Yearly Archives: 2023

Pensions – what’s changing?

During the Spring Budget the Chancellor announced several changes to pensions including increasing the Annual Allowance and the Money Purchase Annual Allowance. The changes, the most significant since pensions freedoms in 2015, have largely been met with positivity, bringing greater … Continue reading

IHT goes mainstream

Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts have been consistently rising, with new data from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) showing takings for the 2022-23 tax year totalled £7.1bn, up a massive £1bn from the previous tax year (£6.1bn 2021-22). According to HMRC, … Continue reading

Achieving real financial empowerment

Traditionally, people might have assessed their financial health by simply checking the balance on their bank account or totalling their amassed level of wealth. In recent years, however, a different measure has emerged which seeks to balance financial stability with … Continue reading

Signs of optimism in global economy

Although the global economy continues to face significant headwinds, statistics released during the first few months of this year have revealed unexpected signs of resilience. This has led economists to begin upgrading growth forecasts, while the World Economic Forum’s latest … Continue reading

A pension – the best (retirement) gift for your child?

With the cost of children’s birthday presents and parties often totalling hundreds of pounds – could there be a better way to provide for your child or grandchild? Investing in a pension for your child can provide numerous long-term benefits … Continue reading

Transferring wealth, your way

With the coming years set to see record flows of assets pass down the generations, the thorny issue of wealth transfer has inevitably become an increasingly important financial topic. Seeking professional advice is a crucial step that can help ease … Continue reading

Spring Budget Recap

Jeremy Hunt delivered the Spring Budget on 15 March declaring it “A Budget for Growth.” The fiscal update included a range of new measures, but kicked off with the latest economic projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR): The … Continue reading

Investor confidence returns

A recent survey1 suggests investors are becoming more confident despite ongoing challenges on the economic front. While this is certainly encouraging, maintaining a long-term outlook and retaining a strong sense of discipline in investment positioning remains a prerequisite for any … Continue reading

Taking steps to offset fiscal drag

The gradual reduction of disposable income due to inflation and changes in tax brackets, or frozen tax allowances, will weigh on your finances, causing ‘fiscal drag’.

By implementing various strategies, you can potentially reduce the impact of fiscal drag on your investments and help increase your chances of achieving your long term financial goals.

Potentially the worst thing to do is nothing. By succumbing to inertia, you are more likely to pay increased levels of tax, whether in relation to Income Tax due to the frozen personal allowances and reduced
Dividend Allowance, or other taxes including Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Inheritance Tax (IHT).

The good news – there are legitimate mitigation strategies and, depending on your personal circumstances, allowances and tax reliefs available. By using your Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance or making your pension contributions early in a new tax year you could benefit from extra potential growth, as well as receiving an element of your tax relief earlier on your pension and any
pension contributions. Consider tax-efficient investments, diversify your portfolio and rebalance regularly to ensure your asset allocation remains aligned with your objectives and attitude to risk; rebalancing will help minimise the impact of fiscal drag over time.

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