Latest articles by Laura Miller
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Brits could use ‘highly effective’ estate planning tool to cut inheritance tax rate by 10%
Inheritance tax policy changes are prompting a surge in individuals overhauling their plans for their estate, say professional advisers
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Inheritance tax reform ‘largely protects family farms’ – what are the alternatives?
Independent analysis of the government’s inheritance tax reforms has found eight out of 10 farming estates will be able to pay their IHT bill without having to sell off parts of the farm
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Cohabiting families could face £82,000 inheritance tax bill under new rules
Without the tax breaks of marriage, including pensions in inheritance tax calculations – even if the person who dies was too young to ever draw on it – could push many cohabiting couples into paying inheritance tax
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Thousands of homeowners claim £17k for subsidence amid heatwaves – how to spot the signs
Insurers have paid out £150 million for subsidence so far this year. But more than half of people don’t know what to look out for to make a claim.
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Divorced? Simple rules to stop your ex claiming inheritance on your estate
Divorces are back at pre-pandemic levels leaving lawyers urging separated couples to get their affairs watertight to avoid any nasty disputes after death
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Rise of the mid-life downsizers: The generation planning to fund retirement with their family homes
With smaller pensions than the previous generation, over 45s are planning to turn to the family home to pay for their later years by selling up in favour of a smaller cheaper property
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Is Reeves planning an inheritance tax raid on lifetime gifts? How rules could change
Chancellor Rachel Reeves reportedly has inheritance tax in her sights again with potential changes to limit the gifts loved ones can make in a lifetime said to be being considered for the Autumn Budget
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Two million savers withdraw retirement cash before state pension age
Taking pension cash early is becoming the ‘new norm’ but experts warn this runs the risk of running out of money later in life
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Clinging to cash over investing fears? You could miss out on thousands of pounds
Overly-cautious savers could get stuck with low returns now the Bank of England has cut interest rates again amid predictions the base rate has further to fall
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Most Brits unaware onshore bonds can help beat inheritance tax – here’s how
A little-known perk of certain types of bonds can let your loved ones off the hook when it comes to inheritance tax – but two-thirds of people have never heard of them
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Inheritance tax mistake costs families £350m – are you making this simple error?
Life insurance can provide your loved ones with a vital safety net if the worst happens. But to avoid inheritance tax on the pay out, you must write the policy in trust
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Should you give your children’s inheritance to charity?
Fears of misspent money, bad investments and creating spoiled offspring are causing high-net-worth parents to leave their money to causes other than their own children.
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Property down valuations wipe millions off stagnant housing market
Some properties have had as much as £1m knocked off their value as assessors are accused of being ‘overly cautious’ while property prices stall
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Should you defer your state pension and stay in work?
You could boost your state pension by hundreds or thousands of pounds by deferring it if you don’t need the income right now. We look at how it works, and the pros and cons
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Inheritance tax investigations catch out 1200 more families in HMRC crackdown
Where there is a suspicion inheritance tax has been underpaid, HMRC has extensive powers to check the deceased individual’s financial affairs and chase what is owed. Will you pay more?
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Best trading platforms for UK investors ranked – how do they compare?
Trading platforms have been assessed for charges, investment range on offer and quality of service, with the best for each type of customer ranked
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State pension gender gap ‘almost closed’ for new retirees – but private gap widens
The state pension amounts for men and women are on course “to be equal very shortly”, says Department for Work and Pensions
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State pension boost could help millions – how to plug gaps in your National Insurance record
More than 2 million people are not receiving the full amount of state pension and potentially could increase how much they get
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Council tax bills in worst hit areas set to rise by £500 in the next four years
Branded the ‘ultimate stealth tax’, the council tax burden is increasing across the country, with some areas potentially having to find hundreds of pounds more a year to pay the bill
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Half of Baby Boomers to fall short of retirement goals – here’s 3 ways to get back on track
Just 51% of soon-to-be retirees are on track for the later lifestyle they want, according to new research, with younger cohorts even less likely to be retirement-ready
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Top ‘tin hat’ stocks for cautious investors
Professional investors are backing so-called ‘tin hat’ stocks – companies that should do well against even the most volatile macro economic backdrop. We look at four of their favourites
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Thousands more pay inheritance tax with figures expected to double before decade’s end
Number of deaths triggering inheritance tax rose 13% in a year with more increases predicted as Rachel Reeves’ pension reforms apply from April 2027
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High earners’ four money pain points – and the one simple way to beat them
Above average earners are juggling high levels of debt so a sudden hit to their income could mean serious financial hardship. But there is a cost-effective solution.
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Is the 4% pension rule dead? Why the 6% rule could replace it
‘Pensions are for spending’ is the new mantra now inheritance tax will apply to them from April 2027. In exclusive calculations we show how much more you can take from your pension to wind it down completely by age 90.
