Financial Planning

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.

According to HMRC, more than 670,000 young adults aged between 18 and 22 are yet to claim their Child Trust Fund worth an average of £2,212.

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.

The Bank of England (BoE) cut interest rates from a 16-year high on Thursday 01 August, after a narrow vote in favour from policymakers divided over whether inflation pressures had eased sufficiently enough.

Despite political uncertainty at home and abroad, the investment market remains remarkably unflustered, says Scott Hansell of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

The UK economy grew by more than initially estimated at the start of this year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

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

Many people are ignorant of the potential tax burden those inheriting their pension pot might face – but there is a solution, says Richard Ince of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

UK adults face a significant shortfall in their pension savings at retirement compared to what they wanted to retire on, according to research from Standard Life.

The rate of UK inflation fell to 2.3% in the year to April, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

How could the changes affect you.

Saving for retirement has never been more important – but checking you will receive the state pension you are entitled to is another vital step, says Matt Harrington of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

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.

Two newly-published reports are focussing minds on how much we all need to save for retirement, says Stephen Metcalf of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

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.

Don’t be retiring when it comes to choosing a present for the children in your family, says Stephen Cameron of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

The Chancellor announced the Autumn Statement on 22nd November, Shaun Davison and James Shipp give their initial reaction.

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.

New regulations mean that financial services firms have had to review everything they do, says Stephen Metcalf of Lovewell Blake Financial Planning.

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.

The increase in the Annual Allowance (the amount you can put into your pension in any one year without incurring punitive tax charges) from £40,000 to £60,000 had been widely signalled prior to the Budget, but Jeremy Hunt pulled a rabbit out of the hat by abolishing altogether the Lifetime Allowance, which stood at £1.07 million.

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

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%.

Workers have saved more than £114 billion into their pension pots since pensions automatic enrolment was implemented ten years ago, according to data published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

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.

The COP27 summit in Egypt is making more investors think about the ethics of their portfolio, say Andrew Spaxmanand Louise Daniels 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.

Thousands of NHS healthcare professionals, including consultants, general practitioners and dentists, have started to receive copies of their Annual Allowance Pension Savings Statements (AAPSS) from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).

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.

With the increasing cost of childcare, it’s not uncommon for hard-pressed parents to turn to their family, especially grandparents, for help with looking after the children.

The purpose of the Annual Allowance legislation is to measure pension growth above inflation, with any excess above the Annual Allowance (standard of £40,000, or lower if tapered), being taxed at your respective marginal rate of income tax.

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.

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

The first Review of State Pension age was undertaken in 2017 but the government has now launched a second pension age state review, which will consider whether the increase to age 68 should be brought forward to 2037-39.

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.

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

In November 2018, the UK State Pension age was 65 for men and women. However, this has been gradually increasing and when you receive your State Pension now, depends on when you were born. Therefore, State Pension age for all men and women will reach age 67 by 2028.

The NHS Pension Scheme is designed to offer significant value in retirement to people who have chosen to dedicate part, or all, of their careers to serving the public through the NHS.

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.

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.

What do I need to do?

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.

The NHS Pension scheme is considered one of the most generous in the UK and is a substantial benefit for its members.

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.