INVESTMENTS and SAVINGS

Truly independent advice, and the right investment strategy, are crucial to securing your future financial security and well being. Whether you are looking to invest for income or growth, I can provide quality advice,solutions and an ongoing service to ensure your investments outperform inflation and work for you.

Using a range of carefully constructed and risk-rated funds you can achieve a spread across a wide range of asset types and fund manager styles to create your own personal diversified portfolio solution.   

RETIREMENT PLANNING

Regardless of where you are in life, it is important to receive expert and professional advice on your retirement plans and requirements.

Whether you need to set up a retirement plan or review your existing strategy, I can offer fee free products (sometimes referred to as tax wrappers when investing via a platform) and access to most world-class investment funds. Also, I can check that you are taking full advantage of the new 'pension freedom' rules and regulations and not over-funding your allowances.

PROTECTION

Protecting you, and your family, from unforeseen circumstances that will cause financial hardship is essential now, and in the years to come.  I can provide various types of cover to protect against the financial consequences of death, critical illness and disability on your income and liabilities. 

EQUITY RELEASE

Equity release is a means of releasing a tax-free lump sum from the equity value locked in your home.

There are typically no monthly repayments to make and the money released can in most circumstances be used as you choose. Lifetime mortgages are complex products. I can provide the specialist advice you need and explain your options. 

LONG TERM CARE

The cost of Nursing or Residential Care can be damaging to a person’s wealth. By careful planning it is possible to minimise the impact of these costs and to better protect the value of a person’s estate to pass onto their beneficiaries.

INHERITANCE TAX

This is a tax on death of the value of all your possessions in excess of £325,000 for a single person. Or, in excess of £650,000 on the second death in a marriage or civil partnership. These amounts are normally referred to as the ‘Nil Rate’ Bands or Thresholds because the tax rate up to these limits is ‘Nil’. The rate of Inheritance Tax above the Nil Rate is currently 40%.

From the 6th April 2017, a further Residential Nil Rate can be used against the value of your main residence if passing to a direct descendant. This will be a child (including a step-child, adopted child or foster child) of the deceased, and their lineal descendants. Your inheritance tax liability can be substantially reduced by careful planning; this includes a correctly written and up to date Will, making gifts where appropriate, the use of Life Assurance and Trusts and, in certain circumstances, the use of Equity Release.