Power of Attorney

Providing the legal authority to act on your behalf

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to give someone else the legal authority to act on your behalf. There are several different types of Power of Attorney. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) (previously called an ‘Enduring Power of Attorney’) allows your attorneys to make decisions for you when you no longer wish to, or when you lack the mental capacity to do so.

Making a Will

An essential part of financial planning that provides peace of mind about what happens to your wealth

Your Will lets you decide what happens to your money, property and possessions after your death. If you make a Will you can also make sure you don’t pay more inheritance tax than you need to. It’s an essential part of your financial planning. Not only does it set out your wishes, but if you die without a Will, your estate will generally be divided according to the rules of intestacy, which may not reflect your wishes. Without one, the State directs who inherits, so your loved ones, relatives, friends and favourite charities may get nothing.

Income protection insurance

Continuing to cope financially due to an illness or accidental injury that prevents you from working

No-one can guarantee that they will not be the victim of an unfortunate accident or be diagnosed with a serious illness. The bills won’t stop arriving or the mortgage payments from being deducted from your bank account, so going without income protection insurance could be tempting fate.

Critical illness cover

Providing a financial cushion you need for everyday life

Most people don’t like to contemplate what would happen if they were diagnosed with a critical illness, but not considering the future could mean that, should you survive such a catastrophic event, you may not have the financial cushion you need for everyday life.

Whole-of-life assurance

Guaranteed financial protection that lasts for the rest of your life

As the name suggests, whole-of-life policies are ongoing policies that pay out when you die, whenever that is. Because it’s guaranteed that you’ll die at some point (and therefore that the policy will have to pay out), these policies are more expensive than term assurance policies, which only pay out if you die within a certain timeframe.

Term assurance

Choose the amount you want to be insured for and the period for which you want cover

The most basic type of life assurance is called ‘term assurance’. With term assurance, you choose the amount you want to be insured for and the period for which you want cover. If you die within the term, the policy pays out to your beneficiaries. If you don’t die during the term, the policy doesn’t pay out and the premiums you’ve paid are not returned to you. 

Life assurance

Providing a financial safety net for your loved ones

If you have loved ones who are dependent on you, life assurance can make sure they’re taken care of financially if you die. So whether you’re looking to provide a financial safety net for your loved ones, moving house or a first-time buyer looking to arrange your mortgage life insurance – or simply wanting to add some cover to what you’ve already got – you’ll want to make sure you choose the right type of cover. That’s why obtaining the right advice and knowing which products to choose – including the most suitable sum assured, premium, terms and payment provisions – is essential.

Budget tax trap on pension withdrawals

Helping you to understand the increased flexibility and choice available to you

The Budget announced unprecedented flexibility and choice in how people can use their pension savings in the future. From 6 April 2015, people over 55 can choose to withdraw their pension savings as they wish, although this will be subject to their marginal rate of income tax in that year.

Future pension savings

New freedom could still prove costly

The Budget 2014 announced unprecedented flexibility and choice in how people can use their pension savings in the future. From 6 April 2015, people over 55 can choose to withdraw their pension savings as they wish, although this will be subject to their marginal rate of income tax in that year.

Wealth planning strategy comes under scrutiny

Concerns a tax planning arrangement was being abused

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that new proposals for a single nil rate Inheritance Tax (IHT) band for trusts will not be applied to existing trust arrangements, where no further assets are added or variations made to that trust.