Tax doesn’t end when you stop working
Posted: February 22, 2012 Filed under: Pensions, Retirement, Tax, Uncategorized | Tags: pensions, Retirement, tax Leave a comment »The average UK pensioner household pays out 27 per cent of its income in retirement to the taxman through a combination of direct and indirect taxes which add up to an annual tax bill of more than £34 billion, new analysis* from MetLife shows.
On an average gross pensioner household income of £18,834, that equates to £5,124 paid out in tax, with income tax accounting for nearly £1,300 of the bill and indirect taxes including VAT totalling £2,966. Council tax is the third-largest tax burden accounting for 4.5% of gross income.
Your 2012 ISA – use it or lose it!
Posted: February 20, 2012 Filed under: Investments, ISA, Cash ISA, Stocks & Shares ISA | Tags: investments, ISA, Tax Efficient Saving 1 Comment »Don’t miss out on using your tax-efficient allowance!
An Individual Savings Account (ISA) is a tax-efficient wrapper. Within an ISA you pay no capital gains tax and no further tax on the income, making it one of the most tax-efficient savings vehicles available.
How will you achieve your investment goals?
Posted: February 15, 2012 Filed under: IFA Bath, Independent Financial Advice, Investment Trusts, Investments, Retirement, Stock Markets | Tags: IFA, Independent Financial Advice Bath, investments, Stock Markets, Wealth Management Leave a comment »Gaining prudent exposure to stock exchange investment without putting all your eggs in one basket takes skill and experience.
Investment trusts are a way of gaining prudent exposure to stock exchange investment but without putting all your eggs in one basket. They are often categorised into country and regional funds and sub-divided further into funds that invest only in certain industry sectors.
Investment objectives
Could you afford to be ill and off work?
Posted: February 9, 2012 Filed under: Critical Illness Insurance, Income Protection, Sick pay | Tags: critical illness cover, critical illness insurance, income protection policies, sick pay Leave a comment »Over half of UK workers would be unable to survive financially for more than three months if they were off work.
New research from Aviva reveals that over half of UK workers (52 per cent) would be unable to survive financially for more than three months if they were off work with an illness. Around a third (30 per cent) say they would survive for less than a month. Less than one in ten (9 per cent) say they would remain solvent for a year or more.
Property-focused investment companies
Posted: February 7, 2012 Filed under: Buy-to-Let, Housing market, Investments, Property Investment, Retirement | Tags: Buy-to-Let, Housing Market, investments, Property Investment Leave a comment »Regaining favour with investors as demand for income continues…
The property market has experienced some significant highs and lows since 2008 but is now steadily regaining favour among investors as property-focused investment companies are proving a source of much sought-after income. The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has surveyed property managers for their views on the outlook for the sector.
Identifying the most appropriate Inheritance Tax solution for you
Posted: February 2, 2012 Filed under: Inheritance Tax, Tax | Tags: inheritance tax, tax planning, tax relief Leave a comment »What should you do to reduce, or even eliminate, an Inheritance Tax burden?
Inheritance Tax (IHT) in the UK may be one of life’s unpleasant facts but IHT planning and professional advice could help you pay less tax on your estate. With the current thresholds set to remain at £325,000 for individuals and £650,000 for married couples and registered civil partnerships until 2014, now is the time to consider reviewing your potential liability and finding out what you could do to reduce, or even eliminate, this burden.
The state of the economy and the government’s future plans
Posted: January 25, 2012 Filed under: Pensions | Tags: budget, deficit reduction, fuel duty, tax, UK economy Leave a comment »On 29 November 2011, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, announced the Autumn Statement, which provided an update on the government’s plans for the economy based on the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. These are the key announcements from his speech.
Working for financial need rather than enjoyment
Posted: January 20, 2012 Filed under: Pensions, Retirement, Staff | Tags: pensions, Retirement, saving Leave a comment »More people will have to work later in life to maintain an adequate standard of living.
Some 6.1m of today’s over-50s expect to work past the current state retirement age, according to data from LV=’s Working Late Index. The report reveals that, on average, those planning to work past state retirement age will work for an extra six years, which could see them retiring at age 71 for men and 66 for women based on today’s retirement age.
Get Your Finances Fit For 2012
Posted: January 18, 2012 Filed under: Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax, Investments, ISA, Pensions | Tags: capital gains tax, inheritance tax, pensions, personal allowance, saving, tax planning Leave a comment »Year-end tax planning tips
With further tax increases likely on the horizon, there really is no time like the present to take a step back and look at how you could reduce your taxes and improve your financial planning strategy.
The end of the current 2011/12 tax year is 5 April. We have provided an overview of the key areas you may wish to consider that could help you achieve a more secure future for you and your family.
The hunt for income continues apace
Posted: January 16, 2012 Filed under: Investments Leave a comment »33 per cent of investment companies yielding more than FTSE 100 average yield.
While the hunt for income continues apace, recent figures released by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) demonstrate that 33 per cent of conventional investment companies are yielding more than the FTSE 100 average annual yield of 3.2 per cent. Of these, 66 per cent are trading at a discount to net asset value.
