Finance

The retirement cash flow planning process

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Are you looking to create your retirement cash flow plan? 

Contact us now for more information. We assist you in analysing your current financial situation and creating a customised plan to ensure your retirement meets your goals. If it turns out that your cash flow plan falls short, don’t worry we have various retirement planning strategies to help get you back on track.

Get in touch to see how we can help:

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Take stock of your financial health in 2025

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Start 2025 with a New Year’s wealth check

A yearly financial check-up is vital to ensuring your money works as effectively as possible. The beginning of 2025 offers an ideal opportunity to take stock of your financial health, setting the tone for a prosperous and secure year ahead.

Even if you have a strong financial plan, life rarely stands still. Changes such as a promotion, a new mortgage or a shift in family circumstances could mean your plan no longer fits your needs. Additionally, financial law and regulation updates might impact your investments or tax allowances, making it crucial to revisit your strategy. A New Year’s wealth check helps you stay on top of these changes and provides clarity and confidence in your decision making, preparing you for whatever lies ahead.

PORTFOLIOS VULNERABLE TO MARKET FLUCTUATIONS

A great deal can change over a year, and regular reviews are necessary for your investment portfolio to maintain its balance and effectiveness. Some investments could start underperforming due to market shifts or company-specific issues, while others may outperform expectations, presenting you with opportunities to take profits and reinvest strategically. Without attentive management, you risk missing these critical moments, which could compromise your portfolio’s overall performance.

Overexposure to specific companies, sectors or geographical markets can also introduce significant risks. A lack of diversification might leave your portfolio vulnerable to market fluctuations or economic downturns in focused areas. Regularly reviewing your investments ensures they remain appropriately diversified and continue to reflect your financial goals, risk tolerance and timelines for achieving them.

REVIEWING YOUR INSURANCE POLICIES

Insurance policies are another critical area in your New Year’s wealth check. These include cover for income protection, life insurance and critical illness. Regular reviews are vital, especially if your personal circumstances have changed. A pay rise, for instance, might require you to increase the income you are protecting. Similarly, a larger or smaller mortgage could mean adjusting your life insurance cover.

Keeping these policies up to date ensures that your family is financially protected if illness or misfortune strikes. It’s also worth checking whether you’re overpaying for certain types of cover. A professional review can help you balance adequate protection and cost efficiency.

PREPARING FOR A SECURE RETIREMENT

A New Year’s wealth check can highlight your readiness for a fulfilling and comfortable retirement. If your pension savings are falling short, now may be the time to address this gap. By using your pension Annual Allowance, you can maximise your tax relief.
In the tax year (2024/25), the standard allowance is £60,000 annually. This covers the amount you can pay into your defined contribution pensions and receive tax relief, including your contributions, your employer’s and anyone else who might pay in on your behalf. The benefit of this relief, combined with the effects of compounded investment growth, can significantly increase your retirement pot over time.

Additionally, the start of 2025 is an excellent opportunity to ensure you are taking advantage of other tax-efficient options. You can invest up to £20,000 annually in Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) for tax-efficient growth and income. Junior ISAs allow families to invest £9,000 annually per child, which could build into a substantial fund for university or a first-home deposit. Using allowances like these, Capital Gains Tax exemptions and personal savings allowances can help you manage your wealth more efficiently.

TACKLING FAMILY AND FINANCIAL PRIORITIES

Balancing family priorities with long-term savings often feels like a juggling act. You might be saving for school fees, giving your children a financial boost onto the property ladder or ensuring you’re putting enough aside for your retirement. At the same time, you could support elderly relatives as their health declines, adding strain to your household budget.

Even with a healthy income, managing competing priorities can be challenging. That’s why a carefully constructed financial plan is crucial. It should address your current needs and adapt to them as they evolve over time, helping you maintain stability through life’s twists and turns.

WHY PROFESSIONAL ADVICE MATTERS

Many individuals find the intricacies of rebalancing investments, planning tax-efficient strategies and developing a resilient retirement fund
overwhelming. That’s where professional financial advisers come into play. We can tailor an individual plan around your unique circumstances, reviewing it regularly to ensure it remains aligned with your personal goals, changes in legislation and the economic climate.

Our professional guidance can make the difference between simply managing your finances and genuinely mastering them. With our advice, you will gain clarity on your financial options and the confidence to make informed decisions.

LOOKING TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE WITH A NEW YEAR’S WEALTH CHECK?

The start of 2025 presents the perfect opportunity to assess your financial health and put plans in motion to achieve your goals. Whether building your retirement fund, supporting your family or investing tax-efficiently, take the time to prioritise your financial wellbeing. For
tailored professional advice and a personalised financial review, contact us today.

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Start 2025 with a New Year’s wealth check

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A yearly financial check-up is vital to ensuring your money works as effectively as possible. In our latest guide, we look at why the beginning of 2025 offers an ideal opportunity to take stock of your financial health, setting the tone for a prosperous and secure year ahead.

Click here to download your free guide

Navigating your financial journey

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Actionable steps to ensure you’re progressing steadily toward financial stability and independence.

We make countless choices on our unique journeys through life that shape our future financial security and independence. Some of our most significant decisions revolve around finances – whether it’s planning for an early retirement, purchasing property or saving for a child’s education. These financial goals represent our personal priorities and direct the way we spend, save and invest our money.

However, financial goals are far from one size-fits-all. Just as every individual is unique, so too are their financial aspirations. Your goals may be a reflection of your specific needs, desires and ambitions. Without a clear financial compass, it’s easy to lose track of where your hard-earned money has gone. Setting financial goals is therefore a crucial step in steering yourself toward greater financial stability.

SETTING YOUR FINANCIAL FOUNDATION

Taking the time to craft clear and measurable financial objectives is the first step to paving a successful roadmap for the future. Breaking these objectives into small, manageable tasks can make even the most ambitious goals seem attainable. This approach enables you to progress step by step, providing both clarity and focus to your financial strategy.

Begin by assessing where you currently stand. Evaluate your income and expenses, the outstanding debts you carry and any recurring costs that might be quietly draining your resources. Honest self assessment is the foundation upon which financial progress is built.

CREATING SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES

Once you understand your existing financial position, it’s time to set meaningful goals. Divide your ambitions into short-term targets, such as paying off small debts or creating an emergency savings fund, and long-term aspirations, like saving for a dream holiday, a home deposit or retirement. By tailoring your goals to your circumstances, you’re laying the groundwork for success.

Breaking larger goals into achievable steps can help you maintain focus and motivation. Remember, each milestone you meet deserves recognition and celebration – small victories can remind you of the progress you’re making toward the bigger picture.

CRAFTING A DETAILED ACTION PLAN

With your goals clearly defined, you can now construct a well-thought-out plan to achieve them. Start by listing what you want to achieve and the reasons why these objectives are meaningful to you. Personal significance can serve as a powerful motivator as you work toward your aims.

The next step is to assess the tools and resources available to you. This stage might include reviewing your budget, exploring ways to manage debt more effectively or considering investment opportunities. Once you’ve evaluated your options, devise a step-by-step plan outlining how you intend to achieve your financial aspirations.

STAYING ON COURSE WITH REGULAR MONITORING

Financial goal-setting doesn’t end once a plan is in place. To ensure you remain on track, it’s vital to monitor your progress regularly. Set aside time once a month or quarter to review your achievements, identify obstacles and adjust your strategy if necessary. Treat your financial plan as a living document that evolves alongside your personal circumstances.

Remember, setbacks may occur, but they should not derail your determination. By maintaining focus and staying adaptable, you can continue moving forward and build the life you want for yourself and your loved ones.

ACHIEVING A BRIGHTER FINANCIAL FUTURE

Setting clear and attainable financial goals allows you to take control of your future with confidence. Breaking down your aspirations into actionable steps ensures you’re progressing steadily toward financial stability and independence. Whether it’s creating an emergency fund, paying off debt or planning for retirement, every small step you take brings you closer to achieving your dreams.

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Transform your Financial Future for 2025

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The perfect moment to take stock of your financial ambitions

With 2025 underway, it’s the perfect time to assess your financial ambitions. Many of us enthusiastically set New Year’s resolutions, but how often do they translate into tangible outcomes? Financial aspirations – buying a home, taking a dream holiday or retiring early – sometimes seem beyond reach. This is where financial planning becomes essential.

Financial planning acts as a structured roadmap for your future. It allows you to identify your goals, prioritise them and develop a clear strategy for achieving them. If revisiting your financial approach is part of your 2025 resolutions, there is no better time to create a well-thought-out blueprint to ensure success.

TURN WISHES INTO GOALS
Any goal, financial or otherwise, without direction is little more than a wish. It’s essential, therefore, to define your financial objectives clearly. For instance, are you focused on setting aside funds for your children’s education? Perhaps you’re aiming for an early retirement or planning a significant purchase like a new property.

Once your objective is clear, the next step is to assign it a monetary value and establish a timeline for achieving it. Even seemingly small goals should be measured, as every milestone adds up to your overall financial success. Staying realistic with your aspirations ensures you remain motivated and on track to reach your destination.

CATEGORISE AND PRIORITISE
One key step in financial planning is categorising your goals based on time frames. Typically, short-term goals are those you aim to accomplish within five years, medium-term objectives fall within five to ten years and long-term goals stretch further than a decade. Dividing your aspirations into these categories brings clarity and helps tailor your investment and savings strategies.

Whether it’s preparing for a major expense like renovating your home or planning for retirement, aligning your goals with the right financial strategy ensures steady and sustained progress. It’s an opportunity to make even your loftiest dreams attainable.

UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF INFLATION
Inflation is critical in financial planning, especially when considering long-term goals. Often described as an invisible form of taxation, inflation erodes the purchasing power of money over time, making it crucial to account for it when saving and investing.

The ‘Rule of 72’ is a useful tool for gauging the effects of inflation. By dividing 72 by the annual inflation rate, you can estimate how long it will take for your money’s purchasing power to halve. For example, at an inflation rate of 3%, your money could lose half its value in roughly
24 years. Understanding these dynamics helps you make informed investment decisions that keep pace with rising prices.

INCLUDE YOUR LOVED ONES
Sound financial planning involves open communication with your family and loved ones. Discussing financial goals as a group ensures everyone is aligned and working towards a common future.

Begin by assessing your current financial situation, including income, expenses, assets and liabilities. This forms the foundation for identifying potential areas for improvement. Simultaneously, it’s worth considering risk protection as part of your financial strategy. Life is unpredictable, and safety nets such as insurance provide peace of mind, safeguarding your family against unexpected events.

REVIEW YOUR TAX STRATEGY
Tax planning is another vital component of comprehensive financial management. Given the complexities of the UK tax system and the Autumn Budget Statement 2024 announcements, staying informed about changing regulations is imperative. Efficient tax planning can significantly reduce your financial burden and free up resources for other goals.

For instance, consider evaluating how rising property values could impact Inheritance Tax or explore ways to minimise liabilities when transferring business ownership. By effectively using available tax allowances and reliefs, you can create meaningful savings while retaining more of the income you’ve worked hard to earn.

STAY ON TOP OF RETIREMENT PLANNING
Retirement might seem years or decades away, but the earlier you start planning, the better equipped you’ll be for a comfortable future. With various options such as pension pots, tax-free cash allowances and annuities, it’s worth reviewing your retirement strategy to ensure it aligns with your evolving needs and goals.

Some legislation changes have expanded the options available to retirees, offering flexibility in managing pension savings. By making proactive adjustments now, you can enhance your ability to maintain your desired lifestyle in your later years.

SCHEDULE REGULAR FINANCIAL REVIEWS
Setting goals is only the beginning – consistently reviewing your financial plan is equally important. An annual review allows you to assess your progress, make adjustments where necessary and ensure that you’re always on track.

Whether tweaks are needed due to market changes, legislative updates or shifts in personal priorities, these reviews keep your plan relevant and robust. Financial planning isn’t a one off event but an ongoing practice that evolves with the times.

TAKE CONTROL OF 2025 AND BEYOND
Entering the New Year is a natural trigger to reassess your finances and set new priorities. By adopting a strategic approach to financial planning, you can transform your aspirations into actionable steps, providing a clearer path to achieving your dreams.

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New Year Financial Strategies for a Brighter Future

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In our latest Guide to New Year Financial Strategies for a Brighter Future we take a look at your roadmap to financial success in 2025 and beyond.

A new year is the perfect time to take charge of your financial future. It’s an opportunity to step back, re-evaluate your financial health and set a clear path toward greater stability and growth. Why not make 2025 the year you take control of your money and create a strategy that works for you?

To download your free guide, click here to head to our downloads page

Financial resolutions to boost your wealth this year

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Taking a proactive approach to clarify your current financial standing

The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to take a step back and thoroughly reassess your financial situation. It’s a natural time to evaluate and reshape your saving habits, particularly important whether you’re building an emergency fund, planning for retirement or investing in long-term growth. This proactive approach clarifies your current financial standing and sets the foundation for a more secure and prosperous future.

Even small financial adjustments made now can have a domino effect, significantly enhancing your financial wellbeing in the years to come. Expert insights can simplify complex issues, identify opportunities you may not have considered and ensure that your plans are robust enough to weather future uncertainties. By proactively addressing your financial health at the start of the year, you set yourself up for greater financial stability and peace of mind in 2025 and beyond.

ASSESSING YOUR SPENDING AND SAVING PATTERNS

With the cost of living soaring across the past year, having a robust budget has become more essential than ever. Knowing where your money goes is vital in preventing unnecessary expenses and finding opportunities to save for future goals. Even simple changes, such as cutting down on discretionary purchases, can free up money for more meaningful purposes. It’s generally recommended to have a safety net of around six months’ worth of essential living costs in an accessible savings account. Once this rainy-day fund is in place, consider longer-term goals. If your objectives span five years or more, exploring stock market investments might be worth consideration. Despite its inherent volatility, the stock market has historically outperformed cash savings over the long term.

REVISITING YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS

Has anything changed in your life that might impact your financial priorities? A new year is an ideal time to assess your financial ambitions, whether short, medium or long-term. For instance, if your income has increased or your family circumstances have shifted, your financial plan may benefit from some adjustments.Revisiting goals may also involve reassessing your investment portfolio. It is crucial to ensure that your investments align with your risk tolerance and long-term objectives. Professional financial planners can help you monitor your progress and recommend strategies to keep you on track, preserving and growing your wealth effectively.

CHECKING UP ON YOUR PENSION

Your pension is a key component of your financial future, yet losing track of its growth is easy. Understandably, day-to-day expenses might often take precedence, but it’s worth evaluating how much you’ve accumulated for your retirement. Reviewing your pension pots now helps determine if you’re on course to meet your retirement goals or whether adjustments, such as increasing contributions, are necessary. It’s essential to look at the tax advantages pensions offer. For instance, basic rate taxpayers receive 20% tax relief on contributions. This means a £100 contribution effectively costs £80. Higher rate and additional rate taxpayers receive even greater relief, making pensions one of the most tax-efficient ways to secure your financial future.

MAXIMISING TAX ALLOWANCES

Tax planning is essential to any financial strategy and offers opportunities to stretch your money further. Staying proactive throughout the tax year – rather than leaving it to the last minute – can significantly affect your financial outcomes.For example, Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) allow you to save up to £20,000 tax-free annually. This makes ISAs particularly suitable for building wealth pre-retirement or as a source of tax-efficient income later on. Beyond ISAs, consider allowances for Capital Gains Tax and dividends, which can also play significant roles in a tax-optimised investment strategy.

REVIEWING YOUR PROTECTION POLICIES

Life can be unpredictable, which is why financial protection is vital. Ensuring you have adequate insurance coverage – be it life insurance, critical illness cover or income protection – safeguards your loved ones against financial strain in the event of the unexpected. Even if you already hold policies, reviewing them annually is wise to ensure they remain relevant to your circumstances. Over time, gaps in protection may emerge as your financial commitments evolve, such as having children or taking on a larger mortgage. Updating your policies ensures that your family’s financial future is secure.

MAKING OR UPDATING YOUR WILL

A Will is fundamental in guaranteeing that your wishes are carried out after your death. Yet, many overlook the importance of having one in place. If you’ve already made a Will, consider whether it needs updating – especially if life events such as marriage, divorce or the birth of a child have occurred since it was written.Ensuring your Will is up to date can also help to minimise disagreements and ensure assets are distributed according to your preferences. It’s a small step but one with long-lasting implications for those you care about.

SEEKING PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL ADVICE

Without expert advice, navigating pensions, investments and tax allowances can feel overwhelming. We can simplify these complexities and provide strategies tailored to your individual needs and goals. Why not make this the year you take the next step towards financial confidence? By seeking professional advice, you could gain clarity on your current position, reassurance of future stability and insight into opportunities you may not have considered.

TIME TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE?

Please contact us if you need help planning your finances or addressing specific concerns. Together, we can explore solutions designed to meet your unique needs and ensure your financial plans are aligned with your goals.

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Discussing Inheritance Tax

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You may well want to pass your estate onto your children when you die, but unless you make suitable plans your children will pay 40% inheritance tax (IHT) in the UK on all your estate above £325,000 which in today’s property market is most people’s property value alone.

You worked hard to earn your wealth, so let us work hard preserving it and help you and your family maintain its financial strength from one generation to the next.

If you are worried about Inheritance Tax and want to plan for the future, get in touch with us today.

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Autumn Budget 2024: Key Points

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The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, delivered her maiden Autumn Budget Statement 2024 on Wednesday 30 October, alongside an updated economic forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility. Three months after coming to power, she set out the government’s taxing, borrowing and spending plans.

Main announcements from Chancellor Rachel Reeves at a glance

Key measures on tax, investments, pensions and property

What does the Autumn Budget Statement 2024 mean for your money? Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s first Budget since 2010 on 30 October, after the party’s return to power in July’s general election.

She announced tax rises worth £40bn, commenting that these would rebuild public services and stabilise the public finances.

ECONOMY

  • Office for Budget Responsibility predicts the UK economy will grow by 1.1% this year, 2% next year and 1.8% in 2026
  • Inflation is predicted to average 2.5% this year and 2.6% next year before falling to 2.3% in 2026
  • The official definition of UK government debt loosened by including a wider range of financial assets, such as future student loan repayment

PERSONAL TAXATION

  • Rates of Income Tax and National Insurance (NI) paid by employees, and of VAT, to remain unchanged
  • Income Tax band thresholds to rise in line with inflation after 2028, preventing more people being dragged into higher bands as wages rise
  • Basic rate Capital Gains Tax on profits from selling shares to increase from 10% to 18%, with the higher rate rising from 20% to 24%
  • Rates on profits from selling additional property unchanged
  • Inheritance Tax threshold freeze extended by further two years to 2030, with inherited pension pots also subject to the tax from 2027

WAGES, BENEFITS AND PENSIONS

  • Legal minimum wage for over-21s to rise from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour from April
  • Rate for 18 to 20-year-olds to go up from £8.60 to £10, as part of a long-term plan to move towards a ‘single adult rate’
  • Basic and new State Pension payments to go up by 4.1% next year due to the ‘triple lock’, more than working age benefits
  • Eligibility widened for the allowance paid to full-time carers, by increasing the maximum earnings threshold from £151 to £195 a week

HOUSING

  • Social housing providers to be allowed to increase rents above inflation under multiyear settlement, external
  • Stamp duty surcharge, paid on second home purchases in England and Northern Ireland, to go up from 3% to 5%
  • Current affordable homes budget, which runs until 2026, boosted by £500m

TRANSPORT

  • 5p cut in fuel duty on petrol and diesel brought in by the Conservatives, due to end in April 2025, kept for another year
  • £2 cap on single bus fares in England to rise to £3 from January
  • Commitment to fund tunnelling work to take HS2 high-speed rail line to Euston station in central London
  • Commitment to deliver upgrade to trans-Pennine rail line between York and Manchester, running via Leeds and
    Huddersfield
  • Air Passenger Duty on flights by private jet to go up by 50%
  • Extra £500m next year to repair potholes in England
  • Vehicle Excise Duty paid by owners of all but the most efficient new petrol cars to double in their first year, to encourage shift to electric vehicles

BUSINESS TAXES

  • Companies to pay NI at 15% on salaries above £5,000 from April, up from 13.8% on salaries above £9,100, raising an additional £25bn a year
  • Employment Allowance – which allows smaller companies to reduce their NI liability – to increase from £5,000 to £10,500
  • Tax paid by private equity managers on share of profits from successful deals to rise from up to 28% to up to 32% from April
  • Main rate of Corporation Tax, paid by businesses on taxable profits over £250,000, to stay at 25% until next election

GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND PUBLIC SERVICES

  • Extra £22.6bn for day-to-day spending on the NHS in England, and a £3.1bn boost to budget for investment
  • £6.7bn allocated for education investment next year, with £1.4bn earmarked for rebuilding over 500 schools
  • Defence spending to rise by £2.9bn next year

OTHER MEASURES

  • £11.8bn allocated to compensate victims of the infected blood scandal, with £1.8bn set aside for wrongly prosecuted Post Office sub-postmasters
  • Government to stop receiving surplus cash from pension scheme for mineworkers
  • Extra spending in England will lead to £3.4bn more for Scotland, £1.7bn more for Wales and £1.5bn more for Northern Ireland in devolution payments

Do you need a Post Budget Financial Health check?

Book a chat with one of our expert financial advisers to see how they can help and support your financial planning through the new legislation

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Financial advice during Divorce

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Divorce can be bewildering, especially when managing your finances. However, understanding your options can make the process more manageable. Financial concerns may not be your first thought during a marital breakdown. Still, given the significant impact divorce can have on your financial future, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to safeguard your financial security.

Download our guide to Financial advice during Divorce to find out how you can secure your future.

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