Pension Retirement Planning

It is vital you enjoy life but also set aside sufficient money now to support you in retirement.

We can help by first analysing your current situation and then by creating a financial plan to ensure you will be able to have the retirement of your dreams.

As part of the process, we will review your current pension arrangements to see whether these are still the best place to keep your money. Older pension contracts are often more expensive and less flexible than newer pensions and can easily be combined into one modern low cost plan.

Our advisers have a wealth of experience dealing with the more simple to the more complicated situation, such as commercial property purchase within a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP).

We will then review your circumstances on a regular basis to ensure you stay on track to achieve your retirement goals. We also understand that things change, and by regularly reviewing your circumstances we can adapt your plan for whatever life throws at you.

Once you decide you would like to retire, we will discuss the various retirement options available to you and come up with a plan to generate a sustainable income throughout your retirement. This will give you the confidence to retire and enjoy the rest of your life in the knowledge you will have sufficient funds to live on.

Investment Advice

You may be looking to build up your wealth, make your money work harder, or generate an income to support you in retirement. This can involve investing a lump sum or saving on a regular basis.

As independent financial advisers we can advise on a full range of products to suit your individual needs including ISAs, General Investment Accounts, Investment Bonds, Structured Products, EISs and VCTs. When recommending an investment product to you we will take into account your individual tax position and also assess your risk profile to ensure we select an investment which is most appropriate for you.

Our investment team have created investment portfolios to cater for every individual client scenario. This includes the option of making sure your money is invested in ethical companies.

Inheritance Tax Planning and Trusts

As we grow older, we start to consider the need to provide for our family after we are no longer around. An increasing number of people are finding they will have an Inheritance tax bill to pay on death due to the rise in property values.

We can discuss whether you have an inheritance tax problem and ways to alleviate this issue. Solutions could include passing down your wealth to your family, tax efficiency using trusts or investing in products that are free from Inheritance Tax.

Equity Release by Lifetime Mortgages

For many people their biggest asset is their family home. This equity can be released by moving and downsizing, OR an alternative is to consider Equity Release.

Equity Release provides a way of freeing up and releasing tax free money from your family home without having to move. These funds can then be used as you wish, for example, to spend during your retirement to provide a top up of income and/or additional one-off lump sum purchases, such as a new car or holidays. They could also be used as an 'early inheritance' to gift to your family.

Our equity release specialist, Kerry Draper, guides you through the whole process from start to finish. We will ensure you are comfortable in the decision you make and the best option is chosen to cater for your individual needs.

Mortgages

We can discuss your existing mortgage deal and apply for a new interest rate deal with your existing lender on your behalf.

Life Cover

Dealing with a family bereavement is a very difficult time for the ones you leave behind, but it can be even more challenging if there is financial uncertainty caused by your premature death.

Life cover provides a tax-free lump sum to those who are financially dependent on you in the event of your death so they can pay for the immediate expenses, such as funeral expenses, until they are back on their feet, but also to provide them with sufficient money to live on for the rest of their lives.

Business Protection

The death or critical illness of a business partner, sole trader, shareholder or key employee can cause significant disruption within a business. Business protection ensures the business can continue with minimal disturbance. For instance, it can provide funds to the remaining shareholders or partners so they can purchase the deceased’s shares from their estate. This also ensures the deceased’s family receives a fair value for their share of the business.

Critical Illness / Income Replacement Cover

If you were forced to stop work due to an accident or illness one of the last things you want to be worrying about is whether you will have enough money to support yourself and the rest of your family. Income protection will provide you with a income equivalent to a percentage of your salary which will be paid until you return to work. Critical illness cover will pay out a tax-free lump sum after the diagnosis of a severe illness, such as a heart attack or cancer.