Serenity

Annuity or State Pension top-up?

March 24, 2015 by TIna

Hymans Robertson, the independent pensions and risk consultancy, says that as a consequence of the retirement revolution from April 2015, current retirees and those retiring before 2016 will have the opportunity to buy additional State Pension before the flat rate State Pension is introduced in April 2016. For some, it could cost much less to secure additional lifetime annual income this way than through buying an open market annuity. Up to 12 million people will be eligible.

Planning a business exit: Eight ways to maximise value and attract buyers

March 23, 2015 by TIna

Category: Business & Uncategorized

Most business owners go into business planning to make profits and to maximise the value of the business ready for selling when they exit. Then many fail to either maximise or extract their business’ value, because they don’t have the strategy to do so. This should include a plan to ensure that the business is attractive and valuable and a plan for marketing and selling the business. Here are eight tips to focus on to help with your business exit:

With Pension Reform come Pension Pot Scams!

March 20, 2015 by TIna

Category: pensions & Uncategorized

One in ten pensioners has been approached by a fraudster looking to gain access to their cash, according to recent research. The study from MetLife found people in South West Britain were most vulnerable to scams with 14% of retirees targeted, compared to just 3% in the East and 5% in Scotland. In a Pension Professionals article, it was reported that the research found people saving for retirement were three times more likely to be approached about accessing their pension pots since the pension freedoms were announced in the 2014 Budget.

How good is the prospect of retirement security in the UK?

March 19, 2015 by TIna

Category: pensions & retirement & Uncategorized

The UK has slipped by four places to 22nd in a global survey looking at the countries with the best – and worst – retirement security, according to a recent Professional Pensions article. Switzerland was named the top performer in the Natixis Global Asset Management CoreData Global Retirement Index (GRI), followed by Norway, Australia and Iceland.

Budget Summary 2015: The Election Budget

March 19, 2015 by TIna

Category: Uncategorized

Introduction and Political Background

As the Chancellor stood up to speak on Wednesday March 18th there were less than 50 days to go until the General Election on May 7th. The opinion polls – and the bookmakers – still had the Conservatives marginally ahead, with David Cameron expected to remain in 10 Downing Street after the Election. But no one expected the Conservative party to have a clear majority and, as many commentators remarked, the ‘campaign’ so far had done nothing to capture the public imagination.

Pensions Reform – tax opportunities and pitfalls

March 08, 2015 by TIna

Category: Uncategorized

The pension freedom reforms are being accompanied by a flurry of tax changes in April. Savers could be able to pass on what’s left of their pension pots to loved ones tax-free after death, after the Chancellor announced the scrapping of the 55 per cent tax rate currently applied to funds left to children.

Our insights

Annuity or State Pension top-up?

Planning a business exit: Eight ways to maximise value and attract buyers

With Pension Reform come Pension Pot Scams!

How good is the prospect of retirement security in the UK?

Budget Summary 2015: The Election Budget

Introduction and Political Background

Pensions Reform – tax opportunities and pitfalls

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