Month: June 2018

Win with AWM … 2 X FREE ACCESS PASSES to Foxhills Country Club

Post author By Colin Reed
Post date June 22, 2018

Win with AWM ... 2 X 'FREE' ACCESS PASSES to Foxhills Country Club

SPEND THE DAY AT FOXHILLS COUNTRY CLUB

You can win 2 X FREE ACCESS PASSES to the prestigious Foxhills Country Club.
All you have to do is :
1. LIKE our latest posts on Instagram,
2. FOLLOW us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
3. TAG the person you would like to take with you,

A random draw will take place on 2nd July 2018.

What can I do at Foxhills Country Club for an entire day?

Beauty Salon
Turkish / Steam Bath
Hairdresser
Hiking

Spa/Wellness Centre
Fitness Centre
Tennis Courts
Table Tennis

Swimming Pool
Sauna
Squash Courts
Baby Sitting

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Time for an Indian take away?

Post author By Colin Reed
Post date June 18, 2018

Time For An Indian Take Away?

With India’s share of the world population now standing at a staggering 17.74% (1.354 Billion) , it’s hot on the heels of overtaking the most populated country in the world China, 1.415 Billion (18.54%). In recent weeks the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has re-affirmed that India will be the fastest-growing major economy in 2018 with 7.4%. By contrast, China’s growth is seen slowing to 6.5%.

Some have described India as a sanctuary in the emerging market mayhem. While many emerging-market central banks have sacrificed their growth to protect their currencies, India has enjoyed relative protection from the external shocks. The South Asian nation also provides a better risk-reward compared to other more globally linked emerging markets such as China.

To back up these views, look at the panel below from the funds in our AWM portfolios you can see China and Indian funds are number 2 and 3 respectively in terms of growth over the last year.

In 2008 India was quicker than most to rebound from the global financial crisis, handing investors 70% greater returns than the rest of the developing world. With such an excellent history, it is no wonder investors are flocking to this South Asian country. If you need any more convincing that India is the place to be, keep reading.

One of the main reasons behind their success is the fact that they are currently in a tech start-up boom, attracting over $20 billion in the past three years. Their start-up eco-system is now the world’s third largest and is maturing swiftly.

China’s economic expansion rate has stayed stagnant at 6.8% for the last few quarters, India’s, on the other hand, grew from 5.6% to 7.0% from July 2017 to January 2018 and is still on the rise. With India’s economy still in an early growth stage, there is still plenty of excess resources and opportunity for growth. Other economies, such as China’s, are in an advanced stage and operating close to full capacity.

The outlook on investment opportunities in India remains positive, with the median age still only 27 and the growing middle classes having more spending power. Investment wise India looks very promising.

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No Will…but there is a Way!

Post author By Colin Reed
Post date June 18, 2018

No Will…but there is a Way !

What is deed variation and how can it help reduce inheritance tax?

Amazingly over 60% of people in the UK don’t have a Will in place. Poor estate planning could result in the Government taking a sizable chunk out of the money you leave your loved ones. Estates liable for inheritance tax (IHT) must pay 40% before the remainder can be passed on, leaving many of us with a sour taste in the mouth. There is however, a way to ‘beat the taxman’ from beyond the grave. A deed of variation (DOV) is a legal document that allows the beneficiaries of an estate to make changes to the will, in the name of the deceased, after their death. What this means, is that changes can be made to make it more tax-efficient.

In the case that you are about to inherit a windfall that will take your own estate over £325,000 – the personal allowance above which 40% IHT applies on your death – you can alter the deceased’s will so that money you stand to inherit passes directly to other beneficiaries, reducing or eliminating the amount of tax you would otherwise have to pay later.

So, how does inheritance tax work?

Upon their death, each individual is taxed at a rate of 40% on all their assets above a threshold of £325,000. The following things are subject to the tax:

Cash
Investments
Property
Vehicles
Life insurance payouts

Main residence for “family home allowance” is in the process of being phased in until 2020, applying to a family home going to direct descendants only. Ultimately, this means that married couples will be able to use their combined allowances to pass estates worth up to £1m onto their direct descendants.

What are the rules?

Any deed of variation must be drawn up within 24 months of the death of the deceased, and must be signed by all the executors and beneficiaries of the estate to be valid.
A DOV is separate from a grant of probate – the legal document that allows you to gather up and distribute the assets of the deceased – and can be obtained before or after probate is granted.
There are no formal documents to apply for; you can simply write a letter explaining the changes you wish to make. However, you must ensure the letter meets certain conditions – Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs provides a checklist.
Provided everyone else involved agrees, you can redirect your inheritance to anyone you wish, even if they are not named in the deceased’s will.
Although you may be the one deciding what changes to make, through a DOV the changes are made in the name of the deceased as if they were making the changes themselves.
If a variation affects anyone under the age of 18, you will need court approval before making any changes.
Extract: The telegraph

The next step…

Contact Ascot Estate Planning to get expert advice on setting up a Will or checking your IHT situation from Ascot Estate Planning Team.

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Lost or hidden pensions… We can help

Post author By Colin Reed
Post date June 18, 2018

Can we help you find your lost or forgotten pensions?

We all lead busy lives and sometimes it’s hard to keep track of everything, especially if it’s not something we deal with on a day-to-day basis. Pensions are just too important to forget about.

If you think you may have ‘forgotten’ pensions from previous employers…or want help and advice tracking these down for possible transfer into your main pot – read below!

There are three billion pounds sitting around in unclaimed pensions in more than a million accounts. Don’t let your hard earned money be part of it.
With each of us now working an average of 11 jobs a lifetime it’s more likely than ever we will build up a number of different pension funds.

Two recent "lost" successes:

First case:
When a 63-year-old client mentioned at their review meeting they had worked as a secretary from 18 -23 she thought she may have paid a small monthly amount into a company pension fund.

Result: Because she had married and moved a few times the pension company had lost contact with her. We did track down the pension scheme and she was entitled to £135 per month back to her 60th birthday.

Second case:
Another client, again after a review meeting, dug out some old paperwork which looked like he had paid into a pension when working for a company 30 years ago. He tried three times himself to get questions answered…every time they inferred that there was no money due. So he passed this over to our AWM Team.

Result: We pursued this and have recovered a £130,000 pension pot.

Win with AWM ... 2 X 'FREE' ACCESS PASSES to Foxhills Country Club

SPEND THE DAY AT FOXHILLS COUNTRY CLUB

Time For An Indian Take Away?

No Will…but there is a Way !

What is deed variation and how can it help reduce inheritance tax?

So, how does inheritance tax work?

What are the rules?

The next step…

Can we help you find your lost or forgotten pensions?

Two recent "lost" successes:

Don't put it off any longer, contact us today!

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