Mark Holmes

The tapering of the Personal Allowance means some higher-rate taxpayers effectively pay an Income Tax rate of 60%, sometimes without realising. Fortunately, if you’re affected, there could be ways to reduce your tax bill.  A report in the Telegraph suggests 1.35 million workers were affected by the 60% tax trap in 2023/24. Collectively, they paid […]

When you’re accessing your pension, it’s important to consider the sustainability of your withdrawals. You might have heard of the “4% rule”, which provides a seemingly simple way to calculate how much you can access each year. However, for modern retirees, applying this rule to your pension could be risky.  The 4% rule was first

Rising interest rates have been fantastic news for savers. But it might have left you wondering if you need to pay tax on the interest you’ve earned, and how to pay it if you are liable. According to online bank Marcus, 71% of people were not aware that the interest on savings could be taxed.

The number of retirees who could face an Income Tax bill is expected to rise. If your total income could exceed tax thresholds, there might be some steps you can take to reduce your tax bill. The Personal Allowance is the amount of income you can receive before you usually need to pay Income Tax

When you set out how to reach your financial goals, you might think about the steps you need to take. Just as important could be considering how the unexpected might affect your financial plan. Read on to find out how the unexpected may affect you and how an effective plan could keep you on the

It’s been more than a decade since auto-enrolment was introduced, and now most workers automatically become members of their employer’s pension scheme. While more people saving for retirement is excellent news, it could mean you end up juggling multiple pots. One option is to transfer one pension to another, known as “consolidation”. It’s usually simple

If you’re concerned about running out of money during retirement, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s one of the top financial concerns in the UK. Being proactive and working with a financial planner to create a retirement plan could offer you peace of mind. Read on to find out why. In an Aegon survey, 7

Taking a tax-free lump sum from your pension could be a fantastic way to kickstart your retirement plans. If it’s something you’re thinking about, it’s important to consider the long-term implications and understand how much you could withdraw from your pension before facing a tax bill, as the rules have changed in 2024/25. Previously, you

More than 1 million investors will be hit with a Dividend Tax bill for the first time in the 2024/25 tax year, according to an AJ Bell report. Read on to find out if you could be affected and discover some of the steps you could take to mitigate a tax charge. A dividend is

A survey suggests that some retirees could risk running out of money during their lifetime because they haven’t considered how long their assets need to last. Failing to factor longevity into your retirement plan could mean your later years don’t live up to expectations or you may face financial insecurity. The report published in IFA

The 2024/25 tax year is just a month away, and chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his 2024 Spring Budget, outlining the government’s plans for the next fiscal year and beyond. With a general election looming – prime minister Rishi Sunak has said he will call it before the end of the year – the chancellor

With one eye on a forthcoming general election, the chancellor has announced a Budget aimed at generating long-term growth, with “more investment, more jobs, better public services and lower taxes”. While the headlines will inevitably focus on Jeremy Hunt’s cut in National Insurance contributions (NICs), many less headline-grabbing messages will affect millions of families and

Transitioning into retirement can present new challenges, not least, understanding how to sustainably start using your assets to create an income. As you move into the decumulation phase, you might worry about balancing your needs now with your long-term financial security, but a plan could give you more confidence. Managing the decumulation of assets is

A report suggests that life after 50 will be radically different for those who have recently celebrated the milestone or are nearing it when compared to previous generations, and it could have implications for your financial plan. The research from Aegon looks at how lifestyles are changing for over-50s, dubbing this chapter of life the

For some investors, Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) could present a way to tax-efficiently invest and support innovative businesses that may have high-growth potential. However, VCTs aren’t the right option for everyone. Read on to learn the basics you need to know if you’re thinking about using VCTs to invest. The government introduced VCTs in 1995.

The pension Annual Allowance increased significantly in the 2023/24 tax year. If you haven’t already reviewed whether the changes could mean you can tax-efficiently add more to your pension, doing so before the current tax year ends on 5 April 2024 might be beneficial. The Annual Allowance is up to £60,000 in 2023/24 The Annual

It’s the season for giving. This Christmas, you might be thinking about how you could improve the security of your loved ones by gifting them money or assets. Read on to discover five potentially useful allowances that you might want to consider if your estate could be liable for Inheritance Tax (IHT). Some gifts are

Jeremy Hunt delivered his second Autumn Statement as chancellor on 22 November 2023. While the headline news was cuts to National Insurance rates for employees and self-employed workers, there may have been less attention-grabbing changes that could make your finances easier to manage. Read on to discover how ISA and pension changes might be useful

Eccentric Willy Wonka boasts a lot of enviable skills as a businessman – he’s innovative, understands his target audience, and inspires loyalty from his employees. But his skills at succession planning left a lot to be desired. Over the years many actors have taken up the role of Roald Dahl’s iconic chocolatier Willy Wonka. The

Annuities could provide you with income security in retirement. Despite this being a common goal among many thinking about their future, misconceptions may mean retirees are overlooking annuities. According to a Standard Life study, almost half of over-50s who are aware of annuities say they don’t know how they work. Read on to discover why

Regular financial reviews may help keep you on track to meet your goals and give you confidence in the steps you’re taking. As well as reviewing your assets, you might also want to make changes to your plan. Last month, you read about why you shouldn’t skip your financial reviews and how they could help

While the State Pension may not be your main source of income in retirement, it’s often an important one. If you’re not on track to receive the full amount, there might be things you could do to boost it. For 2023/24, the full new State Pension is £203.85 a week, adding up to around £10,600

A combination of frozen tax thresholds and rising inflation mean an increasing number of retirees need to consider tax. Read on to find out what you need to know about Income Tax in retirement and how you could manage your tax liability. According to the Independent, in 2023/24, 8.5 million over-65s are paying Income Tax

When you access your pension, you can often take a tax-free lump sum. While this may seem an attractive way to fund your early retirement plans, there are some essential things you need to consider first. You can usually access your pension from the age of 55, rising to 57 in 2028. You can typically

As a business owner, have you considered how your firm would cope if it lost a key member of the team unexpectedly? Key person cover could provide a vital cash injection when you need it most, but it’s something many businesses are overlooking. Losing a key person may have a devastating effect on businesses. According