What is estate planning?
Estate planning sets out how your assets will be distributed, who they will go to, and when. Without making an estate plan or a Will, the Intestacy rules will be used to decide what happens to your assets.
Inheritance Tax
What is Inheritance Tax?
Inheritance tax is a tax on the estate of someone who’s died. The executors of your Will need to pay any IHT before your assets can pass to your beneficiaries – which may prevent them from inheriting.
What to do when someone dies
What does the executor need to do next? How do you register a death? How do you obtain probate? All this, and more about the costs associated with passing on an estate from Wren Sterling’s Head of Later Life Advice.
How will the 2018 Budget affect me?
While we wait to understand how Brexit will affect us, there are a number of changes coming this year, many recently announced in the 2018 Autumn Budget. We’ve created this article about what these changes are and how they might affect you.
The constraints of making gifts under a Power of Attorney
Can I make gifts as a Power of Attorney? It’s a common question, and the answer is yes – but there are strict rules to be adhered to. Neil MacGillivray, Head Of Technical Support at James Hay explains.
How can you save Inheritance Tax (IHT) on your home?
Structuring your estate correctly can lead to big savings if you understand the complexities of inheritance tax Currently all individuals in the UK have a nil rate band of £325,000 each. This means that on death, if the value of your estate (all your cash, assets, investments and personal chattels) is less than £325,000 (or [...]
Using trusts to preserve wealth for future generations
Varied and versatile, your adviser may discuss trusts with you when making their recommendation. They’re a useful part of an adviser’s tool box – allowing you to set aside assets for specified beneficiaries. Find out more about how they can be used, and the controls you can set.
Will the taxman be the main beneficiary of your estate?
News headlines of tax avoidances schemes can be unsettling, especially if you worked to protect the assets you have a built up over many years to go to your chosen beneficiaries rather the tax man.
Is your children’s lifeline of credit leaving you in need of a lifebelt?
The Bank of Mum and Dad is now our ninth largest mortgage provider, up a place in the rankings from the year before. And the parental (and grand parental) generosity doesn’t stop there. Justin Urquhart Stewart, of Seven Investment Management, expands on families financial habits.
Why are some people cashing in final salary pension schemes?
In recent years final salary pension schemes have been phased out by employers because people are living for longer and the uncrystallised liabilities are wreaking havoc with corporate balance sheets. Robert Blumberger explains why this is happening and sounds a cautionary note for those attracted to the idea of transferring.