magazine archive
magazine archive
Money Matters
Four key trends in the pensions space
Thursday 13 Apr 2017Two years ago the Government tore up the retirement rule book, introducing rules which allow anyone aged 55 and over to spend and invest their pension pot as they see fit. Let’s take a look at some of the key trends as the retirement market continues to evolve. 1. Drawdown replaces annuities as...
Investment ideas for the over-70s
Thursday 13 Apr 2017Choosing the right investments is important at any age. It is critical to make the right choice if you are over 70 years old as you will have a shorter investment time horizon. If you invest in high risk assets and they perform badly, you might not have time to claw back your losses. Why does age...
How Lifetime ISA can work with automatic enrolment
Thursday 06 Apr 2017The new Lifetime ISA could be a boon for basic-rate taxpayers saving for retirement, providing a flexible top-up to automatic enrolment savings. You can save into a Lifetime ISA either for a first home or retirement. The key features include: • Available to those aged between 18 and 40 • Contribute...
Use AIM stocks to avoid 40% inheritance tax
Thursday 06 Apr 2017If you want to invest in companies with significant growth potential and cut your estate’s inheritance tax (IHT) bill on your death, investing in AIM-listed stocks could be the answer. Certain AIM companies benefit from business property relief (BPR), which makes the shares exempt from IHT as long...
70 could be new age for state pension
Thursday 30 Mar 2017People often underestimate the value of the state pension, but it remains a central plank of retirement planning for the majority of investors. The single-tier state pension pays a man around £8,000 a year from age 65 at the moment – and that payment is protected against inflation rises through the...
Slash your tax bill through SEIS
Thursday 30 Mar 2017If you have a large tax bill to pay and a high risk tolerance, investing your money into Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) companies could reap significant rewards. Like its older cousin the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), the SEIS is designed to help early-stage companies raise finance...
Protect your home from the taxman
Thursday 23 Mar 2017New legislation coming into force this April could save your family an additional £140,000 in inheritance tax (IHT). Not everyone will benefit, so getting your estate in order is imperative. What’s changing? Each individual currently has an IHT nil-rate band of £325,000. For every £1 of your estate...
How could Hammond fill £2bn Budget black hole?
Thursday 23 Mar 2017Chancellor Philip Hammond has got himself into a right old mess over plans to increase National Insurance contributions for the self-employed. The rationale behind the move was perfectly reasonable. Following the introduction of the single-tier state pension in April 2016, self-employed people can...
Dealing with new pension and dividend rules
Thursday 16 Mar 2017Chancellor Philip Hammond has earned the moniker ‘spreadsheet Phil’ for his reportedly waspish attention to detail. However, his first Budget has been mired in controversy amid accusations a manifesto pledge to not increase National Insurance contributions was flagrantly broken. Away from this...
We like zero dividend preference shares
Thursday 16 Mar 2017Zero dividend preference shares (ZDPs) are a niche yet overlooked form of investment that can offer fixed and relatively low risk returns. ZDPs are issued by split capital investment trusts, which are similar to other investment companies in that they own and manage a portfolio of investments. The...