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Addressing the lack of pensions knowledge

Below are some of the most common responses that people give when asked about their views on pensions:

‘That’s ages away, I’m only young’

‘I’ve worked all my life and paid my full stamps so I’ll get the full state pension’

‘My business is my pension’

‘I’ve got buy-to-let houses that will provide me with an income’

The difference between guidance and regulated advice

Exciting times are imminent. The changes affecting the way in which over 55s access their pension benefits, announced in the 2014 Budget and Autumn Statement, are merely weeks away from implementation.

Details have finally emerged on the new Guidance Guarantee, which is costing a reported £35 million and will now be called Pension Wise. This is the government’s initiative to provide all pension savers with free and impartial guidance consultation, in order to assist them in making an informed decision on how best to use their pension savings.

Five steps to a clean break

Whilst Christmas may feel like a distant memory, it can be a stressful time for many people and it is sadly true that more couples find themselves contemplating divorce or separation in the New Year. We discuss in this article five areas of law and tax that you may wish to consider on separation.

The tax and legal aspects for a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership are essentially the same. Unmarried couples will have different issues and much less legal protection/intervention and this article is not able to cover their issues. 

What will you do differently in 2015?

As many New Years resolutions fade into distant memory, it is an excellent time to reflect on both what went well in your business last year as well as what you could do differently to achieve greater success in 2015.

It is often said that in business, “failing to plan” can amount to “planning to fail”. While that is a fairly dramatic statement there is some truth in it and having a clear plan for the year ahead will give advantage, in what remains a tough and competitive trading environment.

Business travel and subsistence: Getting it right

We are often fielded questions surrounding the correct treatment of business travel and subsistence costs when speaking to clients. Quite often, people have done their homework well and don’t have anything to worry about. However, when it does go wrong, the cost to a business and its employees can be significant. There are many rules surrounding the treatment of business travel and subsistence costs and so it’s not a wonder that people do occasionally get it wrong.

Business are still struggling to raise finance for property or property development

We are finding that despite a general increase in business finance activity, many clients are still finding it difficult to raise finance when it comes to commercial property.

Purchasing new property or investing in property development can often be an essential element in a business’s plan to grow, yet when it comes to raising the finance for this, it can be a difficult and not always successful process.

Should retirees defer their state pension?

A recent survey by LV= found that 65% of over 50s still in full-time employment intend to continue to do some form of paid work during their retirement. This is a growing trend, as the Office of National Statistics revealed in 2013 that the number of over 65s in work exceeded one million.

Putting your foot on the mortgage ladder

The criteria for arranging a mortgage is now somewhat more complicated than it used to be a number of years ago. Whether you’re taking the first step onto the property ladder, re-mortgaging, moving house or capital raising, mortgage lenders now want to be certain that you can afford the repayments.

In the ever changing world of Manufacturing, who is the sounding board for your business?

“There are many things we do not know we don’t know”

This is a well known quote from Confucius that was recorded by Henry David Thoreau in Walden; how appropriate this quote is when it is viewed in the context of manufacturing in the UK.

Many UK manufacturers can trace their history back over a number of generations, as the business has been passed from generation to generation, with each making their mark on the business and in due course handing it over to the next one.

North West's leading wine wholesaler is now a national player

Armstrong Watson’s latest corporate finance transaction sees the largest independent wine business in the North West, EWGA, almost double its size following the acquisition of Heritage Wine Company Ltd, Wickwar, Gloucestershire. The acquisition means that the Carnforth business will now have the capabilities to operate on a national scale.