ISA’S

Since they were introduced in 1999, Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) have proved one of the most popular and tax-efficient ways to save and invest for the future. With the recent changes, ISAs now offer much more flexibility and a means of saving tax efficiently.

The ISA allowance for 2024/25 is £20,000. This will allow greater flexibility to use both cash and investments within the overall annual limit.

INVESTING FOR INCOME / GROWTH

Growth Portfolios are really designed for investors whose main aim is to achieve capital growth over the medium to long term. For example, those investing for the future, saving towards their retirement or building up a sum of money to pay school or university fees.

Income Portfolios aim to generate an attractive and consistent level of income. These Portfolios may be appropriate for investors who are looking to generate or supplement their existing income or provide additional income during retirement.

INVESTMENT BONDS

Investment Bonds are long-term investments which enable the investor to spread and diversify the risk and allow simple and easy switching between funds as well as reducing personal liability to Income and Capital Gains Taxes.

UNIT TRUSTS

Unit Trusts are a crucial part of investment planning in that they can accommodate the tax advantages extended by ISAs. They enable the choice of saving in a stock market investment without any further liability to Income or Capital Gains Tax. Unit trusts can provide a solution for clients looking to achieve long term capital growth and/or income.

Unit trusts offer can provide investors the flexibility to utilise their annual Capital Gains Tax allowance. Furthermore, when used with a Trust they also offer a positive and useful solution for making investments on behalf of children.

The value of the investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back as much as you put in.
Tax treatment varies according to individual circumstanaces and is subject to change.

EMPLOYED

Make sure you start planning for your retirement as soon as possible as there is an increased risk that you could live longer and your savings may erode much sooner than expected. Statistics have shown that we are living much longer and it is not uncommon for people to spend as many years in retirement as they did whilst employed.

SELF EMPLOYED

Being Self Employed means you cannot join an occupational pension scheme or build up entitlement to the additional state pension (SERPS/State Second Pension), you will of course be entitled to the basic state pension.

With this in mind, it is imperative that you start making plans to contribute to an individual pension arrangement as soon as possible so that you receive an income that provides you with financial security in your retirement.

NEARING RETIREMENT

When you are nearing retirement, it is really important to seek good, solid financial advice given this will make a big difference to your overall situation.

AT RETIREMENT

Since 6 April 2015, people over the age of 55 more freedom to use their defined contribution pension as they please. People who prefer the security of an annuity can still purchase one, but those who want to have control over their own finances can, instead, draw down their pensions as and when they see fit.

These recent changes offer much greater flexibility in how you can use a pension to receive an income, It also allows the investor to pass on benefits to your family or others more tax efficiently.

The value of the pension can go down as well as up and you may not get back as much as you put in.

Tax treatment varies according to individual circumstances and is subject to change.

LIFE COVER

Providing financial security for your family is the foundation of Financial Planning. Making sure your family are financially secure both now and in the future. We offer advice on both Term and Whole of life Assurance.

CRITICAL ILLNESS PROTECTION

Again, making sure that in the event of you becoming critically ill, both you and your family will continue to maintain a comfortable standard of living with the addition of a lump sum.

INCOME PROTECTION

The right income protection can be a great value to both you and any dependants. Whether you are looking to protect a short-term debt, a mortgage, or your income for life, we offer a wide range of advice on these areas.

MORTGAGE PROTECTION

Protecting your mortgage is vital ensuring that both you and your family’s financial well-being are considered through the use of both Life and Critical Illness protection.

INHERITANCE TAX PLANNING

With careful planning you can consider various steps to mitigate any potential liability for example: 

Making sure you make a Will and that it is written correctly.

Ensure you transfer any assets through the careful use of lifetime gifts.

Building a tax-efficient fund enabling the beneficiaries of your estate to meet the tax liability without having to erode the family assets.

There are other providers of Payment Protection Insurance [Short-Term Income Protection] and other products designed to protect you against loss of income. For impartial information about insurance, please visit the website at www.moneyhelper.org.uk.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate on Estate Planning.

Will Writing is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Will writing is not part of the Quilter Financial Planning offering and is offered in our own right.

BUILDINGS AND CONTENTS INSURANCE