Estate planning is a crucial aspect of ensuring financial security and peace of mind for our loved ones. For families with a disabled child or adult dependent, the stakes are even higher. One of the most effective tools available for such families is the Vulnerable Persons Trust (VPT), also known as a Disabled Discretionary Trust. This specialist type of trust is specifically designed to support individuals who are unable to manage their own financial affairs due to mental or physical disability, both during and after the lifetime of their primary carers.

When considering how best to pass wealth to loved ones during your lifetime, one commonly used strategy is making outright gifts. This can be an effective way of reducing the value of your estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes. However, these gifts can come with their own complexities – particularly if you die within seven years of making them. This is where a gift inter vivos policy can come into play.

In this blog, we’ll explain what a gift inter vivos policy is, where it may be used, and the advantages and disadvantages of using one as part of your estate planning strategy.

Buying a home is one of the most exciting – and financially significant – decisions many people make. Whether you are a first-time buyer or moving up the property ladder, it’s easy to focus on the headline figures: the price of the property and your monthly mortgage repayments. However, beyond these costs, there are a number of hidden expenses that, if unaccounted for, can turn your dream move into a financial strain. In this article, we’ll explore the key costs that buyers often overlook and explain how careful planning can help you budget more accurately for your new home.

When we think about threats to our financial wellbeing, we often picture stock market crashes, property downturns or unexpected personal events. However, one of the most persistent and quietest threats is inflation. Unlike a sudden economic shock, inflation slowly but steadily eats away at the purchasing power of your money, often without you even noticing. In simple terms, inflation is the rate at which the prices of goods and services increase over time. When inflation rises, every pound you hold buys you a little less than before. While a small amount of inflation is a sign of a healthy, growing economy, unchecked or high inflation can cause real damage, particularly to those who are relying on savings for their future financial security.

In recent decades, the financial landscape has undergone significant shifts, leading to a pronounced wealth gap between generations. Older generations, particularly Baby Boomers, have accumulated substantial wealth through home ownership and defined benefit pensions. In contrast, younger generations face challenges such as high housing costs, student debt, and less secure employment, making it harder to build wealth. As parents, it’s crucial to understand these changes and equip our children with the tools to navigate this new financial reality.

When arranging life insurance for couples, one of the most important decisions is how the policy should be structured. Most people are familiar with joint life cover – it’s the traditional option for partners taking out life insurance together. But a less well-known alternative – dual life cover – could offer significantly more value and protection.

In recent years, the conversation around sustainability has extended well beyond reusable shopping bags and electric vehicles – it’s made its way firmly into the housing market. As homeowners grow increasingly aware of their environmental impact, coupled with rising energy costs, so too has demand risen for eco-conscious living. But while investing in a greener home may sound appealing, many people are unaware of the financial products designed specifically to support this goal.

When it comes to planning for retirement, there are few decisions more important than how to turn your pension savings into income. One option that is becoming popular once again is a lifetime annuity, which a product that provides you with a guaranteed income for the rest of your life. On the surface, the concept is simple, but not all annuities are created equal. In fact, failing to shop around could cost you thousands of pounds in lost income over your retirement.

The start of a new financial tax year presents an excellent opportunity to review your finances, set new goals and take full advantage of available allowances and tax-efficient savings. Planning early can help you maximise returns, reduce tax liabilities and help ensure financial security for the year ahead. Below are seven key actions to consider at the beginning of the tax year.

The Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA) is a little-known but crucial pension rule that can significantly impact your ability to save for retirement. It applies to individuals who have accessed their defined contribution pension flexibly and restricts the amount they can contribute to their pension whilst still receiving tax relief.

The NHS Pension Scheme is a valuable benefit for healthcare professionals in the UK, providing financial security in retirement. With guaranteed, inflation-linked income and a structure designed to support long-term financial wellbeing, it is often regarded as one of the most generous pension schemes available. As such, many NHS employees may consider making additional contributions to boost their retirement savings. While this can be a wise financial decision, it is important to weigh the benefits and potential drawbacks before committing to additional contributions.

When purchasing a buy-to-let investment property, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is how to structure the ownership. If you’re buying with a partner, spouse, or family member, you generally have two choices: joint tenancy or tenants in common.

Under joint tenancy, both owners hold an equal interest in the property, and if one person dies, the other automatically inherits the whole property under the right of survivorship. In contrast, tenants in common allows owners to hold different proportions of the property (e.g., 70/30 or 80/20) and to pass on their share as they wish in their will.

For buy-to-let investors, the tenants in common structure with unequal shares can offer some financial, tax, and estate planning benefits. Here are five key considerations when choosing this approach:

When investing, two key concepts that often come up are investment risk and volatility. While they are closely related, they are not the same thing. Understanding the difference between them can help you make more informed investment decisions and build a portfolio that aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

As we approach the end of the tax year on 5th April 2025, it’s a great time to review your investments and consider whether any action should be taken to manage your Capital Gains Tax (CGT) liability.

CGT is payable when you sell or dispose of certain assets (such as shares, property, or funds) for more than you originally paid for them. The tax is charged on the profit (or ‘gain’) you’ve made. However, there are allowances and strategies that can help reduce or even eliminate your CGT bill.

For many people, the UK State Pension forms a crucial part of their retirement income. While personal and workplace pensions can supplement retirement savings, the State Pension currently provides a secure, inflation-linked income for life. However, despite its importance, there are many misconceptions about how it works, who qualifies, and how much is received.

Buying a house is one of the biggest financial commitments most people will make, yet a surprising number of buyers proceed without fully understanding the condition of the property they’re purchasing. In fact, research suggests that as many as 80% of buyers in the UK do not commission an independent survey before completing their purchase (Direct Line Home Insurance). This means many homeowners may be unknowingly taking on costly repairs or structural issues that could have been identified beforehand.

A property may look perfect on the surface, but hidden problems such as damp, structural movement, or outdated wiring can turn a dream home into a financial nightmare. This is where house surveys come in.

For many people, the goal of estate planning is simple: to ensure their loved ones inherit their assets safely, without unnecessary financial risk. However, passing on wealth isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. Assets can be unintentionally lost in several ways, through long-term care costs, remarriage, or even changes in family circumstances.

A Property Protection Trust is one way to safeguard your home for your beneficiaries while ensuring a surviving partner can continue living in the property. This blog explores how a PPT works, who it may be suitable for, and the benefits it offers in protecting one of your most valuable assets.

Planning for retirement can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with decisions about investments, risk levels, and future income. Many workplace pension schemes offer a feature called lifestyling, designed to automatically adjust how your pension is invested as you approach retirement.

But how does lifestyling actually work? And is it the right strategy for you? In this blog, we’ll break down the concept, follow an example of an employee’s pension journey throughout their working life, explore the advantages and disadvantages, and discuss why financial advice can be valuable.

If you hold investments that generate dividend income, understanding the dividend allowance is crucial. Introduced to simplify the tax system and encourage investment, the dividend allowance determines how much tax-free dividend income you can receive each tax year. However, with recent changes to tax allowances and increasing rates, it is more important than ever to grasp the implications of dividends on your overall tax liability.

Life insurance is often the cornerstone of financial planning, providing peace of mind and financial security to loved ones in the event of death. However, the variety of policy options can be overwhelming. In this blog, we’ll explore the three primary types of life insurance - level, increasing, and decreasing policies, along with their uses, pros, and cons. We’ll also consider real-life examples to help you better understand when each type might be appropriate.