Latest articles by Laura Miller
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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.
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Record £4,500 pay rise for London nannies – what does a nanny cost where you are?Features Hiring a nanny can be a lifeline for busy parents but the cost can weigh on the family finances. The price has just jumped all around the country, especially in London.
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More than half of over 65s live alone – here’s how to prepare for a solo retirementSpending your mature years solo can mean more time to do the things you’ve always wanted, if you’ve planned ahead for the extra costs of single living
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Always late to the ISA party? It may have cost you £123k over the past 20 yearsDelaying investing in stocks and shares ISAs until the end of the tax year has been a surefire way to lose money over the last two decades, according to new analysis
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Beware inheritance tax gifting rules – 220 families left with shock bills after errorFamilies can give away assets during their lifetime to reduce inheritance tax liabilities, but failing to meet gifting rules could trigger unexpected inheritance tax bills
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Fresh inheritance tax blow for business owners and farmers – could you need a new will?Draft legislation has revealed a hoped for loophole in business and agricultural property reliefs has been closed tight
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Reeves’s capital gains tax changes ‘backfire’ as Treasury receipts fall sharplyCapital gains tax rates were increased in the 2024 Budget but fresh data suggests the policy is failing to boost government coffers. Could it put chancellor Rachel Reeves off a wealth tax?
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House prices rising fastest in areas with highest crime rates – where does your area rank?Property prices are higher in safer areas but growing more slowly than in places benefiting from gentrification and buy-to-lets
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HMRC suspects the wealthy underpaid £343m in inheritance tax – how to avoid falling foul of the rules‘Missing’ inheritance tax is expected to soar as the government aims to raise extra £2 billion through rule changes
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Millions of homeowners to see mortgage payments riseMortgage holders with deals expiring soon can expect to pay more, according to Bank of England calculations, though the increase is less than previously forecast
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FTSE 100 dividends: where to find the best yields for UK equitiesFTSE 100 dividend forecasts have sagged but investors can still find good yields in UK equities with payments expected to reach more than £80 billion in 2025
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Expecting an inheritance? Don’t – only a fifth of Boomers plan to part with their cashHigher priorities are travel and spending time with loved ones, with even those on the highest household incomes shunning inheritances
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Top 10% of earners pay more than half of all tax – here’s a dozen ways to pay lessFrozen tax thresholds are dragging millions more people into higher and additional rate tax brackets. Will you pay more?
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Are you in line for a £29k pension boost? Government plans could leave millions better offReforms to retirement savings will see savers’ small pots brought together and the creation of pensions ‘megafunds’
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Little-known way inheritance tax pension raid could put thousands of businesses at risk – ‘issue is flying under the radar’Changes to inheritance tax rules could wipe out 15,000 businesses where owners put their premises in their pension, experts have warned
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Retired banker who gave wife £80m to avoid inheritance tax won’t face equal split in divorceFamily lawyers say the Supreme Court ruling will have significant impact on high net worth divorce cases
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Problems with your water supply? You could get up to £2,000 compensationWater companies have been forced to increase the amount of compensation they pay customers for failures. We explain who is eligible
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Top 3 reasons families fight over inheritance – and how to avoid disputesDelays in the probate process mean more cases are hitting the courts, with family tensions fizzing over as they wait for a resolution to inheritances
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Government launches full review of parental leave and pay – what could it mean for you?The government wants parental leave to be fairer - will its shake-up fix the widespread problem for families?
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Portfolio landlords could save £8,500 by remortgaging – or risk costs soaring by £23,000Buy-to-let landlords with multiple properties could save thousands by taking advantage of this year’s lower mortgage rates, but failing to refinance could see them hit with a £23,000 bill.
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‘Inheritance tax insurance’ enquiries are soaring – but is it worth it?Premiums for whole of life insurance can run to £5,000 a month to cover a £300,000 inheritance tax bill, with policies costing more the older you take them out.
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7 potential stock market winners from Labour’s industrial strategyInvesting on the coat-tails of government ambition can be a good way to take advantage of public support for certain private projects.
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How you could boost household income by £16k tax-free – five legal loopholesKnowing your way around the tax system means you can take advantages of ways to keep more of your income tax-free
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HSBC UK slashes financial advice fee to 1% for Premier customers – how does it compare to other £100k accounts?Natwest and Lloyds offer competing accounts with a range of perks from cheaper mortgages to cashback to entice those with £100,000 or more in savings and investments. Is HSBC’s reduced fee worth considering?
