted in Financial Planning
The 2026 Buyer’s Curveball: Why Your Deposit Isn’t the Only Thing That Matters
You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: “Save for the deposit.” And sure, it matters. But in 2026’s shifting mortgage market, it’s far from the whole story. Buyers focusing only on deposit size could be missing the bigger picture that actually decides whether you get the deal (or the keys). Your Credit Profile Carries […]
Posted in Mortgage
Why You Don’t Need £60k to Make the Most of Your Pension
When people hear they can contribute up to £60,000 a year into their pension, many immediately tune out. “That’s miles out of my league,” they think. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to hit that limit, or even get close, to make a real difference to your retirement. Even modest contributions can grow meaningfully […]
Posted in Pensions
The Advice-Only Mistake: Why Execution Matters Just as Much as the Plan
You’ve got the plan. The recommendations are clear, the goals are mapped out, and the next steps look achievable. But without support to implement them, even the best advice can end up gathering dust. At Cedar House, we believe good financial advice doesn’t stop at the “what”, it continues through the “how.” A smart strategy […]
Posted in Financial Planning
What Happens to Your Pension When You Die? Why 2025 Is the Year to Recheck Your Nomination
Pensions don’t automatically follow your will. Most defined contribution pensions (the kind you build through personal or workplace plans) pass on according to your nominated beneficiary form, not your estate. If you haven’t nominated anyone, or your nomination is out of date, the pension provider may use discretion to decide where the money goes. That […]
Posted in Pensions
The £3,000 Gift Everyone Forgets to Use (And Why HMRC Loves That)
Every year, millions of people in the UK let a simple tax break slip through their fingers: one that could save their families thousands. The £3,000 annual gift allowance sounds modest, but used consistently, it’s a powerful way to reduce future inheritance tax bills. The irony of it all is that most of us never […]
Posted in Financial Planning