The last decade has revealed a story of post-crisis recovery and stock market growth. All this despite years of economic uncertainty and political disorder.
So what might the 2020s hold for investors? Looking back, we identify the key themes of the past and pick out some enduring principles for the future.
Defined contribution (DC) pensions offer valuable legacy planning opportunities, but it’s vital that DC pension holders and their advisers act early to utilise these benefits.
Here we highlight the potential tax advantages of planning early.
It’s fairly common for investors hold offshore investment funds in their portfolios. Investors, however, may be unaware that some of their offshore funds could be accumulating income (that is never distributed) that needs to be included in their UK tax return.
Here we highlight the different types of offshore funds and how to remain tax compliant.
The splitting of pension assets on divorce is complex but with careful planning, it’s possible to identify outcomes that will stand the test of time, for both parties.
Here we look at the main tax implications of pensions (the Lifetime Allowance, Pension Protection and the Annual Allowance) and where the opportunities, and problems, arise both during and after divorce.
Carry Forward could allow an individual to benefit from up to £45,000 of income tax relief on previous years’ unused pension contribution allowances, provided they have adjusted income of £210,000 or more.
In this Briefing Note we explain in general terms how Carry Forward works.
They say it’s wise to not put all your eggs in one basket. For investors, that often means looking for opportunities abroad. But when it comes to investing overseas, good performance is not just about how well the underlying companies or bonds perform. Foreign exchange rates can significantly impact returns – in either direction.
We explore how this mechanism works and what can be done to mitigate the impact of currency fluctuations on portfolios.
"I was part of a management buyout and when the sale happened, my financial position changed substantially. So, I wanted to appoint a wealth manager that could help me and my family plan our future."
The 6th April will re-set the clock on the annual pension contribution allowance. It’s therefore the time of year to work out what additional income tax relief may still be available from pension contributions. Relief at higher rates of income tax can be significant. But those on higher earnings are subject to a tapering of their Annual Allowance. It’s not a straightforward calculation, with plenty of blind spots which could lead to penalties on excess contributions.
Most businesses offer death in service benefits as part of their overall remuneration package. What can often be overlooked is that these schemes are usually set up on a similar basis to a registered pension scheme and could result in additional tax charges of up to 55% in the event of a claim.
Here we highlight how a relevant life policy could be an effective alternative to group life assurance cover.
"I was coming towards the end of my divorce and I needed someone to help manage the settlement sensibly. It was a very turbulent stage of my life where I was having to make huge decisions."
The value of investments and the income arising from them can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed, which means that you may not get back what you invested. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future. The information contained in this website does not constitute advice. The FCA does not regulate tax advice. The FCA does not regulate advice on Wills and Powers of Attorney. The Financial Ombudsman Service is available to sort out individual complaints that clients and financial services businesses aren’t able to resolve themselves. To contact the Financial Ombudsman Service please visit www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.