Welcome to our latest issue. Robert Kiyosaki, the American businessman and author of the best-selling book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, once remarked, ‘Making money is common sense. It’s not rocket science. But unfortunately, when it comes to money, common sense is uncommon.’ As we continue into 2019 with the uncertainties surrounding Brexit, we look to de-mystify the ever-changing landscape of the financial world.
What better place to start off than tax-efficient investing? Each tax year, we are each given an annual Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance. The ISA limit for 2018/19 is £20,000, and anyone wishing to utilise their allowance should do so before the deadline at midnight on Friday 5 April 2019. The date marks the end of the 2018/19 tax year. It is a ‘use it or lose it’ allowance, meaning that if you don’t use all or part of it in one tax year, you cannot take that allowance over to the next year. To find out more about your ISA options, turn to page 06.
Over time, with life expectancy and the cost of living rising, it could mean that some retirees are at risk of running out of pension income in later life. On page 04, we consider what you can do to make sure that you have a big enough pension to meet your needs for your entire retirement.
This time of year is your last chance to get your tax affairs in order before the end of the 2018/19 tax year. On page 12, we’ve provided a summary of some key tax and financial planning areas which may be appropriate to certain taxpayers and should be considered prior to the end of the tax year.
Some people may believe that since they have reached their 60s and ‘retired’, the hard work is over. But there are probably another three or four decades ahead, so it’s not the time to be without expert professional financial advice. Turn to page 3 to read the full article.
At the time of writing, the UK Government is still in negotiations with the European Union over the terms of its planned withdrawal on 29 March 2019. The challenges facing the UK economy are unclear. On page 10, we look at some potential financial scenarios. We hope you enjoy this issue. A full list of the articles featured in this issue appears on page 02.
