Serenity

Important pension notice: 55% ‘death tax’ abolished

October 05, 2014 by TIna

Ahead of the major pension changes already announced for April 2015, the Chancellor, George Osborne, this week announced another shift in pension policy that could have a big impact on many savers and their financial planning requirements.

Speaking at the Conservative Party’s Annual Conference, Mr Osborne announced the abolition of a so-called ‘death tax’, which can see any pension remaining on death taxed at a rate of 55%, before it is passed on to a beneficiary. The change, as with the other changes to pensions already announced, will be introduced from April next year.

Is Auto-Enrolment leading us towards a better financial future?

October 03, 2014 by TIna

Category: pensions & retirement & Uncategorized

Half of UK employees on lower incomes and half of those aged 30-49 are now saving adequately for retirement, according to the latest Scottish Widows Workplace Pensions Report, showing the impact of automatic enrolment on the groups that need it most. As the legislation approaches its second anniversary, the annual report from Scottish Widows finds that the number of people on incomes of between £10,000 and £30,000 who are saving adequately for retirement has risen steadily from 34% in 2012 when auto-enrolment was introduced to 50% in 2014.

Families with dependent children lack financial protection

October 03, 2014 by TIna

Category: Protection & Uncategorized

Only a quarter (24%) of adults in the UK with children under 16 have any form of financial protection, a significant drop from 31% in 2013, according to the latest research from the Scottish Widows Protection Report. With over half (54%) of this group admitting that their savings would last just a couple of months if they were unable to work, a significant protection gap exists for families in the UK.

October Market Commentary

October 03, 2014 by TIna

Category: Market commentary & Uncategorized

Throughout the summer this bulletin has been focused on events in the Ukraine, now we have an admittedly uneasy truce in the region and the focus of the world’s discontent has moved elsewhere. At time of writing, pro-democracy protesters are occupying the streets of Hong Kong and a coalition of 40 countries is in the early stage of an attack on ISIS – the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Understanding Active vs Passive investment strategies

September 23, 2014 by TIna

Category: Investments & Uncategorized

The debate about whether a passive or an active investment strategy produces a better return for investors is one that has rumbled amongst financial planners for as long as passive strategies have been in existence. For you as a client, the method favoured by your adviser can have a major impact on your investment experience, so understanding the two different approaches is important.

Babies and breadwinners – a seismically shifting scene

September 19, 2014 by TIna

Category: Lifestyle & Uncategorized

The latest Aviva Family Finance Report shows that the percentage of stay-at-home mums has almost halved since the 1960s and ‘70s, while more families are creating their own bespoke parenting and childcare styles, using a mixture of grandparents, nurseries and part-time work.

Our insights

Important pension notice: 55% ‘death tax’ abolished

Is Auto-Enrolment leading us towards a better financial future?

Families with dependent children lack financial protection

October Market Commentary

Understanding Active vs Passive investment strategies

Babies and breadwinners – a seismically shifting scene

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