Keeping you up to date with what matters.
Are you considering delaying your next investment until the market drops? It’s a common notion, particularly among new or even experienced investors. The strategy of ‘timing the market’ – buying stocks when their value is low and selling them when high – may sound like the perfect plan. But even the most successful fund managers…
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We all dream of a comfortable retirement, free from financial worries and full of opportunities to enjoy life. However, achieving this vision requires careful planning and preparation. While life’s uncertainties, such as health challenges, might be beyond your control, there are concrete steps you can take to strengthen your financial resilience and prepare for the…
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Like your car, your finances require consistent care and attention to keep running smoothly. Just as a regular service ensures your vehicle performs at its best and avoids costly breakdowns, a yearly financial check-up is vital to ensuring your money works as effectively as possible. The beginning of 2025 offers an ideal opportunity to take…
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In the current economic climate, the prospect of receiving an inheritance plays a crucial role in shaping major life decisions for many UK adults. More than one in five (22%) UK adults[1] who have received or expect to receive an inheritance[2] have delayed or are planning to delay a major life event because of the…
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2024 was the third consecutive year in which the Scottish government was forced to undertake an emergency budget review. In a statement on 3 September, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Shona Robison, announced “support [for] the 2024/25 Budget totalling almost £1 billion, of which up to £500 million are direct savings”. The Scottish Budget 2024
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In a significant shift announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, inherited pensions will become subject to Inheritance Tax (IHT) from April 2027. This marks a departure from previous rules where pensions were excluded from IHT calculations. Currently, pensions are usually passed on tax-free if you die under the age of 75 – or taxed at the…
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In case you missed it, Head of Financial Planning Chris Forde and Financial Planner Phil Annand held a webinar yesterday covering some of the key issues of the Autumn Budget 2024. What We Covered: Capital Gains Tax: Updates that may impact asset sales and tax-efficient planning Pensions and Allowances: Important revisions affecting retirement strategies Inheritance…
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What does the Autumn Budget Statement 2024 mean for your money? Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s first Budget since 2010 on 30 October, after the party’s return to power in July’s general election. She announced tax rises worth £40bn, commenting that these would rebuild public services and stabilise the public finances. Economy Office for Budget…
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The first Budget from a Labour government since March 2010, and the first ever from a female Chancellor, proved to be the defining event that had been widely anticipated. From the moment in late July when Rachel Reeves unveiled her “£22 billion black hole” and announced means-testing for the winter fuel payment, it was clear…
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Saving can bring you a level of financial freedom that transforms your life. By putting money away regularly, you create a financial cushion that can support you through emergencies, help you achieve significant milestones or provide peace of mind. A dedicated savings pot can be the foundation for achieving your dreams, whether buying a home,…
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