Tariffs is a hot topic at the moment and may remain so for some time. The big question is what will the effects of tariffs be…inflation, retaliation, volatility, job losses and disinflation.
NEWS
News
USING BUSINESS RELIEF TO REDUCE INHERITANCE TAX
President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs that will reshape trade relations with the United States. The new tariff regime is more severe than expected, and extraordinary both in terms of scale and how they were calculated.
LIVING WITH VOLATILITY
Equity markets rise over-time but they do not do so in a straight line. Volatility – although difficult to stomach at the time – is par for the course. According to Duncan Lamont, head of strategic research at Schroders, the stock market tends to fall by 20% once every four years and by 10% at some point during most years.
PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE USA & TARIFFS – HOW SHOULD WE REACT?
President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs that will reshape trade relations with the United States. The new tariff regime is more severe than expected, and extraordinary both in terms of scale and how they were calculated.
SPRING STATEMENT UPDATE – THE KEY NEWS FROM THE CHANCELLOR’S SPEECH
After Rachel Reeves’ first Budget in autumn 2024, you might have been concerned about the announcements that would be included in her Spring Statement on 26th March 2025. Thankfully, the major headline from this year’s springtime fiscal event is that Reeves made few announcements that are likely to directly affect you and your personal finances.
SMALLER COMPANIES – IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY?
As investors we do need to seek out opportunities when the exuberance or caution of markets is exaggerated. It is tough to make the right call consistently but at times there are opportunities that in hindsight were ‘obvious’ but at the time seem to present too much risk to commit the capital.
SALARY SACRIFICE – GENUINE & IMMEDIATE SAVINGS FOR EMPLOYEES & EMPLOYERS ALIKE
Salary sacrifice is not ideal for everyone, but it legitimately provides employers with a means of saving significant sums of money that can be used within the business, whilst simultaneously improving the net monthly pay of staff and increasing their pension contributions each month.
DON’T MISS OUT ON TAX BREAKS AS YOU HEAD TOWARDS THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR
The end of the financial year is nearly upon us, and it’s time to get in quick and make the most of exemptions before April is upon us. But that’s not all that should be on your financial spring cleaning list.
END OF YEAR SUMMARY – WHAT HAPPENED & WHERE DO WE STAND?
At this moment in time, I feel that the financial indicators for potential profits in the year ahead are positive and many fund managers share this view. We will see (of course) but we are also mindful of a host of new risks but also new opportunities.
THE FINANCIAL GIFT THAT WILL KEEP ON GIVING
Fancy slipping a little monetary something into a loved one’s stocking this holiday season? Stop right there! However well-intentioned the gesture, there are plenty of factors you should consider beforehand to make sure you’re giving in a tax-efficient way that will help you as well as them.
THE BUDGET – OCTOBER 2024
I am sure that you will have followed the news closely in the last couple of days and there will be a lot of comment about the changes announced in the Budget. As financial planners, It is important to be up to date about any changes in the Budget.
THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF THE AUTUMN BUDGET 2024
There has been a lot of comment in the press about the possible changes in the Autumn (end of October) including the potential impact on the ability to withdraw money from a pension completely free of tax (Tax Free Cash).
CATEGORIES
LATEST NEWS
THOUGHTS ON THE IMPACT OF THE BUDGET
In the weeks leading up to the UK Budget, the industry has struggled to read the signs from the Treasury as to what was most likely to happen in the Autumn Statement and what new taxes were to be introduced – we just knew that tax would rise.
IS IT ALL DOOM & GLOOM?
If you watch or read the news at the moment, it’s easy to think the world is falling apart. Political tensions, elections, and talk of global conflict seem to dominate every headline. It can all feel a bit bleak – and when you’re also hearing that some professional investors are ‘turning cautious,’ it’s natural to wonder whether it’s time to be worried. Yet, strangely, the investment markets don’t appear to agree with the headlines.
THE GROWING PROBLEM OF CAPITAL GAINS TAX & INDIVIDUAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
Over the past few years, one of the quietest but most significant shifts in personal taxation has been the steady tightening of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowances. What was once a generous £12,300 annual exemption has been reduced to just £3,000 for the 2024/25 tax year – and there’s every chance that future Budgets or the forthcoming Autumn Statement could push rates higher still.
TAXING PREVIOUSLY TAX-FREE LUMP SUMS – WHAT’S ON THE TABLE FOR THE AUTUMN STATEMENT
Plenty of speculation about the taxes that the Government might introduce – and there is lots of choice but let’s examine the potential for a change to the tax free cash sum that clients normally access on retirement.