The voice cloning AI scam you need to be aware of

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is providing scammers with new ways to try and dupe you. One type of scam that’s on the rise that you should be aware of is “voice cloning”.

Voice cloning uses AI technology to replicate the voice of a friend or family member. Fraudsters then use this to contact you to ask you to transfer funds or share sensitive information. It can be incredibly difficult to spot a voice cloning scam, particularly if the so-called friend or family member appears to be in distress.

Worryingly, a person’s voice could be replicated from as little as three seconds of audio, which may be easily obtained if a loved one has uploaded a video to social media platforms. As well as providing fraudsters with a way to impersonate a person, social media could also help them identify who to target by seeing who interacts with their posts.

28% of UK adults say they have been targeted by an AI voice cloning scam

According to a survey from Starling Bank, 28% of UK adults say they’ve been targeted by an AI voice cloning scam at least once in the last year. Yet, almost half (46%) of UK adults have never heard of AI voice cloning scams, so the scale could be far larger.

The majority of people recognise how challenging it could be to detect a voice cloning scam. Indeed, just 30% say they would confidently know what to look for and 79% said they are concerned about being targeted.

One simple way to protect yourself is to have a safe phrase in place with trusted family and friends. This can provide you with a quick and easy way to verify who you’re speaking to if you’re ever in doubt and before you transfer any money. Be sure to never share your safe phrase online.

3 more AI scams that could affect you

Voice cloning isn’t the only way scammers are using AI.

In fact, according to Money Week, AI scams left Brits £1 billion out of pocket in the first three months of 2024 alone. The latest technology can make it more difficult than ever to spot the red flags, so, unsurprisingly, almost half of Brits said they feel “more at risk of scams”.

Being aware of common scams and the signs to watch out for could mean you’re able to avoid falling victim should you be targeted. Here are three other types of AI scams that are on the rise.

1. Deepfakes

A deepfake is a video, sound, or image that has been digitally manipulated using AI.

A study from Santander found that more than a third of Brits have knowingly watched a deepfake. Yet, more than half of people said they had not heard the term or misunderstood what it means, so many more could have watched a deepfake without realising.

Scammers can use deepfakes in a range of scams. For example, they might create a fake profile filled with realistic media to carry out a romance scam. Or they could use a deepfake to convince you you’re speaking to a genuine investment manager as part of an investment scam.

Deepfakes are often circulated on social media platforms, so it’s important to be vigilant and verify the information you receive, even when it looks convincing. Many deepfakes are imperfect, so taking a closer look at a video or image could highlight red flags, like blurring around the mouth, odd reflections, or abnormal movements, like blinking less than normal.

2. ChatGPT phishing

Phishing scams are nothing new, but AI means they could look far more trustworthy than previous attempts.

Phishing is when criminals use emails or texts that encourage you to visit a website, which may download a virus onto your computer, download attachments, or share personal details. Often, phishing scams will impersonate a genuine company or person to gain your trust.

In the past, you might have spotted a phishing email by noting spelling and grammar mistakes, an unusual sender, or the tone of voice changing from previous communications.

However, ChatGPT and other similar tools mean it’s simpler than ever for criminals to create text and designs that are similar to those they’re impersonating and remove tell-tale signs of a scam. So, it’s important to remain cautious when you’re responding to messages, especially if they’re out of the blue.

3. Verification fraud

It’s not just your loved ones that could be affected by voice cloning and deepfakes, you could be too. Many phone and banking apps allow you to verify who you are by sending a video of yourself or saying a password out loud on the phone.

AI could mean these types of security checks don’t provide the protection they once did. It could mean fraudsters can open accounts in your name, access your accounts, and more.

As a result, being careful about what you share online, including seemingly harmless photographs or videos, may help you avoid a scam.

We could help you spot a scam

If you’re contacted about a financial opportunity, whether through email, a phone call, on social media, or in another way, and you aren’t sure if it’s a scam, we could help. Sometimes another perspective could help you recognise the red flags you’ve overlooked or give you the confidence to ignore the message.

You can also use ActionFraud to report a scam or seek additional information.

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

Investment market update: October 2024

While inflation is stabilising in many major economies, markets continue to experience some volatility, which may have affected your investment portfolio.

According to the latest International Monetary Fund’s Global Financial Stability Report, markets could be underestimating the risks of conflicts and upcoming elections.

Indeed, the rising price of gold suggests some investors are seeking a safe haven amid news of interest rate cuts, the upcoming US election, and escalating tensions in the Middle East. On 18 October, the price of gold hit $2,700 (£2,083) an ounce for the first time.

Read on to discover what else may have affected your investments in October 2024.

UK

The headline news in the UK in October 2024 was chancellor Rachel Reeves’ delivery of the Autumn Budget – the first from the Labour Party in 14 years.

She announced a raft of reforms, including £40 billion in tax rises to address the “black hole” in the public finances. Among the announcements were changes to Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax, Stamp Duty, and employer National Insurance contributions.

Following the Budget on 31 October, the FTSE 100 – an index of the 100 largest companies on the London Stock Exchange – slumped to its lowest level in almost three months as investors reacted to the updates.

The latest GDP figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) offered some welcome news. After the economy flatlined in June and July, it returned to growth in August and was up 0.2%.

Inflation figures were also positive. The ONS data shows that inflation was 1.7% in the 12 months to September 2024 – the first time it’s been below the Bank of England’s (BoE) 2% target in three and a half years.

The news led to the FTSE 100 rising by 0.65% on 16 October.

Inflation falling paves the way for the BoE to make further interest rate cuts, which would be welcomed by borrowers. Indeed, the BoE hinted that it could be more aggressive with rate cuts in the coming months.

Lower interest rates could boost the property market, and homebuilders benefited from the BoE’s outlook as a result. On 3 October, Persimmon was the top riser on the FTSE 100 after a 3.1% increase. Vistry and Barratt also gained.

Yet, it wasn’t all good news for the housebuilding sector. Just days later, Vistry issued a profit warning and said this year’s pre-tax profits would be around £80 million lower than expected. The announcement led to shares in the company plunging by almost a third.

Data suggests the manufacturing sector is struggling. According to S&P Global’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), confidence in the sector suffered its biggest drop since March 2020 in September. The fall was linked to the Autumn Budget with businesses reportedly taking a “wait and see” approach before making decisions.

Overall, business outlook could be gloomy. Trade credit insurance firm Allianz Trade predicts UK business insolvencies will rise by 5% this year when compared to 2023 to more than 29,000. That figure would be a 12-year high and around 30% above pre-pandemic levels.

However, some businesses are bucking the trend. At a time when many other retailers are struggling, fast-fashion giant Shein’s UK arm reported sales surpassed £1.5 billion for the first time in 2023, up from £1.12 billion in the previous year.

Europe

The eurozone’s key data is similar to the UK.

In the 12 months to September 2024, inflation in the eurozone fell below the 2% target to 1.7%. The news led to the European Central Bank (ECB) cutting interest rates for the third time this year – all key rates were trimmed by 25 basis points.

However, the ECB warned that inflation was expected to rise in the coming months.

PMI data indicates the eurozone economy is stuck in a rut. In October the PMI reading was 49.7 after a slight rise from 49.6 in September – only a figure above 50 indicates the economy is growing.

The manufacturing sector in particular is struggling, with a PMI reading of 45.0, indicating contraction. The bloc’s two largest members are dragging the figure down. Germany recorded its worst decline in factory conditions in 12 months, and France’s manufacturing sector is also contracting.

The UK wasn’t the only country to review taxation in October. According to Bloomberg, Italy’s finance minister said it plans to raise taxes on companies that have benefited the most from the economic turbulence of recent years to bring down the country’s deficit.

In response, Italy’s MIB share index, which tracks the 40 leading companies listed on the Borsa Italiana, fell 1.35% on 3 October.

US

Official figures show inflation in the US continues to near its 2% target when it fell to 2.4% in September 2024.

After recent concerns that the US economy could fall into a recession, job data indicates the economy isn’t weakening and businesses are feeling confident. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs increased by 254,000 in September.

The data led to the dollar rising and Wall Street rallying on 4 October. On the back of the news, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.55%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.75%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.2%.

Asia

China and the EU continued their trade tit-for-tat, which had a knock-on effect on French spirit makers.

At the start of the month, the EU voted to increase tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles from 10% to up to 45% for the next five years. Beijing labelled the tariffs as “protectionist” and, just days later, announced temporary anti-dumping measures on imports of brandy from the EU. France’s trade ministry said the measures were “incomprehensible” and violated free trade.

Among the French companies affected were spirit makers Remy Cointreau and Pernod Ricard, which saw shares fall by 8% and 4% respectively on 8 October.

A Chinese press briefing also affected markets when investors were disappointed that officials didn’t announce any major stimulus measures. On 9 October, the Shenzhen Composite Index tumbled by 8.2% – its biggest fall since 1997 – while the Shanghai Stock Exchange lost 6.6% and the benchmark CSI 300 fell by 7.1%.

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

4 valuable ways lifetime cashflow forecasting could give you financial confidence

Lifetime cashflow forecasting is a core part of financial planning that could help you understand how your future may look. It could provide essential information that means you’re able to feel confident about what’s to come and the decisions you make. Read on to find out how it works and why it might be valuable for you.

Lifetime cashflow forecasting uses your financial information and plans to make an informed guess about how your wealth will change over time. It can then use this information to create graphs and more so you’re able to visualise how the value of your estate and individual assets might change based on the decisions you make.

To start, you’ll need to input details about your financial circumstances, like how much you have in a savings account or the value of your pension. You can then add how the actions you take now will affect your wealth. For example, you might include adding £300 to your investments each month or contributing 8% of your income to your pension.

As other factors outside of your control will also affect your wealth during your lifetime, cashflow forecasting will make certain assumptions, such as:

·  The rate of inflation

· Growth of your investments

· Assets rising in value, like your property.

It’s important to ensure accurate information when using cashflow forecasting, and it’s often wise to err on the side of caution and be realistic when making assumptions – you might want to achieve annual investment returns of 8%, but is that likely when you consider your risk profile?

So, while the results of cashflow forecasting cannot be guaranteed, it could provide you with a valuable snapshot of how your wealth might change during your lifetime. But how does that help boost your confidence?

1. It could help you understand when you’ll be financially independent 

One of the challenges of managing your finances is that you often need to consider your lifestyle and needs for decades in the future, particularly when you’re thinking about retirement.

It can be difficult to know when you have “enough” saved in your pension to be financially independent. Lifetime cashflow forecasting could show you when you may be able to retire and take a sustainable income that suits your needs. As well as your pension it could incorporate other assets that might fund retirement too, such as savings or property.

If you find the date is further away than you’d like, cashflow forecasting could help you visualise how changing your finances now may allow you to retire sooner. For example, boosting pension contributions by 2% could bridge the gap so you’ll be financially independent earlier. 

2. It may give you the confidence to spend more

When you ask people about their long-term financial concerns, one of the biggest is that they’ll run out of money in retirement. Indeed, a survey published in IFA Magazine found that almost half of people are concerned about this.

Yet, the opposite can also happen – you have built up enough wealth to enjoy your later years, but due to worries about running out, you’re more frugal than you have to be. It could mean that you miss out on amazing experiences you’ve been looking forward to even though you have the means to pay for them.  

So, while it might seem illogical at first, cashflow forecasting could encourage you to spend more. Remember, financial planning isn’t about maximising your wealth, it’s about understanding how to use your assets to create the life you want, including spending more if you’re in a position to do so.

3. It might ease worries you have about unexpected events

Even the best-laid plans may be derailed by unexpected events that are outside of your control. Cashflow forecasting could let you model the shocks you’re worried about so you understand the effect they could have and what steps you might take to ensure your long-term security.

For instance, you may know you can afford to comfortably retire when you turn 65. But what if ill health means you need to retire five years earlier than expected? Cashflow forecasting could demonstrate how you might maintain your financial security by adjusting your income needs, adding more to your pension now, or using other assets.

If you have “what if?” questions that are preventing you from feeling confident about the future, cashflow forecasting could be a valuable tool that helps to put your mind at ease.

4. It could help you understand how you could support the next generation

For many people, providing support to loved ones and leaving a lasting legacy is important.

Lifetime cashflow forecasting could be useful if you want to pass on assets during your lifetime – it could help you understand the long-term implications and whether it might affect your financial security in the future.

You might also use it to calculate the expected value of your estate when you pass away, which could inform your decisions about how you’d like assets to be distributed or whether you need to consider Inheritance Tax.

Understanding what the value of your estate could be when you pass away might also help your beneficiaries plan more effectively. In some cases, you may want to involve your loved ones in your financial plan to discover how you may lend support.

Get in touch to talk about your goals and financial future

If you have questions about your financial future or would like to update your financial plan, please get in touch to arrange a meeting with our team.

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate cashflow forecasting, tax planning, or estate planning.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

5 smart reasons why retirement planning should start in your 30s and 40s

If you’re working and contributing to your pension, you might think you don’t need to do any more retirement planning just yet. However, seeking retirement advice in your 30s and 40s could mean you’re in a better position when you’re ready to give up work.

According to a survey published in IFA Magazine, putting off retirement planning is something many workers are guilty of.

Indeed, it found that just 5% of Brits aged between 35 and 44 had taken financial advice to help them prepare for retirement. Even among older generations, many haven’t sought professional support – only 10% of 45- to 54-year-olds and 21% of those aged over 55 had sought retirement advice.

Here are five smart reasons why you shouldn’t put off planning for retirement, even if the milestone is decades away.

1. A goal could keep you on track

If you’re not sure how much you need to save for the retirement you want, it can be difficult to understand if you’re on track. Setting a goal could motivate you to contribute regularly or even increase how much you’re adding to your pension.

The final goal for your pension can seem like an impossible challenge. Remember, it’s not just your contributions that will support your long-term goals, but often employer contributions, tax relief, and investment growth too. So, understanding how your pension will grow could make your target seem more manageable.

2. Identifying a gap sooner could mean you have more options

When you review your pension alongside your retirement aspirations, you might find there’s a potential shortfall.

The good news is that by identifying the gap in your 30s or 40s, you could have more options. For example, you might adjust your retirement date or planned retirement lifestyle.

Alternatively, with decades until you’re ready to give up work, you could increase your pension contributions to bridge the gap. As your pension is usually invested, increasing contributions sooner could mean a relatively small increase to your regular contributions has a much larger effect on the value of your pension at retirement than you expect.

3. Discover if you’re making the most out of your pension savings

Reviewing your pension now could help you discover ways to get more out of your savings.

To encourage workers to save for the future, you often receive tax relief on your contributions – so, some of the money you’ve paid in Income Tax is added to your pension. In 2024/25, your total tax-relievable contributions, including those of your employer plus tax relief, can equal up to 100% of your annual earnings or a maximum of £60,000; this is known as the “Annual Allowance”.

Your pension provider will typically claim tax relief at the basic rate on your behalf. However, if you’re a higher- or additional-rate taxpayer, you’ll need to complete a self-assessment tax return to claim your full entitlement. You can only claim back tax relief from the last four tax years. As a result, putting off reviewing your pension until you retire could mean you miss out on tax relief.

You should note that if you’re a high earner or have already taken a flexible income from your pension, your Annual Allowance may be lower. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss how much you could add to your pension tax-efficiently.

There could be other ways to boost your pension that you may have overlooked too. For instance, your employer may increase their contributions in line with yours.

4. Review how you invest your pension

Normally, your pension will be invested. This provides your retirement savings with an opportunity to grow.

As you’ll often be investing for decades through a pension, the performance of your investments could have a huge effect on the income you can create later in life. Taking financial advice in your 30s and 40s could offer a valuable chance to check your pension is invested in a way that aligns with your risk profile and goals.

While investment returns cannot be guaranteed, we could also work with you to help you understand how investment returns might provide long-term financial security.

5. You could discover you’re able to retire sooner than expected

If you could retire five years sooner and still be financially secure, would you?

One of the challenges of retirement planning is calculating how much you need to save to be financially secure for the rest of your life. You might worry about running out of money in your later years or not having enough to cover unexpected costs.

An early pension review could highlight that you’re in a better financial position than you expect and give you the confidence to retire sooner.

Contact us if you’d like to talk about your retirement plans

Whether retirement is just around the corner or decades away, we could help you plan for retirement. With a tailored plan, you could find you’re in a better financial position and have more freedom when you’re ready to give up work. Please contact us to arrange a meeting.

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates, and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts. 

10 financial tasks to complete this year to head into 2025 feeling confident

The end of the year is fast approaching, and while your mind might be on celebrating the festive period, it’s the perfect opportunity to tick off some financial tasks you might be putting off.

Spending some time going through your finances and thinking about what you want to achieve next year could help you step into 2025 feeling confident about your future. So, here are 10 jobs you could complete before the end of the year.

1. Check the interest rate your savings are earning

You’ve no doubt heard a lot about interest rates rising over the last year. If you’ve got money in a savings account, it could mean your savings have a chance to work harder and deliver more interest.

After more than a decade of historically low interest rates, your savings could now earn more than 5% and even a small difference can add up over the long term. If you haven’t reviewed the interest rate your savings are earning now and the alternatives available, it could be a worthwhile task.

Usually, the highest interest rates are available if you lock your money away for a defined period. So, setting out what the money is for and when you might need to access it could help you find the right account for you.

2. Review your investments

Investment markets have experienced volatility in 2024 – how have your investments fared?

A quick review of your investments could help you see if you’re on track. Remember, don’t just focus on the performance over the last 12 months. Instead, look at your returns over a longer time frame and the overall trend.

As well as checking if you’re on track, you might also want to ensure your investments continue to align with your needs. If you’re financial circumstances or goals have changed, you may want to update your investments to reflect that.

3. Use your gifting allowance

If your estate could be liable for Inheritance Tax (IHT) when you pass away, gifting assets during your lifetime may be a useful way to reduce a potential bill.

However, not all gifts are considered immediately outside of your estate for IHT purposes. So, making use of those that are could be useful. One such option is known as the “annual exemption”, which allows you to gift up to £3,000 to an individual or split between several people each tax year – that could make a welcomed Christmas present for a loved one!

The small gift allowance also allows you to make as many gifts as you’d like up to £250 to each person each tax year, as long as you have not used another allowance on the same person.

4. Track down “lost” pensions

Do you know where all your retirement savings are? It could be easier than you think to “lose” a pension.

Indeed, according to a report in FT Adviser, 29% of Brits have no idea how many pensions they have. If you’ve moved home or switched jobs since you last reviewed your pension, a quick check could uncover some missing savings.

Start by going through your current pensions and employment history to identify gaps. If you discover a gap, you can use the government’s pension tracing service to find the contact details you need for the pension scheme.

5. Complete some pension admin

While you’re checking you’ve not lost touch with any retirement savings, a quick check-in on your current pensions could be useful too. You may want to review if your:

· Personal details are correct

· Target retirement date is right

· Pension is invested in a way that suits your goals.

In addition, if you’re a higher- or additional-rate taxpayer, you may want to check if you could claim additional pension tax relief through a self-assessment tax return.

Getting your pensions in order could make it easier to understand if you’re on track for retirement and reduce the risk of losing them in the future.

6.  Assess your financial protection

According to the Association of British Insurers, a record £7.34 billion was paid out through financial protection in 2023. While you hope you don’t need to make a financial protection claim, it could provide an invaluable safety net when you need it most.

Take some time to assess the protection you already have in place – does it still meet your needs? If your financial commitments have increased or your circumstances are different, you might find you want to increase the cover.

7.  Name a Lasting Power of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) gives someone you trust the power to make decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to. While it can be difficult to think about, an LPA could reduce stress and ensure your affairs are in order if you’re affected by an illness or accident.

If you already have an LPA in place, you might want to consider your wishes and if any changes could affect the decisions you’d like an attorney to make.

8.  Inspect your will

Over time, your wishes and circumstances can change. So, reading your will now and again to ensure it’s still accurate is important. You might find that an update is necessary after you welcome a new grandchild or the value of your assets has grown.

According to Will Aid, more than half of UK adults don’t have a will in place. If you’re among them, you may want to make writing a will a priority. A will is one of the main ways to state how you’d like your assets to be distributed when you pass away. Without a will, your estate would be distributed according to intestacy rules, which could be very different from your wishes.

9. Fill in your pension expression of wish form

Usually, your pension isn’t covered by your will. Yet, it could be one of the largest assets you have, so it’s important to make sure you let your pension provider know who you’d like to receive it if you pass away.

You can do this by completing an expression of wish form, which you can typically do online. If you have more than one pension, you’ll need to fill in the form for each one.

10. Arrange your next financial review

If you don’t already know when your next financial review will be and want to speak to us, you can get in touch to arrange a meeting.

Next month, read our blog to discover some tips for reviewing your goals for the year ahead – they could help you get more out of 2025 and beyond.

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Lasting Powers of Attorney or will writing.

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates, and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts. 

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

2 key Budget announcements that may affect your financial plan

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the new Labour government’s first Budget on 30 October 2024. Amid the announcements were key changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Inheritance Tax (IHT) that could affect your financial plan.

Ahead of the Budget, prime minister Keir Starmer said it would be “painful” as there was a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. Indeed, Reeves went on to announce measures that would raise annual tax revenues by £40 billion by 2030.

Some of these taxes will be paid by businesses, but others could affect your personal finances. Here are two changes you might want to consider when reviewing your financial plan.

1.  The main rates of Capital Gains Tax have increased

There was a lot of speculation that Reeves would announce changes to CGT. In the Budget, she revealed the rates would indeed rise. It could mean you pay more tax than you expect when selling assets.

CGT is a type of tax you pay if you make a profit when you dispose of assets such as:

· Investments that are not held in a tax-efficient wrapper, like an ISA

· Personal possessions worth more than £6,000 (excluding your car)

· Property that is not your main home

· Business assets.

In 2024/25, you can make profits of up to £3,000 before CGT is due. This is known as the “Annual Exempt Amount”. If profits exceed this threshold, you may be liable for CGT.

The changes Reeves announced to CGT rates came into effect immediately on 30 October 2024. The rate of CGT you pay depends on your other taxable income. If you’re a:

· Higher- or additional-rate taxpayer, your CGT rate has increased from 20% to 24%

·  Basic-rate taxpayer, you may benefit from a lower CGT rate of 18%, which has increased from 10%, if the taxable amount falls within the basic-rate Income Tax band.

So, it might be more important than ever to consider how to reduce your CGT liability as part of your financial plan. For example, you may:

·  Spread disposing of assets over several tax years

· Focus on increasing investments held in a tax-efficient wrapper

· Pass on assets to your spouse or civil partner to make use of their Annual Exempt Amount.

We could work with you to understand if you may be liable for CGT and the steps you might take to mitigate a large or unexpected tax bill.

2. Your pension may form part of your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes

Currently, your pension isn’t usually included in your estate for IHT purposes. As a result, you may have planned to use other assets to fund your later years so you could pass on wealth tax-efficiently through your pension.

However, Reeves announced she would close this “loophole” that gives pensions preferable IHT treatment.

From 6 April 2027, your unspent pension pot will be included in your estate when calculating an IHT liability. The change could mean the number of estates that pay IHT doubles.

Under the existing rules, around 4% of estates are liable for IHT and it raises about £7 billion a year for the government. However, the Budget states that bringing pensions into the scope of IHT will affect around 8% of estates each year. Reeves added the changes would boost IHT receipts by £2 billion a year by the end of the forecast period (2029/30).

So, if you haven’t previously considered IHT as part of your estate plan, you may need to now.

The threshold for paying IHT is known as the nil-rate band and is £325,000 in 2024/25. In most cases, you can also use the residence nil-rate band if you pass on your main home to a direct descendant. In 2024/25, the residence nil-rate band is £175,000.

In addition, you can pass on unused allowances to your spouse or civil partner. In effect, that means, as a couple, you could leave behind up to £1 million before IHT may be due.

It’s important to note that both the nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band are frozen until 6 April 2030 and will not rise in line with inflation.

As a result, you might need to consider how the value of your assets will change and whether growth could affect what you’ll leave behind for loved ones.

Previously, you may have increased pension contributions to build up a tax-efficient nest egg that you could leave to your family when you pass away. A financial review could help you assess if it’s still the right option for you in light of the changes.

Get in touch to talk about the impact the Budget could have on your plans

If you’d like to discuss how the Autumn Budget could affect your finances and how you might keep your plans on track, please get in touch. We can work with you to create a tailored plan that reflects the changes and aligns with your aspirations.

Please note:

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate estate planning or tax planning.

Guide: Your retirement choices: How to generate an income in later life

Retirement on your terms is likely to be one of the key elements of your financial plan.

So, as you approach or reach retirement, now is the time for you to start thinking about enjoying a comfortable life when you stop working.

Many people see retirement as the start of their “second life” – the time when you have the chance to do all the things you want to do. You may have been planning this moment for many decades and have grand plans for what you might like to do in the years ahead.

If you haven’t already done so, now is also the time to start thinking about your income in retirement, and how long it may need to last.

Aside from taking all your fund in one go – or not taking it at all and leaving it to pass to your heirs – there are four main options:

· Buy an income for a fixed period or for life, known as an “annuity”.

· Take an adjustable income, known as “flexi-access drawdown” (or sometimes just “drawdown”).

· Take lump sums from your pension fund, sometimes known as “uncrystallised funds pension lump sums” (UFPLS).

· Mix and match different options.

This useful guide explains the advantages and disadvantages of each option, as well as some other areas you might want to consider when planning for retirement.

Download your copy of ‘Your retirement choices: How to generate an income in later life’ to find out more now.

If you’d like to talk about your retirement plan, please contact us to arrange a meeting.