Blended families are formed when two people live together with children from previous relationships. They are increasingly common in the UK, and can work extremely well. However it is worth considering the estate planning implications. It is possible to accidentally leave family members without any inheritance due to a lack of planning or appropriate legal …
Marriage might be an unlikely winner from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ controversial first budget. Whilst there have been no changes to inheritance tax allowances, more assets, most notably unspent pension funds on death, will be included in estates for inheritance tax purposes in future. This means that unmarried couples who might not have seen the value …
The energy price cap rose by 10% from 1st October. Many people have been submitting meter readings and some are switching to fixed tariffs ahead of the change. Why Submit A Reading Now? Whilst you will be charged at the new price whether you submit your reading now or later, many energy bills are based …
Speaking in the Downing Street ‘rose garden’, made famous during the pandemic for lockdown parties and ‘that’ Dominic Cummings interview, Keir Starmer delivered a sobering speech on 27th August that sets the tone for the budget at the end of October. It’s “going to be painful” he said, asking the country to “accept short-term pain …
A power of attorney (POA) allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. It is a really important piece of financial planning, as it should provide continuity in the event that you are unable to make important decisions. We’ve summarised below the key …
We’re all busy people and our spare time is very precious to us. So it’s no surprise that many of us are neglecting vital life admin and instead spending time on – how shall we put it? – less important pursuits. According to research by Moneybox, UK adults spend an average of 48 minutes a …
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt recently got himself in a bit of a pickle when he said £100,000 is “not a huge salary” for people in his Surrey constituency. Writing on X, Mr Hunt was recalling a chat with a constituent in Godalming who was concerned about the government’s childcare offer, as it isn’t …
As you move through your working life, it’s easy to get a rosy picture of retirement and dream of the day when you finally step away from the office. But how do you work out when that day should actually be? Well, there’s no simple answer to this question, as there are so many factors …
Striking the right balance between work and other aspects of your life, such as family responsibilities and hobbies and pastimes, can be very hard. But that doesn’t mean people won’t take serious measures to make it happen. According to a study by Travel Counsellors, half of working people in the UK expect to leave their …
More and more people are finding themselves in legal disputes with loved ones over inheritances, new figures have revealed. According to the Ministry of Justice, 80 inheritance disputes went in front of judges in 2012. However, this figure had risen to 145 by 2017, and in 2021/22, it stood at 195 – more than double …
