Month: July 2023

Inflation continues to be a challenge for economies around the world, but figures released in June suggest the pressure is starting to ease. Read on to discover some of the factors that influenced investment markets during June. 

Remember, you should take a long-term view when investing, as markets can experience short-term volatility. If you have any questions about the market or what movements mean for you, please get in touch. 

UK

Inflation in the UK remains stubbornly high – it was 8.7% in the 12 months to May 2023.

In response to high inflation, the Bank of England once again increased its base interest rate. As of June 2023, the rate is 5% – the highest it’s been since 2008. The move is set to place significant pressure on both households and businesses. 

Rising interest rates are having a direct effect on mortgages. According to Moneyfacts, the average two-year fixed-rate deal hit 6% and thousands of families will face higher outgoings as a result. 

In fact, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research warned 4% (1.2 million) of all households will run out of savings because of higher mortgage repayments and become insolvent by the end of the year.

Unsurprisingly, rising mortgage interest rates are affecting the property market. New mortgage approvals and property prices have both stalled. Ratings agency Moody’s predicts property prices could fall by 10% over the next two years. 

Despite increasing interest rates for borrowers, many people aren’t seeing the interest rate on their savings increase as much. The chair of the Treasury Committee, Harriet Baldwin MP, said banks need to “up their game” to encourage saving. 

From a business perspective, the Insolvency Service linked interest rates and the rising cost of living to the 40% increase in company insolvencies in May when compared to a year earlier. 

Retail businesses are also facing difficulties as consumers curb their spending. Business advisory firm BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker shows retail sales fell 1.5% in May when compared to 2022. Online sales were hit particularly hard and declined by 3.3%. 

With many businesses uncertain about the months ahead, some are cutting back on hiring new employees. A job survey from KPMG reveals permanent staff appointments fell for the eighth consecutive month.

Economic data for the UK paints a mixed picture.

The good news is the UK avoided falling into a recession, though experts warn there are still risks. Growth in April 2023 means the UK economy has finally recovered from its Covid-19 slump and it is now above pre-pandemic levels. 

However, the national debt hit 100% of GDP. National borrowing is at its highest level since 1961. Figures show borrowing more than doubled in May as it was affected by the cost of energy support schemes, inflation-linked benefit payments, and interest payments on debt. 

Despite the challenges of high inflation and Brexit, there was some good news for the financial services sector. According to a report from EY, the City of London is still the most attractive destination for financial services investment in Europe. 

Europe 

The eurozone has fallen into a recession. Data from Eurostat shows eurozone GDP fell by 0.1% between January and March this year, following a decline in the final quarter of 2022.  

However, the wider EU swerved a recession after GDP increased by 0.1% in the first three months of the year. 

Inflation in the eurozone fell to its lowest level since the start of the war in Ukraine – consumer prices increased by 6.1% in the year to May. This was partly attributed to energy prices falling.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said rising corporate profits were fuelling Europe’s inflation, as companies have increased prices by more than spiking costs of imported energy. The organisation said profits accounted for 45% of the price rises since the start of 2022. 

Despite inflation easing, Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank (ECB), warned there was no clear evidence that underlying inflation in the eurozone had peaked yet. 

In response to inflation figures, the ECB increased interest rates by 25 basis points. Lagarde also said the central bank could raise rates again in July.

The challenges firms are facing were reflected in the Ifo Institute’s business climate index as Germany experienced a larger decline than expected. Clemens Fuest, the president of the organisation, said: “Sentiment in the German economy has clouded over noticeably.” 

US

Inflation in the US fell in May when compared to a month earlier to 4%. Declining energy prices, which were 11.7% lower than they were a year ago, helped to reduce the overall rate. 

There was good news in the US when the Labor Department announced 339,000 jobs were added in May – far higher than the 190,000 previously predicted. It led to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index of 30 of the US’s largest companies, jumping by 2.1% at the start of June. 

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investing in property is often seen as a savvy way to boost your long-term wealth. But, if you’re thinking about becoming a landlord, there are three taxes you need to factor into your plans to avoid an unforeseen bill. 

Property prices have steadily increased in recent decades, so it’s not surprising that people are considering property investments. Even after short-term downturns in the market, such as the one that followed the 2008 financial crisis, property prices have recovered. 

The average UK house price at the start of 2013 was almost £168,000, according to Land Registry data. A decade later, it had increased to more than £288,000. So, historically, property investors have had the opportunity to generate a sizeable return. 

Of course, as well as the property increasing in value, landlords hope to receive a regular income from tenants too. 

High inflation and stock market volatility mean more people are thinking about how they could use property to improve their long-term financial wellbeing. A report in FTAdviser suggests a quarter of savers plan to invest in property to support their retirement goals.

Before you move ahead with plans to purchase a buy-to-let property, there are lots of pros and cons you should weigh up first. Among the areas to consider are the taxes associated with buying a second property and being a landlord, including these three. 

1. Stamp Duty

When buying a second property, the first tax charge you’re likely to need to pay is Stamp Duty. 

This is a tax you pay when purchasing property or land. There is usually a 3% Stamp Duty surcharge when buying a second property, including a property you intend to use as a buy-to-let.

For 2023/24, the Stamp Duty tax rates for a second property in England and Northern Ireland are:

The government’s Stamp Duty calculator can help you understand what charge you may need to pay. 

You should note, Scotland and Wales have similar taxes when purchasing property. However, the thresholds and rates are different. 

Normally, you’ll need to pay any Stamp Duty due within 30 days from the completion of the purchase. As a result, it’s essential that you’ve calculated the bill and included it in your budget for buying a buy-to-let property. 

2. Income Tax

If you’re renting out a property, you’ll usually pay Income Tax on the profit. 

The profit you make will be added to any other income you receive, such as your salary. So, the rate of Income Tax you pay as a landlord will depend on which tax bracket you’re in. You should be mindful of property income pushing you unexpectedly into a higher tax bracket. 

There are potentially ways to reduce your Income Tax bill as a landlord. However, allowances are not as generous as they were in the past, so it’s important to calculate your expected bill when deciding if investing in property is right for you. 

You can deduct “allowable expenses” from your rental income when calculating profit. These expenses must be wholly and exclusively for the purpose of renting out the property.

You could, for example, deduct general maintenance work, like repairing a leaking roof, treating damp, or replacing existing fixtures and fittings. However, you cannot deduct improvements, such as switching laminate kitchen countertops for high-end granite ones.

It’s also no longer possible to deduct mortgage expenses from your rental income to reduce your tax bill, although you may receive a tax credit on 20% of your mortgage interest payments.

So, while there may be ways you can reduce Income Tax on the rental yield, you could still face a significant bill that you need to weigh against the profit. 

3. Capital Gains Tax

When you’re thinking about investing in property, you may not have considered when you’ll sell it or the tax charge you could face when you do. However, it’s a crucial part of understanding if buy-to-let makes financial sense for you. 

You pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) when you make a profit when you sell certain assets, including property that isn’t your main home. The CGT rate depends on the rate of Income Tax you pay and the size of your gain. For residential property, it can be as much as 28%. 

The CGT annual exempt amount could provide you with a way to reduce the bill when you sell buy-to-let property. In 2023/24, you can make a profit of up to £6,000 before CGT is due. In 2024/25, the CGT exempt amount will halve to £3,000. 

Keep in mind that the CGT exempt amount covers gains made when you sell some other assets too. So, if you’ve sold shares for a profit during the same tax year, you’ll need to consider how this would affect your CGT exempt amount and your overall bill. 

Calculating CGT can be complex, and seeking tailored financial advice can be useful. 

Do you have questions about buy-to-let mortgages?

There are some key differences between traditional and buy-to-let mortgages. If you’re considering buying a buy-to-let property and have questions, from how much you could borrow to how much the repayments could be, please contact us. 

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

Buy-to-let (pure) and commercial mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loans secured on it.

When people think about inheritances, they often view it as a lump sum. But you could leave your loved ones an inheritance that will deliver a passive income, and, in some cases, it’s an option that could improve their financial security.

Take the work of author J. R. R. Tolkien – his family still benefit from the passive income the copyright his work delivers 50 years after he passed away. 

More than 80 years after the first edition of The Hobbit was released, Tolkien’s work is still hugely popular. Every year, his works generate tens of millions of pounds in royalties. 

In fact, it’s thought Amazon paid as much as $250 million (£198 million) for the right to produce TV shows based on Tolkien’s work in 2017 – that’s 1,000 times more than Tolkien sold the movie and merchandise rights for in 1969. This money goes to the Tolkien estate. 

Once you add up royalties from the books, film adaptions, and a range of licenced products, the Tolkien estate provides the author’s descendants with a huge amount of financial freedom. 

You don’t have to pen a literary classic to leave your loved ones with assets that could provide them with a passive income. 

There are lots of options that may be right for your family. For instance, passing on dividend-paying shares could provide them with an income. Or leaving behind a buy-to-let property is another option.

If you’re worried about how your family will cope financially over the long term or manage a lump sum, an inheritance that delivers an income could put your mind at ease. However, it may not be straightforward and there are some questions to consider first. 

1. How would you pass the assets on?

If you want to leave a passive income to your family, there’s more than one way to do so. You should weigh up the pros and cons of the different options, including these three: 

• Gifting during your lifetime: You may want to pass on assets during your lifetime. This could improve your loved ones’ financial security now and mean you can see the benefits of your gift. Before gifting, assessing your own financial security is useful – could taking assets out of your estate now affect your lifestyle or security in the future? 
• Leaving assets in a will: By writing a will, you can state who you want to receive assets when you pass away. Assets would usually be given directly to the beneficiary once the probate process is complete. 
• Placing assets in a trust: If you want to place restrictions on how and when the assets can be used, a trust may provide a solution. For example, you can place assets that will deliver a passive income in the trust, but not allow the beneficiary to sell the assets. Trusts can be complex and it’s important they’re set up with your goals in mind, so legal and financial advice may be useful. 

In some cases, you may want to mix the above options and still leave a traditional inheritance. For example, your child may receive a passive income through shares you’ve placed in a trust and receive other assets when you pass away because you’ve named them in your will. 

A tailored estate plan allows you to create a solution that suits your goals.

2. What tax could be due on your estate and the income the assets generate? 

If the value of your entire estate exceeds certain thresholds, it may be liable for Inheritance Tax (IHT). With a standard rate of 40%, IHT can significantly reduce what you leave behind for loved ones, and you may want to consider which assets your family could use to pay a potential bill.

There are often steps you can take to reduce a potential IHT bill during your lifetime. If IHT is a concern, please contact us to talk about the steps you could take. 

As well as IHT, if your family receive an income from the assets, they may need to pay Income Tax on the gains. The rate of tax they pay will depend on other income they receive, such as their salary. So, understanding the tax position of your beneficiaries might be important when you’re deciding how to pass on wealth. 

In addition, if they decided to sell the assets, they may need to pay Capital Gains Tax. So, understanding how they would use the assets they inherit could help minimise a tax bill. 

3. Does inheriting a passive income make sense for your beneficiaries? 

Before you decide to leave loved ones a passive income, it may be useful to discuss your plans with your beneficiaries.

Understanding what their goals and challenges are can help you leave an inheritance that suits their needs. While a passive income may mean they are financially stable, it might not be suitable for other goals. For example, if they want to purchase a home, a lump sum inheritance could make more sense. 

Of course, you can pass on passive income assets to your loved ones without restrictions on how they use it. So, they could choose to sell the assets if they’d prefer a lump sum. 

You could also involve your family in the estate planning process. It would provide an opportunity to talk about the different options and how they might use an inheritance.

Introducing your loved ones to financial planning could mean they make informed decisions that improve their financial wellbeing in the short and long term. 

If you involve your family in the process, you don’t have to share all the details of your financial plan. You can decide which aspects of the plan and assets you discuss. 

Get in touch to talk about your estate plan and passing on a passive income 

If you want to discuss how you could support your family with a passive income, please contact us.

We can help you understand what your options are and how you could provide long-term financial support to your loved ones through an inheritance. We can also work with children, grandchildren, or other beneficiaries to ensure you’re all on the same page and they get the most out of the gift you leave them. 

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate will writing, estate planning, or tax planning. 

After more than a decade of low interest rates, many people will be pleased to see the amount their savings are earning is starting to rise. Yet, it could mean you need to pay a tax charge. 

Interest from saving accounts may be liable for Income Tax. When the average interest rate was below 1%, you usually had to have a substantial amount held in cash accounts to face a tax charge. However, as interest rates rise, you could unexpectedly cross the tax threshold.

So, read on to find out when you need to pay tax on interest and how you could avoid a bill. 

Do you benefit from the Personal Savings Allowance?

The Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) lets you earn interest on savings without paying tax. Not everyone benefits from the PSA, and the amount varies depending on your Income Tax bracket.

For 2023/24, the PSA is:

• £1,000 a year if you’re a basic-rate taxpayer
• £500 a year if you’re a higher-rate taxpayer
• £0 if you’re an additional-rate taxpayer. 

The PSA covers any interest you earn from savings accounts, as well as corporate bonds, government bonds, and gilts. It could also include interest earned on other currencies you hold in a UK-based savings account.

If the interest you earn exceeds the PSA, or you don’t benefit from it, it’s added to your other income when calculating tax liability. So, if you’re an additional-rate taxpayer, you could pay 45% tax on the interest your savings earn. 

Usually, HMRC will make changes to your tax code to cover the tax charge on the interest you earn. For example, you may get a lower Personal Allowance if you exceeded the PSA in the previous tax year.

You don’t normally need to act to pay the tax, but you should let HMRC know if the interest you earn is no longer above the PSA so they can adjust your tax code accordingly. 

Using your ISA allowance could reduce your tax bill

If you’re not using your ISA allowance, doing so could reduce your tax bill.

In 2023/24, your annual ISA allowance is £20,000. The interest cash savings generate when they’re held in a Cash ISA are free from Income Tax. So, if you could exceed the PSA, it’s worth reviewing if you’re using your full ISA allowance and the interest rates available on Cash ISAs. 

To access the most competitive interest rates from an ISA, there may be additional requirements. For instance, some may require you to deposit a set amount each month or won’t allow you to make withdrawals for several years. Make sure you assess the terms and conditions of an account and that it suits your needs first. 

A savings account may not be the most appropriate place for your money

While interest rates are increasing, if you benefit from the PSA, you’ll typically need to have a substantial amount held in your savings account before a tax charge is due. 

According to MoneySavingExpert, as of May 2023, a top easy access account pays an interest rate of 3.71% (AER). With this interest rate:

• A basic-rate taxpayer could place £26,954 into the account before exceeding the PSA
• A higher-rate taxpayer could deposit £13,477 into the account before facing a tax charge.  

Savings accounts play an important role in many financial plans. As well as being useful for your day-to-day spending, they often make sense for your emergency fund, which you want easy access to. However, you should be mindful of keeping large sums in cash accounts, as the value may fall in real terms.

While an interest rate of 3.71% may seem good when you compare it to recent years, it’s still much lower than the rate of inflation. When the cost of goods and services rises at a faster pace than your savings are growing, the value of savings in real terms decreases. 

If you could face a tax charge because you’re holding large sums in cash, it may be worth looking at alternatives. One option, depending on your circumstances, could be to invest, which may potentially deliver returns that keep pace with inflation. However, there are still tax considerations if you decide to invest.

Creating a tailored plan could help you get the most out of your money and manage your tax liability. 

Contact us to review your financial plan

Factors outside of your control affect your financial plan, from rising interest rates to inflation. As a result, it’s important to review your plan with these circumstances in mind to ensure it’s still appropriate for reaching your long-term goals. 

If you have any questions about how rising interest rates or other factors may affect you, please get in touch.

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Spending too much money in retirement is a common fear. Yet, some retirees struggle with the opposite challenge – they spend too little. Read on to find out why and what you can do if you’re too frugal in retirement.

Underspending once you give up work may be more common than you think. It’s easy to see why some retirees adopt this approach. As many retirees are responsible for managing their income and ensuring it lasts, there is a real danger of overspending and facing a shortfall in your later years. 

In fact, interactive investor’s The Great British Retirement Survey found 40% of retirees worry about running out of money. 

However, underspending can be dangerous in a different way. It could mean you don’t get the most out of your retirement despite working hard to achieve financial security later in life. 

Striking a balance to sustainably use your assets in retirement is just as much about your mindset as it is about wealth.  

Switching from a saving to a spending mindset

One of the key challenges for some retirees is that they need to change how they view and use money when they enter retirement. 

For decades, you may have prioritised building your wealth. From adding to an investment portfolio to contributing to a pension, a saving mindset may have been important to reach your goals. 

However, many people start to deplete the assets they’ve built up in retirement. Even though you’ve diligently saved so you can use your assets now, it can be difficult to switch to a spending mindset. After all, you may have developed positive saving habits over the years that are difficult to break. 

You may also have heard of “rules” about using your wealth that could curb your spending.

Perhaps you’ve read that you shouldn’t withdraw more than 4% each year from your pension. While this may be a useful guide, keep in mind that what is a sustainable income for you will depend on a whole range of factors, from the age you retire to other assets you may have.

So, creating a plan that’s tailored to you can give you the confidence to enjoy your retirement while considering long-term security.   

4 reasons why financial planning could help you spend more in retirement 

While you may think of financial planning as focusing on growing your wealth, it’s about creating a plan that helps you reach life goals. For some retirees, that plan could be to increase their spending. There are several ways financial planning could help, including: 

1. Assessing how long assets need to last

One of the difficulties of knowing how much to spend in retirement is that it’s impossible to know how long your assets need to provide an income.

Considering life expectancy is a key part of a financial plan. This means you can understand what spending is sustainable for you and provide peace of mind if you’re worried about running out of money. 

2. Demonstrating how the value of your assets could change

A useful financial planning tool is cashflow forecasting. It can help you visualise how different decisions will affect the value of your assets. 

Cashflow forecasting works by inputting information and making certain assumptions, such as estimated investment returns. While the results cannot be guaranteed, it’s an effective way to see the potential outcomes of different scenarios. 

So, you could see the effect on your assets if you increased the income you take from your pension by 20% throughout retirement. Or whether you could afford to double your outgoings for three years to tick off bucket list goals, before returning to a lower income. 

If you’re frugal in retirement because you’re worried about the long-term effects, cashflow forecasting could demonstrate how your decisions will affect your finances in the short and long term. 

3. Creating a reliable income if it’s right for you

Some retirees struggle with the uncertainty of their retirement income. For example, if you use flexi-access drawdown to access your pension, investment returns could affect its value. You may worry about what would happen if the markets experienced a downturn. 

There are ways to create a reliable income and some will find this provides peace of mind.

For example, an annuity is something you can purchase, which would then deliver an income for the rest of your life. If you know the income from an annuity will cover your essential expenses, you may feel more comfortable spending other assets on things you enjoy.

What’s appropriate will depend on your circumstances and priorities. You can speak to us about ways you could create a reliable income in retirement. 

4. Giving you someone to turn to

Even with a financial plan in place, there may be times when you still need some reassurance. Perhaps you’re not sure if investment volatility will affect your income sustainability. Or you want to withdraw a lump sum to spend on a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but don’t understand how it’ll affect your finances long term.

Once you have a financial plan in place, regular reviews with your financial planner can help you keep it up to date.

Want help understanding your retirement income? Contact us

If you are retired or nearing the milestone and aren’t sure how much you can sustainably spend, please contact us. We’ll help you review your finances and goals to create a plan that reflects your needs. 

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate cashflow planning.

When you’re making investment decisions, balancing risk is an essential part of the process. Creating a risk profile can help you understand which investments are appropriate for you. 

Last month, you read about the benefits of investing and how it could boost your wealth over the long term. While investing can be a valuable way to increase wealth, it also comes with risks. So, read on to find out more about investment risk and five of the key factors you need to consider when deciding how much risk to take. 

All investments carry some risk. You cannot guarantee returns and you may not get back the full amount you invested. 

However, the level of risk can vary greatly between different investment opportunities. So, understanding how much risk is appropriate for you is vital. Before you invest, answering these questions can help you balance potential returns and risk. 

1. What is your investment goal?

One of the first things to consider before investing is to set out why you want to invest. 

The level of investment risk that’s appropriate for creating a base income in retirement could be very different than if you’re investing to increase your disposable income. 

How important goals are to you may also affect how much risk you want to take. For instance, if you’ve built up a nest egg to support your child through university, you may be reluctant to take a higher level of risk because you don’t want to potentially lose your savings, even if it could mean greater returns.  

2. What is your investment time frame?

Setting an investment goal is also essential for understanding how long you’ll be invested for.

As a general rule, it can be sensible to invest for a minimum of five years. Historically, markets have delivered returns over a longer time frame, but there are periods of volatility where investment values may fall. By investing over years, you have more chance of these peaks and troughs smoothing out. 

Usually, the longer you’ll be investing for, the more risk you can afford to take. However, a long time frame doesn’t automatically mean you should take a high amount of risk, and you still need to consider other factors. 

3. What other assets do you hold?

Rather than seeing potential investments in isolation, it instead be helpful to look at them as part of your wider financial plan.

By assessing other assets and the risk they pose, you can create a balance across your plan that suits you. You may need to consider how your pension is invested, what cash savings you hold, or the value of property you own. 

If you have a reliable income and assets that can provide long-term security, you may be in a position to take more investment risk. 

4. What is your capacity for loss?

As all investments carry some risk, you might want to consider what would happen if your investment fell in value. How would it affect your short- and long-term plans? 

No one wants to suffer an investment loss. Yet, knowing that you could absorb declines in value or volatility in the market is vital when assessing which opportunities are right for you. 

If investment losses could have a significant effect on your lifestyle or mean you’d face financial challenges, you may want to consider alternatives to create financial stability first. 

5. How do you feel about investment risk?

Finally, how you feel about risk is important too. Feeling comfortable with the investment you’re making and confident in your long-term plan is crucial. 

Feeling nervous about investments can lead to you making decisions that could harm your wealth. For example, if the value of your investments fell during a period of short-term volatility, would you react and withdraw your money? 

While this may seem like a way to minimise loss, volatility is part of investing and, historically, markets have delivered long-term results. Reacting is more likely to have a negative effect on your plans.

If you’re unsure about investments and risk, talking to a financial planner could put your mind at ease. Understanding how investments work and why they have selected certain investments for you can help you feel more confident, even when the market is experiencing volatility. 

Contact us to create an investment portfolio that matches your risk profile 

Balancing risk and return when investing can be difficult, but we’re here to help you. We’ll work with you to understand how to get the most out of your assets in a way that suits your risk profile and goals, including investing. We can also manage your investments on your behalf, so you can focus on what’s important to you. 

Next month, read our blog to discover how to invest and the allowances you could use to reduce a potential tax bill. 

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.