Here are some last minute ISA options March 19, 2018 By adding to your ISA pot each year you can build up a considerable tax-free shelter around your investment portfolio. Over time, this could mean higher returns. Time is running out for investors wishing to use the 2017/18 tax year’s £20,000 allowance, and it is lost forever if you do not use it. While it [...]
Bed & ISA: shelter existing shares from tax March 19, 2018 Investing in an ISA is a great way of building up investments tax efficiently. But did you know there is a straightforward means of making Stocks & Shares ISA subscriptions without investing any new money? Simply by using existing shares held outside an ISA in a process known as a “Bed & ISA” you can [...]
Make the most of your tax breaks before the end of the tax year March 15, 2018 ISA allowance ISAs are often the first port of call for investors looking to save tax. They are simple, flexible and tax-efficient. By using your full ISA allowance each year (£20,000 in the current 2017/18 tax year) it’s possible to build up a large pot of money sheltered from capital gains tax or income tax. [...]
Don’t underestimate the power of pensions March 14, 2018 Whether you are new to investing or nearing retirement, pensions are likely to be an important consideration. When you make a contribution to your pension, the government adds money. This is called tax relief and is one of the main advantages of using a pension to save for retirement. Not everyone is aware of this [...]
Five retirement income risks March 13, 2018 Investing always involves taking some risks. However, there are a further set of risks relevant to those in retirement and needing to take income from their investments. These are important to consider when planning finances later in life. We suggest making a full assessment of these risks ahead of retirement, or obtaining advice or guidance [...]
What does investing ethically mean? March 12, 2018 Ethical or socially responsible investing encourages corporate behaviour that promotes environmental stewardship, consumer protection and human rights. In addition, it usually means actively avoiding businesses involved in such areas as alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons or animal testing. The main approaches funds use to ethical investing are: Negative screening – avoiding companies engaged in what are [...]
How to start investing March 9, 2018 A sense of trepidation is normal for first-time investors. While choosing, managing and monitoring your own investments has never been simpler, those new to investing should first get to grips with the basics in order to help avoid any nasty surprises. Here are some of the main factors you should consider. Set your priorities before [...]
How to help keep your investing charges low March 9, 2018 Investors should always be conscious of charges incurred in running their portfolio. Costs such as annual management charges on investment products, platform fees and share dealing charges can all eat into your investment returns. Say you invest £10,000 over 10 years with an annual return of 5%. With no charges your £10,000 will have increased [...]
Five drawdown approaches March 8, 2018 What is drawdown? The pension freedoms introduced in 2016 mean more investors can keep their pension funds invested in retirement and draw out money as they need it, instead of buying an annuity that guarantees them an income for life. An individual moving into pension drawdown can usually take up to 25% of the amount [...]
What are the risks associated with investing? March 8, 2018 We all take a certain amount of risk in life. An existence with no risk would likely be a rather boring one. But it always pays to learn about the risks we might face. Understanding risks helps us avoid them, or else manage our behaviour to try and control them. When it comes to investing [...]
