Guides
We make sure our clients are kept abreast of legislative changes and how these affect what they can and can't do. To that end, our advisers regularly pen 'how to' guides. Please help yourself!
Guide to sharing the state pension on divorce
Unfortunately not all marriages last forever. In the event of divorce – like any other matrimonial asset – an individual’s entitlement to Additional State Pension can be shared with their ex-spouse.
Pension sharing on divorce
How can you split your pension on divorce? Kevin Mackenzie outlines the options
Financial planning for couples
Is saying ‘I do’ a good tax planning strategy? Rhian Morgan investigates
By Rhian Morgan
Annuity options
When it comes to converting your pension savings into an income for life by buying an annuity, there is a range of options, as Keith Mackie explains
By Keith Mackie
Protected rights pension funds
New pension rules mean you’ll no longer be able to contract out of the additional state pension, says Kevin Mackenzie
Saving for children
Parents have an ever-growing choice of ways to save for their offspring. Rhian Morgan highlights the pros and cons of each
By Rhian Morgan
Mitigating inheritance tax
Inheritance tax is one of the most penal taxes in Britain. What can you do to cut your bill, asks Keith Mackie?
By Keith Mackie
Passing on your pension fund
New pension rules make it easier for you to pass your pension fund to your children tax-efficiently, as Kevin Mackenzie shows
Lifetime pension allowance
The total amount you can save into your pension has changed. Make sure you don’t breach the new rules, says financial planner Kevin Mackenzie
Junior ISAs
There’s a new way to save on behalf of your children. Kevin Mackenzie explains the benefits and drawbacks of junior ISAs.
Investing in solar panels
With energy prices on the rise, is it worth going green? Acumen spoke to one of our clients who has done just that.
Pension rules for public sector workers
People in the National Health Service (NHS) and other public sector pension schemes are likely to be affected by new rules on pension contributions, as chartered and certified financial planner David Gow explains
By David Gow
Workplace pensions
The government is making workplace pensions compulsory. Is your company prepared, asks Kevin Mackenzie?
Salary sacrifice
The tax benefits of sacrificing salary are significant, write financial planners Keith Mackie and Kevin Mackenzie, but beware the pitfalls
By Keith Mackie
Investing in enterprise
Investing in start-up companies comes with a host of tax breaks, but is very high risk. Financial planner Rhian Morgan takes a look
By Rhian Morgan
Income optimisation for freelance contractors
How can freelance professionals optimise their income?Our head of financial planning, Bill Saunders, explains.
Charitable donations
Charitable donations can help ease your tax bill. Kevin Mackenzie, one of our financial planners, outlines the rules.
Maximising your returns
Maximising returns – whether for private individuals, businesses or charities – involves tailoring investments to the investment time-frame (so, how long you can tie the money up for) and attitude to risk.
Personal injury trusts
As the name suggests, personal injury trusts contain money received as a consequence of personal injury. These trusts are generally established for working-age adults or some children who want to retain their entitlement to means-tested benefits, now or in the future.
Trusts for inheritance tax planning
Inheritance tax is one of Britain’s most maligned taxes. The first slice of any individual’s estate, including gifts that they have made in the last seven years, is generally free of inheritance tax. This slice, referred to as the “nil rate band”, is £325,000 at present. Anything over that is liable to tax at a penal 40%.