TIPS Financial Magazine Mar/Apr

Welcome to the latest edition of our TIPS Financial Magazine for March and April 2020. At the time of writing this issue, Sajid Javid had resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer with less than a month to go until Budget Day. His replacement, Rishi Sunak, will deliver the budget on 11 March 2020. In our…

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Wealth transfer and the next generation

We spend a lifetime generating wealth and assets but not many of us ensure that it will be passed to the next generation – our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and so on. Intergenerational wealth transfer is the passage of wealth from one family generation to the next. It’s becoming increasingly important for more people to…

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Simplifying and maximising retirement benefits

Pension consolidation is considered one way of simplifying and maximising retirement benefits. The employment landscape has evolved significantly over the last few decades, and changing jobs multiple times before retirement is now very much the norm. As a result, many people have multiple pensions set up, as they have been automatically enrolled into a new…

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Lifetime Transfers

If appropriate, you can transfer some of your assets while you’re alive – these are known as ‘lifetime transfers’. While we are all free to do this whenever we want, it is important to be aware of the potential implications of such gifts with regard to Inheritance Tax. The main types are ‘potentially exempt transfers’…

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It’s important to have a Will

If you want to be sure your wishes are met after you die, then it’s important to have a Will. A Will is the only way to make sure your money and possessions that form your estate go to the people and causes you care about. Unmarried partners, including same-sex couples who don’t have a…

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How prepared are you for retirement?

You work hard to enjoy your current lifestyle, but how prepared are you for retirement so that you can continue that same lifestyle? Many of us live for today, but saving into a private pension plan can help you retire sooner rather than later and planning ahead helps ensure you’re on track. The term ‘private…

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Setting financial goals

It’s important that you’re setting financial goals and we look at how you can create financial goals that you can actually achieve. Taking control of our financial life requires planning, and that starts with setting financial goals. Setting short-term, mid-term and long-term financial goals is an important step towards becoming financially secure and independent. We…

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Calculating the value of financial advice

Calculating the value of financial advice has always been a challenge, but what if it was now possible to quantify the value of financial advice and isolate a pure ‘advice effect’ This is exactly what the researchers at the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC) have been able to calculate. What it’s worth The new…

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Retiring abroad

When it comes to retiring abroad, prior preparation is key for a smooth transition into your new life. It’s a dream for many that after years of hard work, it’s finally time to travel to far-off lands and enjoy your retirement without worrying about finances. With some planning beforehand, the dream of retiring abroad can…

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Retirees have a whole host of options

The pension freedoms, introduced on 6 April 2015, have given retirees a whole host of options. There is no longer a compulsory requirement to purchase an annuity (a guaranteed income for life) when you retire. The introduction of pension freedoms brought about fundamental changes to the way we can access our pension savings. There is…

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Estate Protection

Estate protection is an important part of wealth management, no matter how much wealth you have built up. It’s the process of making a plan for how your assets will be distributed upon your death or incapacitation. As a nation, we are reluctant to talk about inheritance. Through estate planning, however, you can ensure your…

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Tax-efficient investing

In this article we look at tax-efficient investing and some of the legitimate ways for higher earners to reduce a tax bill. Without a carefully developed tax planning strategy, higher-rate taxpayers run the risk of missing out on key tax benefits and paying more in taxes than necessary. A higher tax liability can diminish the…

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