Welcome to our blogs which relate to the financial services you may be interested in from mortgages to pensions; protection to auto-enrolment and many more. So why not grab a drink and enjoy the read.
Taking on easier work but working for longer has its benefits. Early retirement is the ultimate dream. However, slowing down your approach while taking on a part-time or a more junior role before stepping back could boost your pension by tens of thousands of pounds.The pay cut would be more than offset by extra savings – potentially adding as much
Tens of thousands of teenagers in the UK who have not yet claimed their matured Child Trust Funds savings could have thousands of pounds waiting for them, reminds HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Child Trust Funds are long-term savings accounts set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. To encourage future saving and start
The UK government has committed to making the UK carbon neutral by 2050. This means that for all CO2 produced in the UK each year, the same amount will be cancelled out by energy-saving measures. With our homes making up 22% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, we all have a part to play in reaching these targets. That’s why
The nil rate band is the threshold above which Inheritance Tax is payable. In this article, we look at it in more detail – read on to find out how much it is, what it applies to and how it works alongside the newer residence nil rate band. What is the nil rate band and how much is it? You
The later-life lending sector is growing significantly, with people using it for many different reasons. Figures from the Equity Release Council revealed that in Q2 2022 £1.6bn of property wealth was withdrawn, which includes 12,485 new equity release plans, equivalent to 205 plans being agreed each working day. In contrast, the sector saw 8,454 new equity release plans agreed in
Are you a homeowner and wishing to help your children or grandchildren onto the property ladder, but don’t have the cash available to do so? There could be a solution… Family Assist schemes within the mortgage market are becoming more popular and readily available. Your son/daughter (or grandchild) could potentially obtain a 100% mortgage or put down only a very
The government is giving people more time to pay National Insurance (NI) contributions towards their State Pension. Extending the deadline means that people have more time to properly consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them Taxpayers now have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record from April 2006 that may increase their
From 2025, all newly rented properties will be required to have an EPC rating of C or above, more stringent than the current requirement of E or higher. Existing tenancies will have until 2028 to comply with the change, after which millions of properties could risk becoming unrentable if landlords don’t make the necessary changes.
Martin Perrett from Blackfinch Group presents a really informative video regarding Inheritance Tax Planning, covering different planning options, advantages of Business Relief and who could benefit from using Business Relief as part of their overall planning solution. We hope you find this video of interest
Latest information from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed IHT receipts for April 2021 to March 2022 were £6.1bn, 14% (£0.7bn) higher than in the same period 12 months earlier. Factors at play Receipts have increased partly due to higher death rates during the pandemic, as well as due to the rise in property prices which has seen more families