We tend to think of Wills as a simple list of ‘who gets what’ when we’re gone. But the truth is, a well-planned Will is one of the most powerful financial tools you’ll ever have.
NEWS
Trusts
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.
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR…WHEN THE FESTIVITIES ARE OVER HOW ABOUT A FAMILY GET-TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE FAMILY FINANCES!
Getting everyone in your circle of loved ones on board and informed is the key to successful Inheritance Tax planning.
IS THERE A TRUST THAT YOU HAVEN’T REGISTERED?
It feels a little late in the day and somewhat locking the door after the horse has bolted as Trusts that are caught by the new rules should have registered in the UK last September.
LATEST NEWS
MANAGING RISK: THE INVESTMENT CONVERSATION WE DON’T HAVE OFTEN ENOUGH
When people talk about investing, the conversation usually centres around returns – this is the exciting bit. Which fund is performing best? Which market is rising fastest? What opportunities are available today? How much of a return might I make! What often receives far less attention is risk and how to think about it in the real world, i.e. how it impacts day to day.
THE COST OF CARE
I am writing this because most families meet the care system for the first time in exactly this way: in the middle of a crisis. That is the worst possible moment to be learning the rules. A little understanding now is worth a great deal later.
REAL ASSETS & HOW THEY ADD VALUE
In his book Pioneering Portfolio Management, the former CIO of the Yale endowment, David Swensen, helped popularise the idea that long-term portfolios should extend beyond traditional stocks and bonds to include assets linked to the real economy and alternative assets such as hedge funds. First published in 2000, the book drew on lessons from investing across a range of market environments, including periods of elevated inflation.
CAPITAL GAINS TAX – A CHANGED LANDSCAPE
For most of the past two decades, Capital Gains Tax (CGT) has been a relatively peripheral concern for the majority of investors. The annual exempt amount – the amount of gains you can realise each year free of tax – was generous enough that many clients could rebalance portfolios, fund ISA contributions, and take profits without a CGT liability arising at all. That position has changed significantly.