Independent Chartered Financial Planners
16/05/2023 Preparing your wealth for the next generation’s benefit can be an intense process, with protection, your will, trusts, property, and investments all thrown into the mix. In particular, the amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) your beneficiaries may pay could have come up in estate planning conversations, both with your close family and your financial […]
16/05/2023 Renowned author JRR Tolkien died 50 years ago at the age of 81. Despite his passing away, his most famous works, the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings books, have lived on in true ubiquity, remaining part of Britain’s cultural canon to this day. This trilogy is a tale of heroism, friendship, possession, […]
16/05/2023 If your investment portfolio makes up a large portion of your wealth, it is crucial to understand what will happen when you sell assets and crystallise their value. As you approach retirement, or perhaps another large milestone like providing a child with a house deposit or paying for their wedding, you might be considering […]
20/04/2023 After an uptick in market performance at the end of 2022, Q1 2023 has brought happy news of continued stabilisation. Overall, global equities saw positive returns in Q1 as concerns around a potential recession dampened. This being said, two US bank collapses spooked consumers and economists alike, and inflation has continued to rise in many […]
20/04/2023 As you have likely read in the news over the past month, a small number of banks have collapsed in the US and Europe. Perhaps the most notable was Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the US’s 16th largest bank. After this, New York-based institution Signature Bank followed suit on 13 March. Then, in Europe, Credit […]
20/04/2023 The US’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2050 would cost $50 trillion, according to a prediction from a leading economist in an interview with Senator John Kennedy. Questioning former head of risk management at Goldman Sachs and climate policy expert Dr Robert Litterman at the Senate Budget Committee hearing in March 2023, Louisiana […]
15/03/2023 Just six months ago, Kwasi Kwarteng stood up in the House of Commons and delivered his controversial “mini-Budget”. The announcements ultimately brought down the short-lived Truss administration, with current chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announcing a series of policy measures in November 2022 aimed at calming the markets. Having taken “difficult decisions to deliver stability and […]
15/03/2023 On Wednesday 15 March 2023, chancellor Jeremy Hunt presented his spring Budget. Focusing on the government’s aims to halve inflation, reduce public debt, and boost economic growth, Hunt delivered his first official Budget alongside the latest economic and fiscal outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). “Despite continuing global instability, the OBR report […]
14 March 2023 You would not be alone in thinking that in recent years, the UK’s financial landscape has undergone a serious shift. Costs have risen for families, individuals, and businesses alike – and at the same time, many tax allowances and exemptions have been frozen or reduced. If you are unaware of the impact […]
14 March 2023 As you approach retirement, you may already be aware that your tax situation will change. Whether you plan to continue working part-time in later life or retire completely, as soon as you draw your pension you will likely pay tax differently than you have been throughout your career. An important thing to […]