Breach may impact on more than a million workers
An estimated 1.25 million people are set to breach the current lifetime allowance (LTA) £1.055 million lifetime limit for pension tax relief over the course of their working life, according to new research published[1].
Half a million workers past pension age could be paying unnecessary tax
A significant number of people working past the State Pension age could be paying unnecessary tax on their State Pension, according to new research[1]. This is because they failed to take up the option of deferring their State Pension until they stopped work. As a result, their entire State Pension is being taxed, in some cases at 40%.
Nearly £20 billion unclaimed money and growing
The scale of the UK’s lost pensions mountain has been exposed by the largest study yet on the subject[1]. The Pensions Policy Institute surveyed firms representing about 50% of the private defined contribution pensions market[2].
Pension freedoms usher in a new generation
The introduction of pension freedoms has been a huge enabler for over-55s, allowing millions to draw income from their pensions flexibly. Pension freedoms offer the opportunity to transition into retirement by continuing to work with reduced hours beyond traditional retirement age.
No longer something that only affects the very wealthy
Inheritance Tax is no longer something that only affects the very wealthy, but the good news is that there are ways to limit the amount of Inheritance Tax your family may potentially face.
Employees contribute higher pension payments
On 6 April 2019, the minimum level of auto-enrolment contributions increased to 8% of earnings, made up of 3% from employers and 5% from employees. According to data from the Pensions Regulator, auto-enrolment has brought a total of 9,937,000 people into the scheme to date, and involved 1,400,918 employers.
Time, patience and making informed decisions
Making sense of today’s market headwinds and building a diverse portfolio should be key priorities for all investors. Whether you have a lump sum to invest or want to invest regularly each month, it’s important to know your money is working hard for you.
The key changes you need to know
You want to pay the minimum amount of tax legally possible. We want that for you, too. The 2019/20 tax year started on 6 April, and in general taxpayers will have more money in their pocket after increases to allowances came into force, but there are a few losers, in particular those selling shares and buy-to-let landlords.
Planning your legacy
Unforeseen life events and circumstances can potentially impact your finances in a number of ways. Believe it or not, you have an estate. In fact, nearly everyone does.
Greater responsibility on individuals to plan for financial security in old age
Deciding what to do with your pension pot is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for your future. The ‘pension freedom’ changes of April 2015 represented a complete shake-up of the UK’s pensions system, giving people much more control over their pension savings than before.