News

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 Robin Carnaby 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

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

Protecting your financial wellbeing is every bit as important as taking measures to improve your physical health, says Robin Carnaby of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) have announced another increase to their Premium Bond customers, who are set to get a welcome New Year boost, with an increase to the prize fund rate from 2.20% to 3.00%.

Those approaching retirement and worried about market volatility affecting their pension pots don’t need to panic, says Chris Egmore of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

National Pension Tracing Day, 30th October 2022.

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) have announced that from 1 October 2022 there will be millions of pounds added to Premium Bond prizes. NS&I will increase the prize fund rate from 1.40% to 2.20%, adding an expected £76million to the prize fund.

We are seeing a lot of negative headlines regarding the financial markets, and it is natural to worry about your investments; however, history tells us that it is better to stay invested during these times, and not to sell out.

Cash savers are quietly celebrating, as a ‘rates war’ has broken out in the savings market - meaning savers are now getting a much better return on their money than what they were a year ago.

For most, the State Pension forms the foundation of their retirement planning.

2022 will be an important year for members of the NHS Pension Scheme to complete a ‘health-check’ of their membership.

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.

After two years of uncertainty due to Covid, most of us hoped that 2022 would bring a little calm and stability to the world. As we now know, world events have rather overtaken this wish, and once again we are plunged into a time of uncertainty and turmoil.

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

Over the last few days, tension has intensified between Russia and Ukraine. We wanted to take some time to position what’s happening between the two countries and what this could mean for investors.

In conjunction with Matthew Harrington, financial adviser for Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

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

In 2012, due to concern that the UK population weren’t taking adequate measures to save for their retirement, the Government took the radical measure of introducing auto-enrolment.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

The simple answer is that you can retire when you have adequate wealth to do so.

Following our article in October, where we advised that the State Pension had officially increased to age 66, we wanted to take this opportunity to position further changes announced around private pension access – that were shared in September.

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.

Starting a family is undeniably, a life changing event. Every aspect of life will change, as you know it, and this means that your financial priorities will too. Children have a unique way of draining your energy, and indeed, your finances. Luckily, there are ways to plan for this.

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