THE government have introduced new flexibility for pension savers with small pension pots, allowing them to take their fund as a one-off lump sum rather than having to buy an income with it. HM Revenue & Customs estimates that this will affect around 25,000 people who are aged over 60, who have total pension rights [...]
More »Category : Financial advice
New Tax Year Planning
Daniel Clayden
05/04/2012
As we enter a new tax year, the big question has to be ‘What part of my finances should I be looking at right now?’ The overriding issue has to be making sure that your money does not leak away due to tax inefficiency, in other words ensuring that you don’t pay more tax than [...]
More »George Osborne’s ‘Reforming Budget’
Danny Cox
22/03/2012
George Osborne described this as the “reforming Budget” with the aim of stimulating the economy in part by reducing tax for lower earners and companies. It is important to put this Budget in context. The Budget deficit, the amount of new money we are borrowing year on year is falling but the total Public Sector [...]
More »Q & A with Karen Barrett – Money Management
Karen Barrett - Unbiased
19/03/2012
Karen Barrett, chief executive of adviser directory unbiased.co.uk, plans a tasty alternative career and says people’s love affair with houses is not over. What was your first ever investment? An Aberdeen technology ISA, which was absolutely the worst decision anyone could have made as it was just before the dotcom bubble burst. Where were you [...]
More »How to find the right ethical investment for you
Anna Sofat
16/03/2012
Most of us like to think we’re doing our bit for the environment, be it recycling or switching to energy-saving light bulbs, but now more than ever, investors are seeing the attraction in this area for their money. Ethical investments have been available for nearly three decades although it is only recently that they have [...]
More »Take Tax Action
Karen Barrett - Unbiased
02/03/2012
Lots of us – particularly in the current economic climate – have got our heads round having our loyalty cards with us when we’re out shopping, or searching online voucher sites for discounts before we head out for a meal. Checking prices online when making higher value purchases is second nature too and we’re all [...]
More »What to be aware of in the run up to the ISA season
Jason Witcombe
20/02/2012
Those who leave their ISA subscription until the end of the tax year will have the usual mad rush to get their investments made by 5th April, which falls on a Thursday this year, and the more organised amongst us will be wanting to get the applications in as early as possible in the 2012/13 [...]
More »Rise in State pension age: are you affected?
David Gow
13/02/2012
THE State pension was introduced a century ago when a quarter of working people died before they reached retirement and those who did drew it for an average of just five years. Today we’re all living much longer, so it’s not surprising that the State pension age is set to rocket. What’s changing? The State [...]
More »Pensions – cutting through the jargon
Tim Jones
06/02/2012
If pensions jargon leaves you confused, you aren’t alone. But jargon isn’t just annoying, our research tells us it’s one of the reasons people give for not saving for retirement. Recent research carried out for NEST by YouGov showed that one in three people are put off thinking about retirement planning because they find pensions [...]
More »What kids should know about money
Joss Harwood
30/01/2012
Our kids are accomplished consumers, bombarded by advertising, and it’s easy to learn how to spend money. Sadly there isn’t a culture of financial education in schools, which leads to an ignorance of financial planning that is anything but bliss for many young adults as reality kicks in. Action at home is required. First, rewind [...]
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