
Scams warning as self assessment deadline looms
HMRC is warning of scam attempts targeting self assessment taxpayers in the run up to the 31 January deadline.

Final call for voluntary National Insurance contributions
Taxpayers only have until 5 April 2025 to make voluntary National Insurance (NI) contributions for missed contributions dating back to 2006.

Are you aware of where all your pensions are?
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!

ISAs should be viewed as an ongoing opportunity, rather than a one-off tax-saving method
Although we don’t yet know the full details, it is clear that taxes on gains on savings and investments is one area that the Chancellor will be looking at to raise extra revenues. This is having the effect of shining a spotlight on the benefits of wrapping investments in an ISA, where both capital growth and dividend/interest income are free of tax entirely – you don’t even have to declare any ISA on your tax return.

Investment bonds – a flexible investment vehicle which falls outside capital gains tax
Chris Egmore of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning says that onshore investment bonds can be a tax-efficient and simple way of investing for the medium- to long-term

What pension reforms could the chancellor be considering in her first budget?
Scott Hansell of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning outlines some of the possible pension reform options open to The Chancellor as she prepares her first Budget.

‘A step in the right direction’ towards monitoring the performance of workplace pensions
Stephen Metcalf of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning welcomes a new FCA framework which will assess the performance of workplace defined contribution pension schemes.

‘All you need to know about pensions in 20 minutes’: financial planning firm offers free online webinars as part of pension awareness week
One-to-one pension review appointments also on offer.