Publications

Even though it has been taking place since the advent of ownership, passing wealth down through the generations comes with complexities and caveats, expectations and anxieties. The timing, access, control and amounts involved are crucial elements of this transitional process and there are probably as many combinations of those as there are donors and beneficiaries. This can be a crucial area for financial planners to add value to the service they offer clients and there is a myriad of planning options to help clients achieve the outcomes they want either pre or post death. But, to avoid unintended consequences and build the best solutions generally requires a strong knowledge of the full range of arrangements available and a good appreciation of their devilish details. This guide is intended to help professionals involved in this great wealth transfer get a better understanding of what can be achieved, and where pitfalls lie, when certain planning routes are taken.

You can claim up to 2 hours CPD for reading the guide and it is free to access here.

This industry analysis of the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) comes out amid a spate of unwelcome records recently set in the UK economy.
Inflation has jumped to a 40-year high of 9%. The Bank of England has raised interest rates to its highest level since 2009. And the war in Ukraine has triggered a global food and energy crisis, exacerbated by existing supply-chain disruptions, that is hitting millions of households across the UK.
Given the scale of funding required to help businesses survive the current crisis, which comes on top of the Covid-19 pandemic, London’s junior market is more important than ever. As this report makes clear, AIM remains fundamental to the UK’s economic recovery.
AIM Industry Update June 2022 offers data, insights and analysis of a resilient market that has emerged victorious from one crisis and is geared up to take on another.

You can claim up to 2 hours CPD for reading the Update and it is free to access here.

There’s no denying that there has been a tectonic shift in attitudes in the last couple of years and, in some areas, received wisdom has been swept away when necessity required it. Covid-19 has, of course, been the driver and it has left a legacy by pricking the collective conscience where health and wealth inequalities are concerned and lifting the veil on how mass collaboration really can enact real
and rapid change when there are no other options. This has certainly helped to push up public awareness of environmental issues and brought with it the inextricably linked social and governance concerns that form the ESG triumvirate. The urgent and costly imperative for huge changes in the way we live to address climate change and investor pressure have made this an agenda financial advisers simply cannot ignore, and in fact, should be embracing. This guide gives them the ‘why’ and ‘how’, with a particular focus on how that looks in tax-advantaged investments, with practical tips, case studies, regulatory and due diligence pointers.

You can claim up to 4 hours CPD for reading the guide and it is free to access here.

This industry update of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) comes out as Russia’s war in Ukraine is taking a dramatic toll on the world economy, causing disruptions to global food, energy, and financial markets.
Amid the turmoil, investors must avoid knee-jerk reactions. Riding out the tough times would require a well-diversified portfolio as a key component of a long-term investing strategy.
EIS investment fits the bill. It provides valuable opportunities for planning efficiency while offering generous tax benefits in all weathers.
Thirty years old, EIS has come of age. This report showcases a wiser, stronger and Covid battle-hardened industry that is poised to surmount the current crisis as it has many others in the past.
Remember to claim up to 2 hours CPD after going through the highly readable report.

The April 2022 Business Relief Industry Update explores today’s most important and emerging trends in the context for Business Relief (BR), including the surge of inheritance tax receipts as reflected in HMRC statistics and the crucial issue of lasting power of attorney (LPA).
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a significant deterioration in public finances, prompting calls for a more robust inheritance levy. Meanwhile, the confluence of high inflation, rising interest rates, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has increased pressure on savings, wealth and inheritance.
The BR scheme is more important than ever, in an era when inheritance tax is no longer the scourge of the super-wealthy, with more and more hardworking families ensnared by ‘the most hated tax’.

Remember to claim up to 2 hours CPD after going through the highly readable report.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spells fresh volatility for stock markets. Amid growing uncertainty about a crisis that could send global markets into a free fall, investors might be tempted to overreact and sell their investments.
But knowledge is the antidote to fear. This quarterly update of the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) attempts to cut through the market noise and deliver the facts, based on research, experience, and history.
The picture that emerges is that of a vibrant equities market that’s more resilient than most. Looking ahead, how will the market fare in the scary new investment landscape? How can investors protect themselves? What opportunities are there in a volatile market?
The AIM Update March 2022 provides clear answers to these important questions and many more.
Remember to claim up to 2 hours CPD after going through the highly readable report.

Our Adivser’s Guide to the Enterprise Investment Scheme is a valuable reference resource for financial advisers and paraplanners on the practical and technical aspects of using the EIS. The scheme, which is heading towards its thirtieth birthday, can combine high growth potential with generous income and capital gains tax reliefs, while offering a vital funding mechanism to the UK’s most innovative SMEs. These are the companies that will be fundamental to the chancellor’s, “future economy built on a new culture of enterprise.” But for investors, a thorough understanding of the current rules, regulations and functional nuances is key to the best outcomes. The guide’s case studies, flowcharts, tables and explainers are all designed to put professionals in a position to consider the most important variables.

You can claim up to 4 hours CPD for reading the guide and it is free to access here.

Our Adivser’s Guide to Business Relief is now in its third edition and has become an invaluable resource for financial advisers on this increasingly useful tax-advantaged investment area. The relief itself has now been around for over 45 years and has the power to resolve later life tax-planning conundrums and to drive investment into UK PLC. It helps shield family businesses from inheritance tax that could otherwise stifle their development, and it has matured into a useful funding pathway for green energy firms. Both investors and investees can benefit from ongoing growth, but like all tax reliefs, understanding the practical and regulatory aspects is key. So, any rules changes and technical titbits are reflected in this new version, the thought leadership has been refreshed with new contributions from industry experts and the case studies are right up to date with 2021/22 tax rates and allowances.

You can claim up to 4 hours CPD for reading the update and it is free to access here.

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Venture capital trusts (VCTs) have experienced momentum over the past few years, as they continue to attract investors and savers alike with generous tax breaks and huge potential returns. Many have been turning to tax-efficient vehicles such as VCTs to mitigate the effects of the reduction to the pensions annual allowance.

This update provides data on the current state of the sector and identifies developing trends that are critical to the industry’s success in the coming year. Last year saw the sector rebound impressively following a slump at the beginning of the pandemic. All indications point to an even bigger upsurge in 2022, prompted in part by the upcoming dividend tax increase in April.

This VCT industry report is a compendium of expert insights, key industry data, news and analysis. It is free to access here.

Remember to claim up to 2 hours CPD after going through the highly readable report.

Gone is the era of easy money, as we all know. Now, investors should enlist outside-the-box thinking to consider the ramifications of soaring inflation and a spike in interest rates, so mitigation strategies can be proactively put in place.
The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) offers creative solutions. For investors mourning the erosion of their portfolio’s profit. For those worried about growing their funds. Or wealthy investors spooked by the rising chorus of voices calling for a wealth tax.
This update delivers insights into these and many other issues. You’ll find industry data, news and analysis as well as prognoses for a year that promises to be another blockbuster time for the sector.
You can claim up to 2 hours CPD for reading the update and it is free to access here.