Starting early for tax year end investments
There is more time to capitalise on opportunities for early year-end tax planning and Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) are launching their fund-raising…
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High Return Investments – If it looks too good to be true…
The recent failure of a promoter of high return investments was a reminder of the dangers of being lured by headline numbers…
How much is enough on pension contributions?
Pension contributions rose in April for many people, but the increase may still not be enough to fund a comfortable retirement. The…
Annuity rates have fallen to their lowest level in 25 years as interest rates and drawdowns bite
Annuity rates hit their lowest level since 1994 in September, with implications for those making retirement decisions. Since the introduction of pensions…
The search for yields gets harder
In September the Bank of England held off from following the Federal Reserve (the Fed) and the European Central Bank (the ECB)…
Holding your nerve in volatile times – Autumn Newsletter
Welcome to your Autumn 2019 newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading it. It’s almost impossible these days not to think of that…
Who are the top 1% of income tax payers?
The top 1% of income tax payers account for 27% of all the UK’s income tax collected, but who are they? A…
The lasting power of peace of mind
More people are now setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)… and not just those in later life. The growing use…
How do you feel about state pension age increasing to 75?
A report from a Conservative think tank suggesting a quicker rise to a state pension age of 75 has ruffled feathers, but…
A bumpy ride for August on the stock markets
Tax planning, Wealth Management, Pembroke Financial Services, Savings & Investments, Stocks & Shares
August was a rollercoaster month for international markets with interest rates, trade wars and Brexit contributing to a bumpy ride. Stock markets,…
Money purchase pension annual allowance penalties – pick a number, any number.
Freedom of Information (FoI) requests have highlighted a lack of HMRC’s knowledge about how many people have been hit with pension annual…
New headaches for private landlords
Private landlords could find it harder to evict tenants in future, thanks to new government legislation. Landlords will no longer be able…
New prime minister, new tax policies
Boris Johnson took office towards the end of last month with a new chancellor in Sajid Javid, both with different ideas from…
Balancing the school fees equation
School fees are rising faster than the rate of inflation, creating financial challenges for parents who want to educate their children privately.…
When it comes to funds, the best investment advice is personal
The recent trials of the Woodford fund highlight the importance of personal advice on your investments. The suspension of dealings in this…
Could We See the Back of Inheritance Tax?
Widely regarded as the most unpopular tax, IHT is under scrutiny from both government and opposition. Is it time it was scrapped…
Inflated expectations
Investor expectations have been dialled up by the market returns of recent years. Independent Financial Advisers will need to add perspective and…
Brave new world of Universal Basic Income (UBI)?
If those three letters mean nothing to you now, they may do soon. Universal Basic Income – or UBI – is becoming…
A second successful Midnight Walk for St Barnabas…. and a thank you!
This time it was ‘Team Marshall’, organised and captained by Ryan Marshall’s wife, Maxine. Maxine (who walked with the Pembroke Plodders last…
Pensions and divorce – not just about the split
When it comes to dividing up assets on divorce, pension rights can turn out to be one of the most valuable elements…
Dividends wobble with 40% cuts
From a record high in the first quarter of 2019, dividends were knocked by some high-profile cuts in May. Recent dividend announcements…
How well do you understand inheritance tax?
Only one in four respondents to an HMRC survey completely understood how the inheritance tax (IHT) system could work for them. How…
Pension flexibility: too taxing for many
Lump sum withdrawals under pension flexibility are resulting in over-paid tax due to emergency tax codes. Don’t be caught out. Recent HMRC…
Ripple effect widens for China investors
It is not only Chinese mainland shares which are now attracting investor attention. China is in the investment news again as Bloomberg…
A popular peak for venture capital trusts
Venture capital trust (VCT) investment is at a 10-year high. There may be opportunities early in the tax year to explore your…
Riding out the US investment bends
A brief dip in US Treasury securities yields illustrates the benefits of holding your nerve amid investment ‘noise’. On 22 March the…
Retirement Planning – How long do you want to work… ?
New labour market figures show record levels of employment for the over 65s. As people are living longer, a parallel older-age profile…
Living longer, but will your pension last? Pension planning is essential
Statistics are showing a slowdown in the rate of improvements on our longevity, but don’t let the headlines mask the reality –…
Planning the longest holiday of your life – Retirement Planning Key Guide
There comes a time when you stop working for your money and put your money to work for you. For most people,…
ISA’s – Happy 20th birthday!!
ISAs celebrate their 20th birthday this April. If you haven’t reviewed yours in a while, this a good opportunity to ensure they…
China emerges on to the investment stage
Chinese investment markets set to become increasingly important part of investment portfolios as share of Emerging Markets Index likely to quadruple. China…
Planning for the 100-year life
Your chances of reaching 100 are probably greater than you imagine. It may sound fanciful, but a 100-year lifespan is well within…
Ringing the changes of the new tax year
The tax year 2018/19 ends on Friday 5 April, which means it’s time to start planning for the new tax year and…
One more twist on buy to let
Buy-to-let investors will be hit by the latest phase of tax changes coming in from April, coupled with changes to CGT payment…
Your 2019/2020 tax tables
Full of useful information to have at your fingertips for the coming tax year. Please find attached Pembroke’s updated Tax Tables for…
Check your April pay slip
April is the one month in the year it pays to check your payslip with new tax and auto-enrolment rates coming into…
Pembroke becomes Adur Special Needs Projects first Corporate Sponsor
We are absolutely delighted to become Adur Special Needs Project’s (ASNP) first business sponsor. Our sponsorship of this fabulous little local charity…
Inheritance tax reductions ahead of potential reform
Future increases to the residence nil rate band might be in question, thanks to the OTS review of inheritance tax. Inheritance tax…
Happy birthday to tax-free savings
It’s the 20th birthday for tax-free investment in ISAs. With the deadline for contributions approaching, have you made the most of your…
Preparing for the new tax year
Changes to income tax, NICs and pension contributions are coming for 2019/20. One of the few certainties about 2019 is that the…
Do your employees know that earnings thresholds are rising with auto-enrolment contributions?
In early December the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced the thresholds that should apply to automatic enrolment pension contributions from…
Filling the pensions hole for the self-employed
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is aiming to expand pension coverage among the self-employed. Pension automatic enrolment – or Workplace…
The world’s share markets mostly saw falls in 2018
2018 was a much more volatile year than its predecessor for investors as Brexit and Trump worried the markets. 2018 was a…
The FCA advises caution with crypto-currencies
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is warning consumers about investment scams that purport to invest in crypto-currencies. The watchdog has seen a…
Shake up your New Year’s resolutions
New year, new resolutions to break? Try our four financial resolutions with long term benefits. Have your New Year resolutions fallen by…
Don’t ignore your credit report
It pays to be aware of your credit history to ensure no-one is applying for loans or credit cards in your name.…
Christmas Wishes from Pembroke Financial Services
At the festive season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. It is in this spirit that…
Growing ethical investment for sustainable returns
The amount of money invested in ethical funds has trebled over the past 10 years according to the Investment Association. The growing…
State pension age equality means increases for everyone
The State Pension Age (SPA) became equal for men and women for the first time, at age 65, on 6 November 2018.…
Unmarried couples lack the rights of married couples
Two recent events have shone different lights on the government’s view of unmarried couples. As the graph shows, marriage has been drifting…
HMRC spotlights IHT returns as a new case shows risks of late planning
Imagine you are named as the executor and a beneficiary of your wife’s wealthy aunt. You learn that she is suffering from…
Is Inflation eating into the value of your savings?
Interest rates on instant access savings accounts continue to be outstripped by inflation, so where should you invest your money? At the…
The Budget 2018: an end to austerity? What did it mean for you?
The 2018 Budget, which was delivered on a Monday for the first time since 1962, produced a number of surprises, not least…
Leading think tank proposes radical shake up of UK’s tax system
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is a centre-left think tank that has a long history of influencing Labour Party policy.…
Cash ISAs fall out of favour as inflation outstrips interest rates
The popularity of Cash ISAs is continuing to wane according to new statistics from HMRC. With inflation persistently above interest rates, it’s…
Class 2 National Insurance Contributions are here to stay
Self-employed workers with small profits breathe a sigh of relief as the Chancellor has changed his mind – again – on National…
Global stock markets are showing very mixed results in 2018.
Is your investment plan making the most of the opportunities out there? Ryan Marshall, Investment specialist and Independent Financial Adviser at Pembroke…
Trick or treat? The Chancellor calls the 2018 Budget for late October
What should we expect from the 2018 Budget? Will the Chancellor turn to inheritance tax, fuel duty, stamp duty, a digital tax…
Auto enrolment into Workplace Pensions six years on – a success?
There is absolutely no doubt that pension savings have grown after six years of Automatic Enrolment, but more progress is required to…
Is your pension planning good enough to cover your retirement years?
…the beginning of the end for rising life expectancy? A paper published in August by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) casts…
Record inheritance tax revenues ahead of simplification review
As inheritance tax (IHT) receipts hit a record for the Treasury, is it time to review your estate planning ahead of any…
Interest rates start to creep up after nine years – more to come?
The Bank of England increased the base interest rate in August to 0.75% – the second increase in 12 months. The Bank’s…
Our updated Key Guides series: July 2018
Whilst most of us basked in the hottest summer for over half a century, the government is busy running consultations and trying…
OBR forecasts to force government to raise taxes next Budget?
The long-term outlook for government finances suggests that tax increases are inevitable. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) produces medium-term financial forecasts…
2018 proves volatile for investors after the smooth sailing of 2017
The first six months of 2018 were unpredictable times for investors as global stock markets suffered a sudden bout of volatility. The…
LISAs mauled by Select Committee – Should you invest before they disappear?
The Lifetime ISA (LISA) may not survive after low uptake by providers and fresh criticisms from parliament. The LISA has been reviewed…
More pre-Budget rumours of changes to pension tax relief
The prospect of a flat rate of tax relief on pension contributions has resurfaced in the national press. The cost of pension…
Important rate announcements made in June in the UK and the US
Interest rates for the Eurozone and US diverge leading to currency fluctuations as investment markets prepare for base rate rises. The US…
NS&I put the brakes on investments for their Growth and Income bonds
National Savings & Investments (NS&I) has introduced limits on its offerings for wealthier savers. In mid-June NS&I announced a revision to the…
New data from HMRC shows where income tax revenue comes from
Who pays the most income tax? HMRC’s latest statistics provide an interesting insight into the income tax paying population. These figures reveal…
A Successful Midnight Walk for St Barnabas…. thank you
Can we say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us for this most worthy of causes. St Barnabas benefited by…
Pension scams and cold calling – Be on your guard
Be wary of cold-callers who offer a ‘free’ pension review – it could cost you more than you think. Cold-calling has increased…
Interest rates likely to rise this year, despite being held in May
The Bank of England did not raise interest rates in May, despite earlier suggestions that it would. About four years ago a…
Transfers out of private sector final salaries pensions boomed in 2017
There was a dramatic increase in the number and the value of transfers out of defined benefit (usually final salary) pension schemes…
Please help us achieve our target for our Midnight Walk for St Barnabas
You will remember that we messaged you at the beginning of May telling you that we hoped to raise at least £500…
Heard about the potential savings from Relevant Life Assurance Policies?
No? A little-known type of life assurance policy could provide you – or your employees – with highly tax-efficient life cover…
What will your pensions savings mean at retirement and are you saving enough?
It is most definitely worth working out what your potential pension pot could actually buy for you in terms of income and…
An unexpected dip in UK inflation delays interest rate rise in May
UK inflation is falling faster than expected, as the March figure for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 2.5%. Could we have…
Graduates get a break as student loan repayment threshold rises
The income threshold at which student loan repayments begin rose on 6 April 2018. English and Welsh students who started their courses…
Couples can save an extra £20k in inheritance tax from April
Couples could now save an extra £20,000 of inheritance tax (IHT), as the residence nil rate band (RNRB) increased in April 2018.…
The Pembroke Plodders are walking for St Barnabas!
The ‘Night to Remember Midnight Walk’ in Worthing raises money for a great cause – St Barnabas House. It all happens on…
New risk criteria for venture capital schemes in 2018
Important changes for venture capital schemes and enterprise investment have recently come into effect. New, what are called ‘risk-to-capital’ conditions apply to…
The benefits of early ISA investments
Don’t wait for the end of tax year reminders! There are advantages to planning your ISA investments at the beginning of the…
Pembroke Financial Welcomes Frances Boiling to The Team
Pembroke Financial Services are absolutely delighted to announce the arrival of Frances Boiling as the latest addition to their 9 strong IFA…
2018/2019 tax tables and the Chancellor’s first Spring Statement
These tables are up-to-date with everything announced in the Spring Statement, giving you all the key numbers in one place. Mr Hammond…
Your Financial Key Guides for 2018: Nothing Stands Still
Despite some high-profile giveaways from the Chancellor’s second Budget of 2017, the message was very much one of continuity and a desire…
New tax rates apply from 6 April. Summary now available
The start of the new tax year on 6 April marks several changes to tax and related matters that could make you…
Government refund for Power of Attorney fees for registration between April 2013 and March 2017. Are you eligible?
You could well be due a refund if you have registered a Power of Attorney in recent years. It’s not often that…
The ISA inheritance rules are simplified for couples from 6 April
Back in 2014 the then Chancellor of the Exchequer , George Osborne, announced that that Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) would become inheritable…
The Spring Statement – replacing the Spring Budget – is on 13 March
There will be no Spring Budget this March, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Chancellor, Phillip Hammond will be keeping silent….
Your tax year end planning – how Pembroke Financial can help
The 5th April is approaching fast so it’s important to take the time to give your finances a tax year-end check-up. Here…
The deadline is approaching for using your ISA allowances
Your Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowances expire on 5th April and with a lower dividend allowance from 18/19, should you be looking…
There is still time for tax year end pension contributions
With the tax year end approaching, have you maximised your pension contributions? Both February and March are rightly popular times for reviewing…
A Helping Hand for Whoopsadaisy from Pembroke Financial Services
Shoreham-based Independent Financial Advisers Pembroke Financial Services has donated £3,500 to support the children’s disability charity, Whoopsadaisy. Whoopsadaisy is a small local…
How can you help counter the effects of rising inflation and low interest rates in your investment choices?
Prices have been rising at their fastest rate for five years. Annual inflation (as measured by the Consumer Prices Index or CPI)…
The next steps for auto-enrolment start this April, with more change on the cards.
The Automatic Enrolment of employees into workplace pensions has been a greater success than many predicted when it was introduced in October…
A good year for global share markets – but are we to expect a volatile 2018?
The world’s share markets were a profitable place to be in 2017, but the year was not without its drama. We saw…
Investing for children – it’s not just for Christmas!
National Savings has closed one option, but there are many more possibilities to consider. Back in September of last year National Savings…
Pembroke Financial Services – Winter 2017 Newsletter
Welcome to your Winter 2017 newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading it. It’s been quite a year. Two Budgets and an election…
What did November’s interest rate rise mean for you?
November marked the first rise in the Bank of England Base Rate in over ten years. At the start of November, the…
NS&I increase interest rates and lower the odds of winning.
At the start of November, the Bank of England raised its base rate for the first time since 5 July 2007 and…
Buy-to-let investors took a hidden hit in the Autumn Budget
Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Autumn Budget contained more bad news for many buy-to-let investors which went largely under the radar. Next April will…
Why buy financial advice and who to buy it from?
Deciding to pay for financial advice is a big step. It is normal to question yourself, especially as the results of this…
Autumn Budget snippets… from a Financial Planners’ perspective
In truth, there were no momentous changes to tax or pensions announced in last week’s Budget which will have any significant impact…
Nothing stands still – New Financial Key Guides Available
Now that the nights are drawing in again, the heady times earlier in the year around the Budget and then election seem…
Will current inflation levels really boost state pension income?
State pensions will rise by 3% next April, but it’s not all strictly good news. The BBC website, covering the announcement that…
The Bank of England finally raises interest rate after inflation dodges 3%
The September inflation rate was just low enough to spare Bank of England (BoE) Governor, Mark Carney, from having to write to…
Are Cash ISAs losing favour?
In the world of ISAs, cash ISAs have long attracted more contributions than their stocks and shares counterpart. However, new statistics from…
What space does the Chancellor have for change in his Autumn Budget in November?
The Chancellor, Phillip Hammond, announced the date of his first Autumn Budget as Wednesday 22 November and this will be his second…
Are you covered on personal lending?
The boom in personal lending is worrying the Bank of England. The rate at which people are taking out loans, maximising store…
Inheritance tax receipts hit a new high according to HMRC
Inheritance tax (IHT) is raising more than ever according to HM Revenue & Customs. How much do you want to contribute? IHT…
How many different ways can we measure inflation? More than you might think
August was a month when inflation hit the news headlines several times trailing with it a cloud of acronyms: The Bank of…
A Junior ISA with a minor interest rate!
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) have entered the Junior ISA market. In 2011, the Junior ISA (JISA) was introduced as a replacement…
Seven tax tips for 2017/18
Uncertainty is the name of the game so far during this tax year, with post-Budget U-turns and a rushed pre-election Finance Act…
Self-employed workers are under-insured and struggle to save
As the dream of retirement creeps further out of reach, Self-employment has become the route of many. There are around five million…
The Latest Pembroke Financial Services Guide to the Taxation of Property
The Latest Pembroke Financial Services Guide to the Taxation of Property, covering the key implications of taxation of property including buying, renting…
Pembroke’s new blood – introducing two new members of our team
A warm Pembroke welcome to our two new members of staff who take our numbers back to 17 and strengthen the administration…
The Pembroke Financial Services Guide to Making the Most of ISAs
ISAs have become a key component of an IFAs’ savings and investment plans for clients. With the addition of new versions of…
There is a danger that pension flexibilities encourage DIY pension planning.
Two years on from the introduction of pension ‘freedoms’ or pension ‘flexibility’, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has examined its impact and…
Mortgage brokers are top with Consumers
A new poll has revealed how much mortgage customers value the services of their mortgage brokers. Of the 1,500 surveyed by Legal…
Inflation – Prices rising at their fastest rate for nearly four years
Whilst May inflation data came as a surprise to many pundits – the expectation had been for inflation, as measured by the…
The End of an Era… Keith John Stevens fondly known as KJS …we wish you well!
23 years , 11 months and 7 days after he started his journey on the “good ship Pembroke” as he calls it…
Household savings hit record low
Household savings have reached a record low, with UK residents saving on average only 1.7% of their earnings, according to the latest…
Financial advice leaves people £40k better off
A new report has found that people who receive financial advice are on average £40,000 better off than those who don’t. Research,…
Investment indices don’t tell the whole story for the first half of 2017
The first six months of 2017 have presented investors with an interesting half year. – There were several serious terrorist attacks, -…
The Inheritance Tax Residence Nil Rate Band… not all it seems
The inheritance tax (IHT) residence nil rate band is now available and could potentially cut the IHT bill on your estate by…
The importance of diversifying your investments
We have seen how unexpected events can impact on investment markets – last year with Brexit and Trump and this year with…
The next increase in State Pension Age has edged nearer
Do you know when you will start to receive your single-tier State pension? You can use the government website (www.gov.uk/state-pension-age) to tell…
The importance of financial planning reviews
Several important changes to tax and benefits were introduced at the beginning of 2017/18, so it makes sense to review your financial…
The politics of social care – the dispute continues.
The politics of social care – the dispute continues. The past few months’ general election campaign provided a reminder that the issue…
The 2017 election manifestos offered precious little good news on the future of income tax.
The 2017 election manifestos offered precious little good news on the future of income tax. We would say that judging by the…
The changes to Probate fees are an election casualty few will mourn.
The changes to Probate fees are an election casualty few will mourn. The snap General Election has put a stop to planned…
State pensions are not quite what was advertised.
State pensions are not quite what was advertised – over half of eligible pensioners are not receiving the full new State Pension…
Our updated Key Guides series: April 2017
We’ve recently reviewed our series of Key Guides as usual at this time of year. These specialist publications provide you with expert…
Spring Budget casualties from the snap election
In hindsight, Chancellor Hammond didn’t have much luck with what he said would be his “first and last Spring Budget”. The proposal…
Your pension allowances are shrinking
Cuts and adjustments made to the two main pension allowances since 2011 have made retirement planning all the more complicated. In 2010/11…
The Budget dividend allowance cut – what will be the damage?
One of the very few surprises of Phillip Hammonds’ March Budget was his cutting of the dividend allowance which comes in 2018/19.…
Another notch up in State Pension Age
A government initiated independent review by John Cridland in March has proposed bringing forward the move to a state pension age (SPA)…
The new NS&I bond – is that it?
The Budget confirmed the rate on the new National Savings & Investments Bond at 2.2%. That is the fixed rate on the…
Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning
ISAs are seen as the ‘base layer’ of good financial planning because of their general tax efficiency. They have, however, had a…
NS&I lose lustre as it cuts interest rates from 1 May
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) have announced that it will be cutting interest on four of its variable rate products from 1…
The beginning of the new tax year can be just as valuable as its more familiar year end counterpart.
The run up to 5 April, with the Budget and often Easter intervening, can be a frenetic time for personal financial planning.…
The new ISA variant, the Lifetime ISA (LISA) arrives on 6 April.
The new ISA variant, the Lifetime ISA (LISA) arrives on 6 April. One of the final surprises produced by George Osborne in…
Pembroke Financial – Tax Tables for the 2017/18 Tax Year
We have pleasure in enclosing our tax tables for the 2017/18 tax year, updated for announcements made in the Budget. We hope…
Automatic enrolment has reached a new landmark, but the path from 2017 onwards could be challenging.
Automatic enrolment has reached a new landmark, but the path from 2017 onwards could be challenging. When automatic enrolment (AE) into workplace…
What do I need to remember to do before the tax year ends? Some 5th April reminders
What do I need to remember to do before the tax year ends? Some 5th April reminders. This year, more than many…
Pembroke Financial – Spring 2017 Newsletter
Welcome to the first newsletter of 2017. There were a number of developments at the end of last year which we have…
Pension transfer values are up 15%. What’s the next step?
Pension transfer values are up 15%. What’s the next step? It wasn’t just the UK equity market which rose in 2016. Transfer…
Our Updated Key Guides Series: February 2017
We’ve recently reviewed our series of Key Guides as usual at this time of year. These specialist publications provide you with expert…
More protection for your savings
More protection for your savings. Your savings up to £85,000 will now be safe should a bank or building society collapse from…
Chancellor announces Wednesday 8 March as the date for the Budget 2017.
Chancellor announces Wednesday 8 March as the date for the Budget 2017. It may feel like Mr Hammond’s Autumn Statement was only…
Trump’s in charge. What will this mean for investments?
The arrival of Donald Trump marks a change of direction for the US government from the near status quo that Hillary Clinton…
The FSCS limit may increase at the end of January so it could be time for a review
It looks likely that the deposit protection limit will rise at the end of January. At the start of 2016, the maximum…
Our Winter 2016 Newsletter
It’s been a busy and fraught summer, both before and after the EU referendum on 23 June. With a changeover in government…
Is your family financially protected?
Is your family financially protected? The current system of bereavement benefits is being overhauled from April 2017. A key change will be…
LISA, Lifetime ISA, reappears after a summer redesign
LISA reappears after a summer redesign. The Lifetime ISA – LISA – is back in the spotlight, after it disappeared over the…
Two wrongs don’t make it right – tax evasion, avoidance…. and planning
Two wrongs don’t make it right – tax evasion, avoidance…. and planning. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) was busy in August publishing…
What could a £5,000 a year pension be worth today?
What is a £5,000 a year pension worth? If you have pension benefits from an old private sector final salary pension scheme,…
How to find income in a tricky savings climate
Finding income in a tricky savings climate. According to the Bank of England, ‘real’ interest rates may not rise much above 1%,…
Does a pension beat property?
Does pension beat property? “Residential property beats pensions as an investment for retirement planning” says the Bank of England’s Chief Economist, Andy…
A 3rd quarter investment lesson
A 3rd quarter investment lesson. Short term stock market movements are hard to predict and the 3rd quarter of 2016 was a…
Autumn Statement rumours of radical reform of pension contribution tax relief.
The pre-Autumn Statement rumour mill is suggesting a radical reform of pension contribution tax relief. Could tax relief for pension contributions be…
Is it time to review your cash ISA holdings?
New statistics from HMRC show that cash is still a popular ISA investment, despite ultra-low interest rates. In early summer the Financial…
Our Updated Key Guides Series: October 2016
The final days of the second quarter of 2016 were dominated by the fall-out from the outcome of the referendum on 23…
The third quarter of 2016 was not the meltdown it threatened to be after the referendum.
The final days of the second quarter of 2016 were dominated by the fall-out from the outcome of the referendum on 23…
Our Autumn 2016 Newsletter
It’s been a busy and fraught summer, both before and after the EU referendum on 23 June. With a changeover in government…
The post-Brexit decline in the pound’s value hasn’t been all doom and gloom for investors.
“The Brexit vote has completely changed the picture for dividends this year and beyond.” So said Capita, one of the UK’s main…
Savings rates have fallen which is a wake-up call if you have money in closed accounts.
The Bank of England may have finally ended speculation and dropped the interest rate from 0.5% to a new low of 0.25%,…
Are you thinking of converting your pension pot into retirement income? Read this first.
One of the UK’s biggest insurance companies has withdrawn from the advisory annuity market. RetirementPlanningCompassThe pension freedom reforms revealed in the 2014…
The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) is writing to over 100,000 people with bad news about their state pension
The new single-tier state pension was launched in April of this year, but the way in which it was introduced has drawn…
Post-Brexit UK is a volatile place for savings & investments
The first half of 2016 has been marked by volatility – especially in the final week. June, or to be more accurate,…
The Pension Regulator’s inbox gets fuller on Auto Enrolment penalties.
The Pension Regulator’s inbox gets fuller on Auto Enrolment penalties. It is not only BHS which is keeping the Pensions Regulator busy….
Anomalies uncovered in personal savings allowance legislation.
Not everything your bank pays you counts towards the personal savings allowance. When the personal savings allowance (PSA) was first announced in…
Our summer 2016 Newsletter
It’s a new year and attached is the summer 2016 edition of our newsletter. Now is the perfect time to think about…
Making tax digital
At the March 2015 Budget, the government set out the vision for a transformed tax system and the end of the tax…
Putting off making a will is a false economy.
Recent research has revealed how much it costs to make sure your wishes are met on death. Do you have a will?…
What does being Buy With Confidence Trading Standards Approved mean?
What does being Buy With Confidence Trading Standards Approved mean? You can check whether a business is a Buy With Confidence member…
Inflation was at the highest rate since December 2014 and cannot be ignored
The March inflation number was the highest since December 2014. UK inflation picked up in March, reaching the dizzy heights of 0.5%…
NS&I to cut interest rates on five of its variable rate products
National Savings & Investments (NS&I) has announced that it will be cutting interest on five of its variable rate products, mostly from…
Sponsorship deal made for arts centre
Shoreham-based Pembroke Financial Services has teamed up with the Ropetackle Arts Centre for a new three-year sponsorship deal…
Our updated Key Guides series: April 2016
Tax planning, Pension, Budget, Investment, Mortgage, Protection, Inheritance Tax, Retirement Planning, Wealth Management
As a result of the Chancellor’s Budget in March, there have been a number of important changes in the world of finance….
A cut capital gains tax (CGT) – but not for everyone
The Chancellor made a surprise decision to cut capital gains tax (CGT) in his Budget – but not for everyone. Cast your…
Advice on Mr Osborne’s Spring Budget
The third Budget in 12 months. This 2016 Budget looked as if it would be a difficult one for the Chancellor, faced…
2016/17 Tax Tables
We have pleasure in enclosing our tax tables for the 2016/17 tax year, updated for announcements made in the Budget. We hope…
It’s time to start planning for the new tax year
As we near the end of the tax year, now is the time to consider not only year-end planning, but also planning…
Your latest PAYE code may look a little strange
Breaking the PAYE code. It’s the time of year when HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) sends out PAYE codes for the new…
Pension tax relief reform
Further rumours that the Chancellor will reform pension tax relief for pension contributions in the Budget. There have been more press reports…
Concern on Rising Levels of Non-Compliance on Auto-Enrolment
Automatic enrolment: are you ready? More employers are failing to meet their obligations. The latest report on ‘compliance and enforcement’ from the…
National Savings is Both Reducing & Increasing Interest Rates
The ups and downs of National Savings. National Savings is both reducing and increasing interest rates. But its real rate challenge…
What are Pembroke’s Plans for 2016 to Protect your Investments
What are Pembroke’s Plans for 2016 to Protect your Investments from Volatile Financial Markets Investment markets had a tough year in 2015,…
Buy-to-Let and Second Homes hit by SDLT Increase from April 2016
Buy-to-let hit again The last Autumn Statement marked another future tax increase for buy-to-let. “Frankly, people buying a home to let…
Basic State Pension to Rise by Nearly 3% Next April
State pension increases and non-increases The basic state pension will rise by nearly 3% next April. The Autumn Statement confirmed that…
The Government is Counting the Cost of Tax Relief on Pensions
Auto-enrolment: the first deferral The Autumn Statement revealed more evidence that the government is counting the cost of tax relief on…
What is the Safest Way to Save for Retirement?
And the winner for retirement savings is… The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been looking at attitudes to private savings.…
The Chancellor has Announced the Date of the Autumn Statement
Autumn Statement to take place on 25 November In late July, the Chancellor announced that the results of the Spending Review would…
Different Inflation Measures Tell Different Stories
The latest inflation figures showed virtually zero inflation and nothing to worry about…or did they? The July Consumer Prices Index (CPI) was…
Next Year’s Dividend Tax Changes Come Into Sharper Focus
The Summer Budget announcement of a change to the rules on dividend taxation from next April caused many furrowed brows. The situation…
Mortgage rate rises ahead?… Time to consider your options
By Jill Rickson, Principal Mortgage Adviser at Pembroke Financial Services. Mortgage rates are just rising off all-time lows and Mark Carney, the…
The trouble with averages in Personal Finance
Knowing what the average is may not be as helpful as you think. One of the facts which often appear in personal…
Deposit Protection to Fall
The compensation for lost deposits is to be cut by £10,000. On the first Friday in July, a few days before the…
The £1,000,000 Inheritance Tax Exemption
The Chancellor, Mr Osborne, has made good his manifesto commitment to ease the burden of Inheritance Tax, but his approach is not…
Get Ready for the Second Budget of the Year
Last month’s unexpected election result has been followed by the more anticipated announcement of a second 2015 Budget. Quite what it will…
Tax Planning – 1 in 6 pays more than Basic Rate Tax
HMRC have updated their income tax payer data. HMRC regularly updates data on income tax payers and last month it produced a…
Pensions – Automatic Enrolment is getting closer to home
The ‘Mary Poppins’ pension’ The roll out of automatic enrolment of employees into pension schemes started back in October 2012 with…
Deflation arrives
The official rate of inflation fell below zero in April: prices are now dropping year on year. The April reading for…
A Budget is not a Finance Act
Not all the contents of the March Budget reached the statue book. Democratic scrutiny is not always what it seems. Consider this…
Pension tax: a post-election change – whoever wins
The lifetime allowance is to be cut again. The lifetime allowance (LTA) is a key component of the pension tax rules. It…
A new personal savings allowance will come into existence in April 2016
“Today I introduce a new Personal Savings Allowance that will take 95% of taxpayers out of savings tax altogether”. So said the…
Budget included improvements to the income tax picture
It almost goes without saying now that any Budget or Autumn Statement will include an announcement about an increase in the personal…
0.5% base rates remain, effect on your savings?
Pembroke’s Analysis of Interest Rates – March 2015 When base rate fell to 0.5% back in the dark days of March 2009,…
‘Freedom and choice in pensions’
On 21st July 2014, the Government published its response to the consultation on ‘Freedom and choice in pensions’. Pembroke Financial Services have…
State pension deferral gets the reform treatment
The DWP has announced the new increase rate for deferring state pension for those reaching state pension age after 5 April 2016.…
UK Interest rates will rise – but the question is when?
Last month offered a number of conflicting answers: The Bank of England’s Quarterly Inflation Report This was generally seen as suggesting that…
DWP warns 12m people still not saving enough for retirement
Just under 12m people in the UK are still not saving enough money to fund an adequate retirement income, according to research…
The Pensions flexibility revolution
The Budget hailed changes which are sure to affect your retirement planning. “Let me be clear. No one will have to buy…
NISAs, Budget nitty gritty, IHT on the up
Summer Newsletter – Our feature this edition: The pensions flexibility revolution, advises you on changes to the pensions announced in the Budget…
A new dawn for ISAs
Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) enter a new phase from 1 July 2014. At present, ISA contributions for the 2014/15 tax year are…
19 March marks Budget Day
It is little more than three months since the Autumn Statement, but here we are in March with another Budget due in…
Smart Money
Our latest edition of our personal finance magazine is now available on-line here. Many investors will have had a roller-coaster ride recently. Fallout…
What’s in your pension?
When first meeting a client, we always ask them how much is in their pension(s)? What funds are they in? What will…
Budget 2012 Assets
Following on from the budget, please find below the links for brief and detailed summary, along with our tax tables for 2012/13…
Still time for tax year end planning
Proper tax planning can still reduce your tax bill. Here are a few quick suggestions; Maximise your ISA allowance this tax year,…
Budget 2012
In case you missed it, here is a link to summarise some of the key changes Good news for high earners, good news…
Lack of interest?
It’s three years since the Bank of England dropped interest rates to 0.5% and they show no signs of rising. According to…
SVR borrowers should remortgage
Halifax increasing their Standard Variable Rate to 3.99% yesterday. Now is the time to think about remortgaging, speak to us today SVR…
What does retirement mean nowadays?
More than ten percent of people who had planned to retire during 2012 are making alternative arrangements and putting off drawing their…
IFA’s are the most popular and trusted source of advice
IFAs are consumers’ most popular and trusted source of financial advice, according to research from the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA’s…
Get your finances fit for 2012
With further tax increases likely on the horizon, there really is no time like the present to take a step back and…
Five important dates in 2012
31st January 2012 Self-assessment tax deadline Self-employed people must file their tax returns online and pay any outstanding tax for the year…
Can you survive on £97.65 a week in retirement?
Great article on BBC website, reminding us how important pension contributions are. Do you want to be enduring or enjoying retirement? The…
Many more people now surviving cancer
I am sure we all know someone who is currently, or has been in the past, affected by Cancer. Although the likelihood…
New Year’s resolution….
You will have seen the recent furore over Public sector pensions and the proposed ‘reforms’. The reality is, that even after the…
Work, work, work…..
Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has confirmed the state pension age will increase to 67 earlier than planned. The retirement…
2011, the year of the yo-yo
It is hard to believe how volatile the markets have been this year, and so far there seems no sign of that…
ISA Limit to increase to £11,280
High inflation means ISA limits will increase to £11,280 from next April, the Treasury has announced. The Office for National Statistics today…
Junior ISA’s
Today sees the launch of the new Childrens ISA which enables parents, grandparents et al to help young savers to build a…
A ‘real’ problem….
Although the latest Consumer Prices Index (C.P.I.) figure has fallen to 5%, what this means for you as a saver or someone…
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