Do you often review your finances? Or do you just hope for the best? Although managing finances may not be the most exciting activity, keeping track of your financial wellbeing can make a significant difference to your life, both in the present and in the future. Taking control of your finances will enable you to meet your financial goals and improve your overall financial health.
April brought a host of changes to the UK’s tax regime, with some thresholds for taxes such as additional rate Income Tax being lowered while others, such as Corporation Tax, are increased.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s first proper Budget 2023, on Wednesday 15 March, brought some welcome but unexpected changes to pension tax. The changes are designed to alleviate the impact of strict pension rules, which are believed by Mr Hunt to have had a negative impact on the country’s labour market.
Semi-retirement is an option to consider for individuals who may not be ready to fully retire, but still wish to reduce their work hours and gradually phase out working life. By choosing to semi-retire, you can maintain a good work-life balance while still earning an income.
The State Pension age is set to rise to 67 by 2028, followed by a subsequent rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046. However, there is currently a review being conducted to determine the appropriateness of the existing timetable.
Cost averaging, or pound cost averaging, is an investment approach that involves dividing up the total amount to be invested into equal amounts and investing these at regular intervals over a period of time.
People are increasingly becoming more concerned about the possibility of being affected by a critical illness such as cancer, stroke or heart attack, according to new research findings[1]. This is reflected in the fact that searches for ‘critical illness insurance’ have skyrocketed, with, on average, 6,800 people searching for ‘critical illness cover’ every month, mostly asked on Google.
Financial planning can be a daunting and uncomfortable conversation for many, but thankfully attitudes towards talking about money are changing. Wealth succession should be an integral part of your financial plan as early as possible – because the right preparation now can have positive long-term impacts on future generations.
For anyone feeling the effects of rising inflation rates, it’s important to ensure that your retirement fund isn’t significantly impacted. While this can be challenging in such an uncertain economic climate, there are measures you can take to ensure that your savings don’t suffer.
When it comes to managing your finances, the wealth of resources now available can make it easy to try and go it alone. However, obtaining the right advice from a qualified professional financial adviser will ensure you are able to plan ahead by including expectations for items such as inflation, market declines and your protection requirements, so you can stay on track.
The professional advice received from a financial adviser can make it easier to understand your financial situation and help you create strategies for better money management. They will be able to provide tailored advice that considers your individual circumstances, goals and needs.
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a form of taxation imposed on profits earned from the sale of certain types of assets. Gains are calculated by subtracting the purchase price and related expenses (such as sales charges) from the selling price. They are generally taxed at a rate higher than income taxes in order to discourage speculation.
