Out with the old and a boost for the new for children’s savings
2020 sees an old plan mature and its replacement given a boost. Be prepared to feel just a little old: the first Child Trust…
The inheritance tax dog that didn’t bark…
One of the few surprises in March’s Budget was that the Chancellor never mentioned inheritance tax (IHT) or expected simplification measures. Before 11 March…
A change to the annual allowance taper
One of the more controversial pension tax rules – the annual allowance taper – was slightly reformed in the Budget. The annual allowance effectively…
Base rate – the last cut is the deepest…
The Bank of England’s two unscheduled base rate changes in March took interest rates to a new all-time low. The Bank of England’s 0.5%…
The quarter of the unexpected – the markets’ story
The first quarter of 2020 was a traumatic one for investors. 2020 started off well enough. Until the middle of February, most global share…
Intestacy rule change favours spouses
The intestacy rules for England and Wales have been amended. The intestacy rules automatically apply to the distribution of estates where there is no…
Look back in curiosity: what can we learn from the 2010s?
What do you remember about the decade that began in 2010? A decade is a long time and a lot happens, but important details…
National Living Wage set to outpace new state pension
The National Living Wage (NLW) rises by over 6% in April. The 6.2% increase to £8.72 an hour equates to £15,870 a year based…
Last call for 2016/17 on your annual pension allowance…
The clock is ticking on using up your pension annual allowance The allowance effectively sets the maximum pension contributions from all sources (including your employer) on…
A Budget Day… at last
In early January the Chancellor Sajid Javid announced a new Budget date: 11 March 2020. This could be a significant Budget. Traditionally, the first…
The 2019 investment year
The world’s share markets enjoyed strong rises in 2019. 2019 was a very different year for investors from 2018. Whereas 2018 saw a pattern…
The last LISA standing
At the start of December, the Help-to-Buy ISA was withdrawn for new investments. The Lifetime ISA (LISA) is now the only ISA plan offering…
Venture capital trusts continue to attract investors
The latest statistics from HMRC show the inflows to venture capital trusts (VCTs) have more than doubled since 2009/10. At the end of last…
New government, new tax targets?
How will the new government affect your financial planning? December’s general election delivered a Conservative government with the sort of majority which consigns the…
Life expectancy shortens…or does it?
New calculations from the Office for National Statistics have lowered life expectancies. Every two years, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recalculates its national…
Calling a halt on mini-bonds
The Financial Conduct Authority has announced a temporary ban on the promotion of most ‘mini-bonds’. Have you ever been tempted by those advertisements offering…
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