Latest articles by Laura Miller
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Pension Schemes Bill: what’s changing and what it means for your retirementThe government’s latest reforms to pensions are designed to make saving for retirement easier and provide better value for money – but will they leave you better off?
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The top funds to buy according to DIY pension investorsPension investors in both the saving and spending stage are turning to cautious funds to ride out the recent volatility in markets. We look at their best funds to buy right now.
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Are you missing out on Pension Credit? How to claim the benefit worth £4,500 a yearThousands of eligible households are still failing to apply for Pension Credit. We explain who qualifies for Pension Credit and how to apply
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What is the 67% inheritance tax trap on pensions – and can you avoid it?Your loved ones could find themselves paying an effective tax rate of 67% once pensions are brought into the inheritance tax net from April 2027. The concern has sparked more – and higher – withdrawals from pensions.
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What is a default pension fund and should you switch?Most employees save into a workplace pension scheme, but where is the money invested? We look at how default funds work and whether there is ever a case for switching.
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What is the 25% pension tax-free cash - and when should you take it?The 25% tax-free pension lump sum is probably Britain’s most generous tax perk. But being able to take a quarter of your total retirement fund free of tax all in one go comes with some risks. We weigh up your options.
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Is now a good time to buy an annuity as rates rise?With higher gilt yields leading to higher annuity rates, should you buy an annuity?
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Can I avoid IHT by stuffing all my money into a pension?IHT Pensions offer families a way to avoid IHT when passing on wealth to loved ones after death, but that’s all set to change. We explain the rules.
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What is Attendance Allowance? How certain pensioners can get £6k extra a yearThousands of pensioners are claiming Attendance Allowance for conditions such as back pain and arthritis and it doesn’t matter how much you have in savings. We explain the eligibility rules.
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How much solar panels cost in the UK – and are they worth installing?Solar panels are set to be at the forefront of the government’s plans to make the UK economy greener. But are they cost effective?
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What is the seven year inheritance tax rule and how does it help cut your bill?Families can lower their inheritance tax liability via the seven year rule. We explain how it works.
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New inheritance tax rules for businesses and farmers come into force – will your family be worse off?Business and agricultural property relief cuts took effect on 6 April, reducing the amount business owners and farmers can pass on free from inheritance tax. Who will be hit hardest?
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Does your portfolio need a review? How to give yours a spring cleanTips The start of the new financial year is a good time to look into your investments
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Making Tax Digital: what is it and who does it affect?Thousands of sole traders and landlords now have to start reporting their earnings digitally on a quarterly basis to HMRC after changes came in this April – here is what you need to know
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Probate cases taking nearly two years to be granted soar 131% – ways to cut the waitDelays to probate are on the rise with experts warning of worse to come once pensions are subject to inheritance tax rules from next April. But there are ways to help your loved ones now.
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Probate disputes jump 12% as inheritance fights increaseA thousand more applications to stop the probate process were lodged last year, as family fights over inheritances intensify.
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Rush to take pension lump sum early hits five year high over inheritance tax fearsThousands more 55 year olds took billions more from their pensions as soon as they could last year before the retirement pots become subject to inheritance tax from next April. We look at what to consider if you are cashing in.
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The 22-year retirement age gap – does your pension pot fall short of your saving ambitions?Just 14% of Brits are currently on track to retire at the age they want with their desired income, analysis suggests, with many heading decades off course.
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Government refuses to give families more time to pay inheritance tax on pensionsCalls to double the amount of time families have to pay inheritance tax when pensions are included from next April have been rejected by the government
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FCA car finance compensation: millions of drivers to get around £830 eachMillions of drivers will begin to get payouts within months, under the City watchdog’s redress scheme for mis-sold car finance
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State pension entitlement gaps: Blow as National Insurance credit system delayed until April 2027A scheme to protect the state pension records of mothers affected by the introduction of the High Income Child Benefit Charge in 2013 has been delayed by a year.
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The elite £2m ISA club – here’s how to joinA £2 million ISA won’t be achievable for everyone – but almost 300 Brits have already reached this goal. How can you join them?
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Can I inherit my partner's ISA? Little-known tax break can boost your allowance by thousandsInheriting a partner’s ISA is fairly simple and comes with special advantages if you’re married or in a civil partnership – knowing what to do with it, however, isn’t always as straightforward
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Crypto investors sent 100,000 capital gains tax warning letters – do you need to pay tax?Investors in crypto assets have been sent 40 times more HMRC capital gains tax warnings than stock traders since 2020, a Freedom of Information request found.
