News

A delay in the publication of details on how pensions may fall into inheritance tax is no reason to put off IHT planning.

We need to be communicating better with young adults about the need to start saving for retirement.

The gender pension gap is a stark reality, and it's clear that multiple systemic factors contribute to the disparity.

In the current volatile investment climate, don’t believe everything you read online

Investors need to be keeping a calm head in the light of market volatility caused by the trade tariffs crisis, says Matt Harrington of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

The recent announcement by President Trump regarding significant increases in global trade tariffs has indeed caused considerable market turbulence.

Scott Hansell of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning says ISA reform is still on the Chancellor’s agenda, even though she made no mention of it in last month’s Spring Statement.

Stephen Metcalf of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning says that the Chancellor may prioritise ISA reform in her Spring Statement later this month – but is that a practical suggestion?

Scott Hansell of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning says that carefully planning how to split pension assets should be an important part of any divorce proceedings.

There are all sorts of reasons why you should be considering enhancing your pension pot before the new tax year starts in April.

A new platform can help those holding cash to maximise their returns while optimising their regulatory protection.

The new year is the perfect time to spring clean your finances, says David Haughton of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

Statutory Sick Pay is currently £116.75 per week.

The recent Budget has focussed attention on what happens to a pension when the pension holder dies.

You can take it as a lump sum, drawdown regular amounts or buy a fixed income with an annuity.

Advances in medical science, coupled with healthier lifestyles, means that average life expectancy continues to rise.  In the ten years from 2011 to 2021, average life expectancy grew from 80 to 81½.

Statutory Sick Pay is currently £116.75 per week.  That is less than a third of the weekly take-home pay of someone on the adult minimum wage.

There are two main reasons that people take out life insurance cover – but many should be considering it for other purposes.

A growing number of investors are seeking ways to invest tax-efficiently in places other than their pensions and ISAs, usually because they have already fully used their ISA allowances, and significant pension contributions have compounded over the years.

A growing number of investors are seeking ways to invest tax-efficiently other than through their pensions and Individual Savings Accounts (ISA). The reason being that those investors have fully used their ISA allowances and have significant pension contributions have compounded over the years. Pensions have a tax-efficient lifetime allowance, above which clients question why they should keep adding if they are going to get taxed later at a higher rate!

When should you start saving for your retirement? 

Stephen Metcalf of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning says that pension-holders should avoid any knee-jerk reactions to the Budget announcement that pensions will fall under inheritance tax from 2027.

The festive season is an excellent time to combine seasonal generosity with some inheritance tax planning.

If you become seriously ill, the very last thing you want are financial worries.

People tend to believe that the short-term volatility of the stock market makes it a risky investment, but here is an important fact:

In the 30 years between 1992 and 2022, the FTSE 100 outperformed the returns on cash investments by more than 4% annually – if you compound that growth, it amounts to a very significantly higher return over the long-term.

Everyone wants to pay less tax, and everyone likes a bonus – and saving in a pension meets both those aspirations.

Now the dust has settled on the Autumn Budget, we wanted to turn our attention to pensions and put to you - ‘do you know where all of your pensions are?’. If the answer to this question is no – it is never too late for a pension cleanse!

Thousands of people are missing Home Responsibilities Protection from their NI record.

Stephen Metcalf of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning welcomes a new FCA framework which will assess the performance of workplace defined contribution pension schemes.

One-to-one pension review appointments also on offer.

A leading firm of financial planners is giving people the chance to take a closer look at their retirement plans as part of Pension Awareness Week, which runs from 9^th-13^th September.

When it comes to personal protection, it is not often considered as a necessary expense.

A new tax year brings a brand new ISA allowance, which makes now a great time to consider your options, says Chris Egmore of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

Consolidating your investments with one adviser or financial manager brings a number of advantages, says Stephen Metcalf of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

Lovewell Blake Financial Planning, the financial planning division of Lovewell Blake, has announced that Stephen Metcalf and Scott Hansell have been appointed directors.

In the world of finance and investment, the concept of portfolio diversification plays a pivotal role. It is a strategy that forms the bedrock of prudent financial management and is often touted as one of the most effective ways to manage risk and maximise returns. In this article, we'll delve into the significance of portfolio diversification, the advantages it offers, and how a well-managed portfolio ensures a diversified set of investments.

Being nervous about market volatility shouldn’t be a reason not to invest, says.

The final part of our personal cashflow series looks at how the cashflow modelling tool is a robust way of predicting the impact of each financial decision.

Workplace pensions are a crucial aspect of financial planning in the United Kingdom, providing individuals with a means to secure their financial future during retirement. For employers and employees alike, understanding how workplace pensions work is essential. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive overview of workplace pensions, answering common questions and addressing key topics related to employers' and employees' pension contributions.

If you're a healthcare professional working in the United Kingdom, one of the most valuable benefits you receive is your NHS pension. It's crucial to understand how NHS pensions work, the contribution rates, and the potential financial value they hold.

In the first three parts we have introduced the concept of personal cashflow planning, and seen how it has helped Joe and his wife Jessie face unforeseen events, pay for their son Johnnie’s education, and stay on track for a comfortable retirement. In this part we see how the online planning tool can help them achieve that goal.

In parts one and two, we saw the value of personal cashflow planning for our case study, Joe. In this part, we find him married with a baby.

The death of a key person can be a dangerous time for a business, so it pays to protect against it, says Scott Hansell of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

Starting the year with a new job? It’s a great time to be reviewing your personal finances, says Trazer Farnese of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

In part one, we looked at the concept of personal cashflow planning, and how it can help people map out their financial futures In this part, we look at what happens when an unforeseen event disrupts the plan.

The rise of personal cashflow planning

For owner-managers of incorporated businesses, making employer pension contributions can be an extremely tax-efficient way of withdrawing cash from a business, says Scott Hansellof Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

Yesterday, you were busy working and today you are retired, what’s next?

Taking a midlife gap year can transform your life, but it needs careful planning.

During the Spring Budget 2023 the Government announced the removal of the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) and in the 2023/2024 tax year we have seen the LTA Tax Charge being abolished.

We are living in a world where it is not unusual for both individuals and groups to actively look for ways to reduce our impact on the environment. For example, ‘Just Stop Oil’ has carried out a series of high-profile protests, including recently disrupting play at Wimbledon and Lords.

The Charity Commission’s document aimed at charity trustees which gives guidance on investing charity money has been significantly updated.

For some, retirement might feel miles off, but the sooner you can start saving for it, the better.

Retirement has a habit of creeping up on you whilst you are busy getting on with your life, to the extent that we barely give it consideration until it is almost upon us.

High-profile protests by Just Stop Oil activists are making the headlines – but are they influencing investors, asks Andrew Spaxman of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

Soaring rates are bringing annuities back into fashion, says Richard Ince of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

The 2023 Spring Budget introduced a number of key changes to pension legislation, and in particular changes to the Lifetime Allowance.

With the rising cost of living, protecting your income has become increasingly important. So, what would you do if you were unable to work due to a long-term illness or injury and your income dropped, or worse, stopped?

The pensions measures in the recent Budget is good news for high earners, but there are still some uncertainties.

In the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022, he announced that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowances will be reduced from April 2023 and then further reduced from April 2024.

As part of the Autumn Statement 2022, the government is freezing Inheritance Tax (IHT) thresholds for an extra 2 years, until April 2028. This means that you could risk losing up to 40% of your estate.

In recent correspondence to members, the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) has set out details of proposed changes to the NHS Pension Scheme, aimed at introducing additional flexibility for members at retirement

When planning for retirement, it is all about trying to set aside sufficient funds to use in retirement whilst still leaving sufficient funds available to pay for everyday life and specific events that could occur. The 4% rule is a simple way to help you to manage your accumulated pension funds.

National Pension Tracing Day, 30th October 2022.

Firstly, that’s a great question. The simple answer is that you can retire when you have adequate wealth to do so. This can be a mixture of pensions, savings, investments, and property.

It’s never too early to start teaching young people about money, says Trazer Farnese of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

No matter if your business is small or large, three things that are often overlooked when running a business are; Pensions, Protection and Investments.

Diversification is of paramount importance in investment success, and one way to achieve it is by buying ‘Exchange Traded Funds’, or ETFs

Pension Freedoms was introduced in April 2015 and significantly changed the landscape of pensions and retirement. Ever since its introduction, there remains some misconceptions about what this really means, and the practical implications it has for individuals.

Many of us could be caught out by Inheritance Tax (IHT). Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be mega-rich to owe HMRC a chunk of money when you die. I think most of us would prefer as much as possible to go to our loved ones, rather than HMRC.

Pension tax relief can seem like an alien concept, but it pays to understand what it is and how you can make the most of it, up to certain limits.

Changes to pension annual allowance rates that were announced in this years budget, those who previously opted-out may now consider opting back in.

A pension scheme is a savings plan to help you put money aside for later life. It has favourable tax treatments when compared to other forms of savings.

Firstly, that’s a great question. The simple answer is that you can retire when you have adequate wealth to do so. This can be a mixture of pensions, savings, investments, and property.

Under the current ‘pension freedom’ rules, individuals over the age of 55 can access their pensions - how and when they choose to do so; however, the government has recently confirmed that this is set to rise to age 57, by 2028.

The difference between a perceived attitude to risk and actual capacity for loss can often be confused.

A tracker fund is a simple way of investing your money in company shares, bonds, and other assets.

In an ever more competitive employment market, employers are looking closer at the overall benefits they offer, beyond just salary.