Did you see the solar eclipse this morning? It was thick cloud here in Cranleigh this morning, so the only astronomical event was it getting slightly darker, colder and a few birds getting confused.
Eclipses aside (there will be another one on 12th August 2026, apparently) it’s been a busy week for the team at Informed Choice.
We were delighted to find out yesterday that we have been shortlisted for Best Retirement Adviser at the Money Marketing Financial Services Awards 2015! Watch this space for more news when the award winners are revealed in June.
Here is our week in review:
Blogs
Budget 2015: Cash for annuities
The great thing about the Budget is, we usually don’t have to wait for the Budget to hear about the big announcements. This year was no different, with the Treasury leaking their ‘cash for annuities’ plans a few days early. Here’s what we made of it.
How Chartered are your Chartered Financial Planners?
We welcomed the news that the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is beefing up standards for Chartered Financial Planners corporate status. From 2020, at least half of advisers in a Chartered firm will need to be Chartered, which makes sense.
Our blow-by-blow account of the Budget this year, with notes on the major announcements.
As soon as the Budget finished, Martin and Shelley wrote a nine-page briefing note; everything you need to know about the main Financial Planning and investing measures announced in this pre-election Budget. Have you downloaded your copy yet?
Budget 2015: Lifetime allowance cut
Nick reviews one of the two main pension announcements in the Budget this year, a cut in the lifetime allowance from £1.25m to £1m from April 2016.
Budget 2015: Deeds of variation
The Budget announced a review of inheritance tax planning using deeds of variation. Shelley explains what these are and what the review might mean. Possibly bad news for Labour leaders.
Video
Five things to do before the end of the tax year
Martin sat down in front of a video camera earlier this week to talk about the five Financial Planning steps you might consider taking before the end of the tax year. Tick, tock.
Podcast
Podcast 15 – Budget, State of Retirement & Investment Risk Genetics
In the latest episode of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin reviews the Budget. He also interviews Steve Lewis of LV= Retirement Solutions, talking about their new State of Retirement Report.
Articles
Follow the best route with your pension
Martin comments in the Sunday Times about the cost of getting retirement advice from Informed Choice.
Martin comments in FT Weekend about cash ISA rates, expressing a preference for using your annual ISA allowance, even though interest rates on these products are pretty lousy right now.
Martin in The Telegraph at the weekend talking about investment asset classes and funds with potential over the next five years.
Budget 2015 labelled ‘a savings revolution’
Martin delivers his Budget verdict for Eagle Radio.
Advisers fear deeper pockets required to fund Pension Wise
Martin commenting for Money Marketing magazine about additional funding promised for the pension guidance service Pension Wise.
