Personal Planning

Investment

Our approach to clients' investment is based on the following structure:

  • Ascertain clients' objectives and current position including affordability.
  • Determine Attitude to Risk.
  • Propose an asset allocation commensurate with the Attitude to Risk.
  • Put together an investment strategy, within the asset allocation, using the most tax efficient structures.

There are a number of basic tax efficient structures, such as National Savings and Individual Saving accounts (ISA's) that form the bedrock of most investment portfolios. We may then consider Single Premium Investment Bonds, Capital Gains Tax portfolios and Offshore structures. The investment timescale influences a lot of decisions and this can bring into the equation other alternative investments such as Property (Commercial or Residential) and more specialist tax structures.


Capital at risk. Investments and Pensions can go down as well as up.


Pensions (including SIPPs)

The basic structure for retirement planning is the same as our approach for general investments. However, there are certain areas in which we can add significant additional value for our clients;

  • Existing Pensions: If you have had a pension plan for several years, and you haven't reviewed it recently, you may find that it has suffered from poor performance, or has comparatively expensive charges. We can review your old pension plans and identify where cost savings could be made, as well as increasing the potential for better performance.
  • Self Invested Personal Pensions: Many of our high net worth clients ask us to advise on a bespoke pension plan, often including property syndicates and alternative investments.
  • Taking Benefits: With the introduction of new rules surrounding Flexible Drawdown specialist advice is usually required when taking benefits.

Since Pension simplification in 2006, new Pension contracts can differ only slightly. However, we always try to ensure that we only use "Stakeholder costed" contracts for our clients. Where pre April 2006 contracts are in place, we are able to guide clients through the options available to them.


Protection

Protection: This part of our service can range from very simple term assurance to more complicated individual risks, such as Career Ending Injury Insurance for sportsmen. Our areas of advice include:

  • Life Assurance
  • Critical Illness
  • Income Protection
  • Gift Inter Vivos
  • Private Medical Insurance
  • Career Ending Injury Insurance

If you think you may have a need for new or additional cover, or want to assess the competitiveness of your existing polices we can easily and quickly offer you very competitive prices. As well as obtaining great rates for our clients, our knowledge of underwriting and strong relationships with providers mean that we can tailor individual recommendations to ensure the most appropriate cover at a good price.


Inheritance Tax Planning:

There are effectively four ways of reducing a liability to IHT, giving assets away, taking out life assurance, investing in exempt assets and making sure all the exemptions are utilised. Our first step is to help you use your annual allowance effectively and ensure that your will is written correctly. We then check your existing Life and Pension polices to make sure you are using the available Trusts and Benefit Nominations correctly. These are low cost areas for clients and often do everything that is needed to reduce the Inheritance Tax liability. Then, as appropriate, we can move into the more technical and detailed areas of planning such as:

  • AIM Portfolios
  • Discounted Gift Trusts

AIM Portfolios invest in assets that are high risk and can be difficult to sell such as shares in unlisted companies. The value of the investment and the income from it can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back what they originally invested, even taking into account the tax benefits

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Inheritance Tax and Trust planning, Will Writing, taxation and Trust advice.

Tax treatment varies according to individual circumstances and is subject to change.