When someone dies, it is often necessary to get a Grant of Probate to allow the executors named in the will to collect in the deceased person’s assets, sell property and distribute the estate to the beneficiaries. Currently the fee charged to apply to the Probate Registry for a Grant is £215 unless a solicitor … Continue reading Probate Fees – May 2017

Yesterday the The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP gave us his first budget and below is our understanding of the key points: Income tax Possibility the change that will affect the widest audience is the personal allowance that will be increasing to £11,500 from 6 April 2017. Higher rates of Income Tax will apply once … Continue reading 2017 Budget Summary

Thousands of people have lost their hard-earned pension savings. The Pensions Regulator continually reminds us, scammers are after your pension pot. Fraudsters are aware that with pension freedoms comes new opportunities to access your pension savings and will try to lure you with promises of upfront cash and one-off ‘deals’ with guaranteed high returns. One … Continue reading Cold Calling on Pensions and Investments

The Bank of England has cut interest rates, taking the base rate to a new low of 0.25%. This is the first cut since March 2009, and how welcome it is will depend on your financial situation. The Bank also announced a new round of quantitative easing (QE) – pumping money into the economy to … Continue reading First UK interest cut in seven years

12 Days To Protect Pension Tax Relief ? You will have seen the seemingly endless press commentary as to what the Chancellor may announce on Budget Day. Many possible outcomes have been surmised. What is almost certain is that for around 4 million* higher and additional rate taxpayers, the levels of tax relief on future … Continue reading 12 Days To Protect Pension Tax Relief ?

Today we have taken a number of calls from people who are asking whether to take their tax-free cash in advance of the budget on the 16th March 2016. Will tax-free cash still be available in a fortnight? Millions of people are relying on their tax-free lump sums as an integral part of their financial … Continue reading Pensions Changes – Budget 16th March 2016